Seriously I can see them blackmailing South Korea or Japan in the near future.
I'm in.
I am just getting a tiny glimmer of how Dubya works.
Do you recall a certain axis of evil speech by a guy named Dubya and all the howls of the other side at his most provocative and unjustified war like speech. It gave Tom Daschle the vapors as you'll recall.
That is at least some reason to believe that Dubya was aware of the North Korean situation when he made the Axis speech. There are hints in the press today that he knew back then. We may have known about this since at least the first of the year.
We are the worlds only superpower. The North Koreans conned Jimmy Carter and Clinton went along with the deal. There had to be people inside our defense intelligence agency that were well aware of what was going on. They certainly tracked it during the Clinton years. It was very likely briefed to Bush early on. He may have taken some clandistine action to get proof. That likely came 10 months ago.
Bush is going to do his best to make this a world safe for the UNITED STATES. To do that he must first have the full support the nation. That takes time effort and strategy. Bush is in the act of revealing some things undoubtedly suspected since before 1994. His Dad had to be a fantastic resource.
If Dubya wants to fix it, he first has to make us aware of the problem. Bush generally makes a case that is partially shot down. The left goes..... trigger happy cowboy bush.... bla bla... Then later facts prove bush was very right. It leaves the left with a lot of egg on their face.
After a bit they will learn to not challenge his first move. They may find it is not prudent.
The North Koreans had the stuff to make two bombs in 1994. They likely made them in 1995 or 96. The danger has likely been their since 1996. Clinton was supposed to send inspectors... after the 94 settlement. I don't think he did. Why? Perphaps he did not want to face what he woul find especially before the 1996 election.
It seems certain that Clinton did not tell us. Dubya has made sure we know.
It occurs to me that whatever Dubya had our guy present to North Korea left them no means to say they did not have the bomb!! It seems likely Bush wanted the admission and did what it took to get it. Otherwise the left would deny it for them. If North Korea did not admit it, the left would claim Bush was lying just to win an election with nuclear scare tactics.
It was difficult for Clinton to deny what he did with Monica when his DNA was on her dress. What ever we showed the North Koreans was at least as compelling as Monica's DNA. I think Bush NEEDED a NORTH Korean admission.
I trust Dubya. As his speeches on Saddam from last January and the Axis of evil speech show, Bush does not go off half cocked. There is always method to his madness and much time is spent in reflection before actions are taken.
Bush almost never plays his cards when they are firt dealt. That is why he is such a good poker player on the world stage.I think there are more shoes to drop and much more plan to be revealed as the days transpire.
Just thank God that Dubya Bush and not Al Gore is at the helm.