Irony: Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.
For two years the Bush administration and most conservatives have excoriated even the most minute aspect of Clinton's foreign policy and the policy makers in his administration, especially those connected with North Korea.
Today while having lunch at a nice resturant with a few clients I watched the whole North Korea situation take a surreal turn. I cocked my head and tried to listen to the TV across the dinning room. When I heard the announcement that Bill Richardson, the former United Nations Ambassador and Energy Secretary that Republicans love to hate, was to be the intermediary between the Bush administration and North Korea I almost spit the food out of my mouth and onto my clients.
Yes, the same Bill Richardson who gave up all of our nuclear secrets to the Chinese while at the Energy Department is now our intermediary with the North Koreans. I knew Bush would concede a few things but this, my friends, is true irony.
I'm cooking up a double helping of crow for you guys 'cause you're gonna be real hungry.
Posted by Sean-Paul @ 01/09/2003 09:55 PM
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Comments:
Hrmmm. Bush pulled out of some treaties didn't he? I wish Bill Clinton was still President.
Posted by: Les Dabney on January 10, 2003 05:50 AM
"Bush pulled out of some treaties didn't he?"
Precisely, and where is your condemnation of North Korea equal to the scorn you heaped on Bush for his "unilateralism"? Particularly since the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is just a mite, just a wee bit more important than Kyoto and ICC.
Nah, hypocritical Dims will continue to picket nuclear power plants in he US while ignoring North Korean nuclear aggression.
MH
Posted by: Mark Harden on January 10, 2003 08:40 AM
I usually don't comment on these articles, since I think the Bush administration has behaved in an exemplary> fashion as far as North Korea is concerned. Indeed, I hope future Democratic and Republican administrations use it as a model for how to deal with terrorist nations like North Korea.
I also agree with Mark Harden's comments. Fact of the matter is that North Korea is the most psychotic and evil regime on the planet, has been involved in trading arms to terrorists, and should not be dealt with in a friendly or conciliatory manner. But it is not a nation we're in a position to engage militarily. Giving them the cold shoulder and being rude to them is the best thing we could be doing, and I applaud the administration for it.
And nothing--absolutely nothing--that they do is the fault of anyone but the evil, butchering, mass-murdering psychopath, Kim.
And by the way, if anyone thinks it is "conservative" to say so, then there's something very, very wrong with them.
All that aside, I wanted to point out that one should really read more than The New York Times on any issues involving politics, because they're so very unreliable in their reporting.
In this case in particular, Bill Richardson is an "intermediary" only in the sense that the North Koreans unexpectedly asked for permission to speak to him. Richardson and the White House have both expressed surprise at this, but agreed to the North Koreans talk to him.
But hey, whatever. If one is determined to find fault in everything the Bushies do, then I suppose this could somehow be made to reflect poorly on them. I don't see see it, but people who are determined to hate the guy will always find a way, I suppose.
Posted by: Dean Esmay on January 10, 2003 09:59 AM
And you're a redneck wingnut from Alabama which makes you even worse.
Posted by: daytripper on January 10, 2003 10:21 AM
Dean,
The Bush administration didn't have a plan on dealing with North Korea. How is that behaving in an "exemplary fashion "? After trying to ignore the problem they are suddenly embracing "gasp" Bill Clinton's order of business towards Korea.
Posted by: Les Dabney on January 10, 2003 12:01 PM
Mark,
You left out the 1971 ABM Treaty that Bush pulled out of.
Funny
Posted by: Les Dabney on January 10, 2003 04:29 PM
What the Bushies have been doing for the last year and a half at least is playing hardball with the North Koreans, and doing it perfectly well, thank you. This purported "lack of a plan" seems to say more about the lack of reflection or imagination on the part of Bush critics than it does on the Bush administration.
These people are evil. We knew all along that they were cheating on their nuclear agreements and took a hardline stance against them. In a huff, they then admitted that they were cheating all along, and have been since well before the Bush administration came into power.
We're doing the right thing with these people, and have been all along.
Posted by: Dean Esmay on January 10, 2003 07:09 PM
Dean,
Look at this article from almost a year ago.
President Bush's references to North Korea as part of an "axis of evil" represents another feint in the administration's yet un-formed policy toward the opaque regime. Bush started out his term expressing skepticism of North Korea and the "Sunshine" or engagement policy of South Korea. After a thorough policy review concluded last June, Bush then moved in the direction of engagement, welcoming talks with Pyongyang at any time. In his State of the Union address, Bush has now intimated little interest in engagement.
If the U.S. administration believes tough words and a "benign neglect" policy will pacify the DPRK regime, it is sorely mistaken. A confluence of events ensures that we are headed for the brink again with North Korea in the next 12 months: The U.S.-DPRK 1994 Agreed Framework reaches critical implementation stages in the coming months that will test the intentions of Pyongyang.
Mr. Cha was 100% correct. Bush's policy is like a yo-yo. First he wants engagement then he doesn't, now they want engagement again. If you read Mr. Cha's statements in bold it lays out very clearly that Bush either A. Didn't have a plan on how to deal with NK. B. Intentionally fucked up the situation to create nuclear brinkmanship.
Posted by: Les Dabney on January 10, 2003 07:59 PM
Posted by: Les Dabney on January 10, 2003 08:00 PM
A few more treaties that Bush felt the need to dump.
the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty;
the Biological Weapons Convention;
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty;
and the process of strategic arms reductions with Russia.
Kinda throws some cold water on your theory huh Mark? It seems North Korea is just following America's lead.
Posted by: Les Dabney on January 11, 2003 07:21 AM
