January 07, 2004

KIM HEARS FOOTSTEPS:

Powell Hails North Korea for New Step (STEVEN R. WEISMAN, 1/07/04, NY Times)

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell on Tuesday labeled as "positive" the latest offer by North Korea to suspend its nuclear programs as part of an overall nuclear agreement, saying that he hoped the offer would lead to more talks on the issue.

Appearing at the State Department after a meeting with the foreign minister of Tunisia, Habib Ben Yahia, Mr. Powell said it was "interesting" that North Korea had "in effect said they won't test and they implied they would give up all aspects of their nuclear program, not just weapons program." [...]

The main problem has been disagreement over sequencing the steps that would be taken by North Korea toward the goal of ending its nuclear programs, and the steps that the United States and others would offer in return, ranging from security guarantees to economic benefits.

Mr. Powell's comments were described by an aide as reflecting the view that North Korea had indeed gone a bit further than it had in the past by expressing willingness to suspend its nuclear energy programs, which many experts say are a front for weapons activities.


Trade them a security guarantee for stoppage and inspections, then bomb the daylights out of the facilities.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 7, 2004 08:32 AM
Comments

Apparently in yesterday's NPR debate, Howard Dean railed against the administrations terrible mistake in not engaging in bilateral talks with North Korea in order to push a strategy that would never work.

Posted by: David Cohen at January 7, 2004 08:46 AM

Best moment of the debate though--other than Congressman Lovetron using a pie chart on the radio--was when Joe Lieberman got up on his high horse about how shameful it was for Bush (why do they call him Bush? why not Mr. Bush or the President?) to not embrace Taiwan independence. So John Kerry says, we've had a one China policy for decades under presidents of both parties, are you going to abandon it? Mr. Lieberman backpedaled faster than a clown on a unicycle.

Posted by: oj at January 7, 2004 08:59 AM

Yeah, Taiwanese independence might become the new Jerusalam embassy.

Posted by: David Cohen at January 7, 2004 10:05 AM

The problem is doc, I see Colin Powell, but I hear Jimmy Carter. So maybe I should change my medication?

Posted by: Barry Meislin at January 7, 2004 10:27 AM

Powell is counting the days till after the election so he can start his speaking tour.

Posted by: BJW at January 7, 2004 01:21 PM

oj:

Wouldn't that make it harder to forge future agreements ?

Also, Kucinich claimed that as long as Dean saw the chart, it was effective.

Posted by: THX 1138 at January 9, 2004 06:18 PM

THX:

If we'd just nuked someone for building nukes and told you we wanted you to stop what would you do?

Posted by: oj at January 9, 2004 06:24 PM
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