North Korea, Paragon of Efficiency

Goldblog reader Ronald Gordon writes:

"Roger Cohen states, 'In other words, Iran, epicenter of inefficiency, unable to produce a kilowatt of electricity through its Bushehr nuclear reactor despite decades of effort, is still doing its old brinkmanship number.'"

Gordon is referring to Roger Cohen's thesis that the Iranians are too woeful to organize a nuclear program. Gordon then asks: 'How, then, does Cohen explain North Korea?  As a bastion of human efficiency?"

It's a good question. Another good question: Pakistan? Pakistan is not a smoothly-running economic powerhouse. And yet the Pakistanis have upwards of 60 atomic bombs.