-
BBC World Survey Ranks Israel Near Bottom in Global Popularity
May 24, 2013 | 13 comments
-
Muslim, Er, Youth Riots in Sweden
May 24, 2013 | 9 comments
-
Good Luck Quin
May 24, 2013 | 6 comments
-
One of The London Soldier Beheading Suspects British Born
May 23, 2013 | 9 comments
-
The Religion of Peace Strikes London Again
May 22, 2013 | 7 comments
The Spectacle Blog
After several rounds of bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea in Beijing, North Korea has apparently agreed to a moratorium on uranium enrichment, nuclear tests and long range missile launches as well as allowing the return of IAEA inspectors to the Yongbyon nuclear complex and the resumption of six-party talks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it represented “a modest first step in the right direction.”
And exactly how many first steps have we had with North Korea over the years?
This is a gamble for the Obama Administration. On one hand, there is the possibility (however remote it may be) that Kim Jong-un and his minions represent a break from the past. If they honor the agreement, it would be a big feather in the cap for the Obama Administration’s foreign policy accomplishments. On the other hand, if Kim Jong-un and his minions stay true to form and if a snafu should arise between now and November then the Obama Administration looks foolish, naïve and eager to accept the words of a historically unpredictable and unreliable actor at face value.
I am also not exactly encouraged when I see the following statement from the State Department:
The following points flow from the February 23-24 discussions in Beijing:
- The United States reaffirms that it does not have hostile intent toward the DPRK and is prepared to take steps to improve our bilateral relationship in the spirit of mutual respect for sovereignty and equality.
- The United States reaffirms its commitment to the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement.
- The United States recognizes the 1953 Armistice Agreement as the cornerstone of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
- U.S. & DPRK nutritional assistance teams will meet in the immediate furture to finalize administrative details on a targeted U.S. program consisting of an initial 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance with the prospect of additional assistance based on continued need.
- The United States is prepared to take steps to increase people-to-people exchanges, including in the areas of culture, education, and sports.
- U.S. sanctions against the DPRK are not targeted against the livelihood of the DPRK people.
So we know what the United States is prepared to do. But what steps is North Korea to improve its relations with the United States? The United States reaffirms its commitment to the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement. And what was that statement exactly? Oh yeah, North Korea was going to end its nuclear program. So the United States is essentially announcing that North Korea is agreeing to do what it agreed to do six and a half years ago.
As for the Armistice Agreement, North Korea hasn’t exactly adhered to it over the years as when in March 2010 it torpedoed a South Korean naval vessel killing 46 sailors. A year ago, they were jamming South Korean communication signals. It’s not our recognition of the Armistice Agreement the Obama Administration should be worried about.
It’s all well and good to provide food aid for starving North Koreans. But why exactly are they starving? They are starving because of Stalinist isolationist economic policies. If North Korea opened its borders to trade and had free markets chances are they wouldn’t need food aid in the first place. But North Korea uses food as a weapon. Feed us or we will launch a missile. North Korea has no incentive to allows it populace to prosper.
As for people-to-people exchanges, does this mean Secretary Clinton going to give Kim Jong-un a basketball autographed by Jeremy Lin?
I don’t think I am alone in thinking that today’s announcement is an exercise in wishful thinking rather than one grounded in the sort of pragmatic optimism championed by Ronald Reagan which said, “Trust, but verify.” The Obama Administration seems content to merely trust.
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/02/29/a-new-leaf-for-north-korea
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
crazy| 2.29.12 @ 2:07PM
Been there, done that in '94 Agreed Framework which was exposed in '02 as a sham. How long will it take this time?
Dan Phillips| 2.29.12 @ 2:37PM
Is there any Hell hole anywhere on earth that you interventionists don't want to make America's problem?
America should get out of South Korea. South Korea is a prosperous nation. It is high time they started taking care of their own defense and stopped free-loading off the US. If America gets out of South Korea then North Korea ceases to be our problem. There. Problem solved.
Aaron Goldstein| 2.29.12 @ 3:09PM
The Korean Peninsula is our problem whether you like it or not and simply withdrawing solves nothing. Your näiveté is astonishing.
Timothy L. Pennell| 2.29.12 @ 6:12PM
LET THEM STARVE.
Maybe then, they'll FIGHT for their FREEDOM, like everybody else has had to.
Better to Die on your Feet, than live on your KNEES.
You sound like a FOOL.
Dan Phillips| 2.29.12 @ 11:40PM
Why is it our problem? Is it Bolivia's problem? Is it Moldova's problem? Once again this proves my contention that the essential difference between non-interventionists and interventionists is that non-interventionists want America to act like a regular country. (The inherently conservative position.) Interventionists want America to act special and as if the whole world is our backyard. Is Moldova hand-wringing about Syria? Are they fretting about Iran? Are they getting their panties in a wad over North Korea? No they are not. And neither should we.
Your default globalist assumptions are astonishing.
Aaron Goldstein| 3.1.12 @ 9:40AM
You know as well as I do that America is neither Moldova nor Bolivia. We are a special country with enormous powers and with enormous powers come enormous responsibility.
Your statement is quite Obamaesque when you think about it. In April 2009, Obama stated at a press conference just before the NATO Summit in France, "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism." In other words, if everybody is exceptional then no one is exceptional. You would fit it quite well at the Obama State Department.
Dan Phillips| 2.29.12 @ 11:52PM
"Americans who think America should behave like other countries are “isolationists,” whereas other countries that behave like America are “rogue nations.”" ~ Joseph Sobran
Aaron Goldstein| 3.1.12 @ 9:44AM
Ah yes, Joe Sobran. The man who palled around with Holocaust deniers.
Screwtape| 2.29.12 @ 9:01PM
Tel Aviv Aaron won't be happy till America has its fingers in every pie on earth. Meanwhile, back here on planet USA, our kids are illiterate, crime soars, drugs abound, illegals prosper, morals crumble, families disintegrate. But by all means, let's give a shit about Korea.
Dai Alanye | 2.29.12 @ 3:32PM
Good for Obama/Axelrod. Kim Jong-un is now the Korean George Washington.
Willy| 2.29.12 @ 5:01PM
It is no wonder that the world laughs at us.
Floyd Looney | 2.29.12 @ 5:49PM
North Korea is in the midst of its worst famine since the mid-90's when over 3 million died, and many say this one is worse. North Koreans are better prepared to fend for themselves this time though.
Once they get the food, they will be back to making nukes. Their "military first" policy means that the army will be fed first.
Maxwell| 2.29.12 @ 5:58PM
As for people-to-people exchanges, does this mean Secretary Clinton going to give Kim Jong-un a basketball autographed by Jeremy Lin?
No, it means that it will get the same 'reset button' that Russia got.
Timothy L. Pennell| 2.29.12 @ 6:10PM
LET THEM STARVE.
Maybe then, they'll FIGHT for their FREEDOM, like everybody else has had to.
Better to Die on your Feet, than live on your KNEES.
The Bruce| 2.29.12 @ 10:39PM
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
We've been seeing this movie play out the same way for over two decades -- we send in the food, and they welch on the agreement before the ink dries. I'm not will to see if this new "Dear Leader" will hold true to the agreement.
By sending in food/fuel, all we do is prop up the Communist regime there. The food never goes to the people of NK, it goes to the political class and the military. Screw 'em. LET... THEM... STARVE!!!!
WL| 3.1.12 @ 12:40AM
No. It's not a new leaf.
It's another lie from this administration.
Next...
Bob| 3.2.12 @ 12:22AM
It's a diversionary tactic. Now they'll paint Obama as a great uniter, at the same time distracting people from Iran, the real nuclear problem.