Don't Shoot. We're Not Ready. (North Korea)

[lindisfarne]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/weekinreview/25sanger.html?pagewanted=print
June 25, 2006
Don't Shoot. We're Not Ready.
By DAVID E. SANGER

<snip>
Mr. Cheney briefly mentioned the North's boasts that it has developed a small nuclear arsenal. But he skipped past the conclusion of a recently completed National Intelligence Estimate that the boast is probably true, and that on Mr. Bush's watch, the North had likely produced enough plutonium for six or more weapons.

And that is the real problem: Missile tests yield big headlines, but the deeper fear is that while America is tied up in the Middle East, North Korea could become a full-service Wal-Mart for Iran or, worse, terror groups like Al Qaeda. The North already sells missiles; the worry is that in a few years it could have spare warheads to sell. too, or at least the fuel for one.

So another argument was heard last week: that Mr. Bush, having gone into Iraq on bad intelligence about weapons that never existed, could be erring now in the other direction — deliberately whistling past the warheads in Pyongyang, in hopes that the problem will solve itself. In one of the great role-reversals of recent Washington politics, two of President Clinton's top defense officials argued that the only prudent response to North Korea's threats to test its missile would be to warn Kim Jong Il to dismantle it, and blow it up on the launch pad if he refused. In short, launch a pre-emptive strike — taking the most famous page right out of Mr. Bush's own National Security Strategy.
<snip>
"It is the most bizarre situation," said Robert Gallucci, the chief American negotiator with North Korea during the Clinton administration, and now dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He disagrees with Mr. Perry and Mr. Carter about the prudence of pre-emption now. But he also argues that Mr. Bush "bears some responsibility" for the current standoff. "The United States essentially adopted a policy of doing nothing about North Korea for six years. And now, we look up from Iraq and here is a situation where preemption's got all sorts of problems, and doing nothing" seems unpalatable as well.

In fact, however certain they were that pre-emption was right for Iraq, administration officials have seemed uncertain what to do about the North, alternately labeling it part of the "Axis of Evil" and dismissing it as an isolated, friendless nation that one day will collapse.
<snip>

[marmar]

1. BushCo doesn't like to pick fights with countries that can fight back...

What bully does?

[Totally Committed]

2. The Bushies are reaping the rewards of their "no diplomacy"

policy with N. Korea. Kim Jong Il is a mentally unbalanced tyrant, that's true. But, their wish not to "reward" him by talking to him is beyong arrogant -- it's dangerous. Madeleine Albright had begun to successfully engage N. Korea as The Bushies came to power. They dropped all the diplomatic strings she had laid out for them, and began their policy of "my way or the highway" with them. What mentally unbalanced tyrant responds well to a tack like that?

The Bushies are now reaping the rewards of that failed policy at OUR peril. It may be too late to talk to them now. But, we should be trying. Or maybe the Bushes WANT the N. Koreans to become a "full-service Wal-Mart" to Iran so they have an excuse to attck BOTH of them.

Unending War -- brought to you by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, PNAC, and all their pals world-wide.

TC

[teryang]

3. This article is so wrong

The US violated the agreed framework with the North Koreans. The US track record, particularly during the bush regime on international agreements is disgraceful.

In any case, this missile bruhaha is all about opposing the ultimate reunification of the peninsula. It is ironic that this article seems to endorse cold war brinkmanship. Since when are missile tests acts of war?

The balance of power on the peninsula has changed against the US and Japan. China is in the ascendant. Any escalation to acts of war on the Korean peninsula will result in a humiliating loss of face for the US such as the one which occured when the EP3 was captured at the outset of this administration.

The Chinese don't even have to threaten us, all they have to do is start selling dollars or increase their gold buying and the bush regime will go the way of Herbert Hoover.