US Gov. Richardson to visit North Korea in April

[Charlie Brown]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat running for president, will lead a U.S. delegation to North Korea this month to discuss the return of the remains of missing servicemen, the White House said on Tuesday.

Richardson and Anthony Principi, former secretary of veterans affairs, will head a bipartisan group on the April 8-11 trip at the invitation of North Korea, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Richardson visited North Korea in the 1990s and in 2005.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03266408.htm

[Bicoastal]

1. You just know the White House is gonna bitch about this too...

...following closely on the heels of Pelosi's trip to Syria.

Every Republican knows that the only reason to fly to "enemy territory" is for a self-serving Photo Op in Baghdad that places hundreds of soldiers at risk.

[seasat]

2. They won't complain they need him to pull the nuke talks together.

Even though this isn't an "official" visit associated with the nuclear talks, I'm sure it ties in with them. When Shrub Inc derailed the negotiations started with their hard line approach, the North and South Koreans came to New Mexico to meet with Bill Richardson (LINK). Richardson has also traveled to N Korea to meet with them in 2005 (LINK0. It now looks like the intelligence on N Korea enriching uranium (LINK) and the accusation that they were selling enriched uranium to Libya (LINK) was weak and possibly bad. Shrub Inc has created another problem where one didn't exist and a Democrat is having to help him fix it.

[pinto]

3. Richardson actually has some foreign policy experience and can spell "diplomacy".

Good on him.

Although the purported mission isn't tied with the nuke issue, any face other than Condi and Company at a diplomatic meeting is a good one.

[DesertRat]

4. Richardson has plenty of foreign experience

As a former UN ambassador, international negotiator, and Energy secretary. I like the idea of his leading a delegation to N. Korea.

Richardson has said, "We must work with our friends, our enemies, and everyone in between." He has also called for "an axis of reason" to confront urgent global problems. That's certainly a refreshing change from the tough talking idiot cowboy.


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