Seems to me we’ve been doing this same thing for decades. The only thing that worked for at least a little while was bribery… which ultimately also failed.
ANandy, you can’t just say Bush is no longer a player. We have to work with the legacy he left behind. You don’t switch presidents one day and suddenly say, “Okay, we’re starting from scratch now.” My son runs on a relay team, and if the guys before him give him a decent shot, they’re going to win, but if they fall really far behind, there’s no way he’ll be able to make it up even if he’s the fastest guy on that leg.
So, yes, Bush is a player in this game.
No, there is a difference. Although Kim is a whack job (IMHO), the whole “Axis of Evil” stunt was highly counterproductive. Once you label someone as evil, you have as good as cut off all possibility of dialog. In fact, what you’ve done is set the stage for war. Which is exactly what Bush wanted.
He began by invading Iraq which had no WMD (as the UN correctly reported). North Korea’s response was to speed up production of nukes – remember? Apparently, it worked, because Bush backed off. Of course, it could have something to do with messing up in Iraq so miserably.
I think the talking route – even with Kim – is the best way to go. And it’s amazing how long you can keep talking even with a nutjob without ever resorting to violence. Usually, we resort to war when we become impatient, which is not a good justification.
I don’t know. Talking doesn’t work with N. Korea. We tried that. We’ve also tried economiuc sanctions, incentives and war. I think we’re out of options unless there’s one I’ve missed.
danielsangeo almost 15 years ago
ANandy: Why does he have that in the first place?
lalas almost 15 years ago
Seems to me we’ve been doing this same thing for decades. The only thing that worked for at least a little while was bribery… which ultimately also failed.
Nighthawks Premium Member almost 15 years ago
surely , those north koreans aren’t stupid enough to actually USE one of those things? surely…………
CorosiveFrog Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Tigger; W DID something; some namecalling.
cdward almost 15 years ago
ANandy, you can’t just say Bush is no longer a player. We have to work with the legacy he left behind. You don’t switch presidents one day and suddenly say, “Okay, we’re starting from scratch now.” My son runs on a relay team, and if the guys before him give him a decent shot, they’re going to win, but if they fall really far behind, there’s no way he’ll be able to make it up even if he’s the fastest guy on that leg. So, yes, Bush is a player in this game.
CorosiveFrog Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Maybe it’s because people thought Bubbah’s legacy was relatively good.
danielsangeo almost 15 years ago
“W did correctly identify N Korea as one of the Axis of Evil. Is that what you had in mind?”
Partially, but there’s also his calling Kim Jong-Il a “pygmy”.
CorosiveFrog Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Yeah, that is what I mean. He said Nothr Corea was dangerous. Big scoop! WE knew it already. What else did he do?
cdward almost 15 years ago
No, there is a difference. Although Kim is a whack job (IMHO), the whole “Axis of Evil” stunt was highly counterproductive. Once you label someone as evil, you have as good as cut off all possibility of dialog. In fact, what you’ve done is set the stage for war. Which is exactly what Bush wanted.
He began by invading Iraq which had no WMD (as the UN correctly reported). North Korea’s response was to speed up production of nukes – remember? Apparently, it worked, because Bush backed off. Of course, it could have something to do with messing up in Iraq so miserably.
I think the talking route – even with Kim – is the best way to go. And it’s amazing how long you can keep talking even with a nutjob without ever resorting to violence. Usually, we resort to war when we become impatient, which is not a good justification.
TrickyPickle almost 15 years ago
I don’t know. Talking doesn’t work with N. Korea. We tried that. We’ve also tried economiuc sanctions, incentives and war. I think we’re out of options unless there’s one I’ve missed.