Posted on 06/23/2006 11:20:54 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Former Vice President Walter Mondale said Friday he supports a pre-emptive U.S. strike against a North Korean missile, saying the U.S. should tell North Korea to dismantle the missile or "we are going to take it out."
"I think it would end the nuclear long-range dreams of this dangerous country," said Mondale, who was the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee and a former U.S. ambassador to Japan.
The tensions are over North Korea's apparent preparations to test-fire a Taepodong-2 missile, which is believed to have a range of up to 9,300 miles. That would make it capable of hitting much of the U.S. mainland.
Mondale, 78, said North Korea already has nuclear weapons and its ambition to develop a long-range missile is "one of the most dangerous developments in recent history." It's so dangerous, he said, because of the nation's isolation from the international community and its unpredictable leader, Kim Jong Il.
"Here's this bizarre, hermit kingdom over there with a paranoid leader getting ready to test a missile system that can hit us," Mondale said.
Former President Clinton's defense secretary, William Perry, also advocated a pre-emptive strike in The Washington Post, but National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley brushed aside Perry's suggestion. Mondale spoke about a pre-emptive strike during an appearance on WCCO-AM in Minneapolis.
Mondale and President Jimmy Carter took office in 1976 and were defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. Mondale lost as the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984. He was appointed ambassador to Japan in 1993 and is now practicing law in Minneapolis.
Walter Mondale??? Geez, that guy's like malaria; just when you think it's gone, ...
What? Doesn't he know he's a democrat?
Fritz the Hawk???? Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.
Should be ON The Washington Post........
Former Vice President Walter Mondale said Friday he supports a pre-emptive U.S. strike against a North Korean missile, saying the U.S. should tell North Korea to dismantle the missile or "we are going to take it out."
This guy is a lunatic. They've got the a-bomb. If you blow up their missile, they will blow up Seoul or perhaps Tokyo. Maybe even LA. Doesn't this guy understand the obvious? The damage has already been done. He's too late.
I remember Dennis Miller joking about Mondale doing an American Express commercial:
"Hi, remember me, Walter Mondale. A few years back I ran for President and got my ass stomped like a NARC at a biker rally..."
Not a real hawk. He's just suggesting one strike and thinking it would end their program. Of course it wouldn't, all it would do is make it so next time around NK does more of the final preps inside a building and more quietly so we don't find out until later.
You think they would say the same thing about Iran?
"Doesn't he know he's a Democrat?"
Not only that, but it was his boss, Jimmy Carter, who negotiated the peace treaty with North Korea and won the Emmy, er the Nobel, for doing so.
heheh.. I happen to agree with the strike btw.
....he will deny later he ever said that.....
All these Dems are believing their own spin about the Prez being "trigger-happy"... W will nail the missile *after* it is launched, AFAIK.
Did Carter and Mondale Cut & Run from Iran?
"Interesting how the pacifist dems can egg us on to acts of war, but not support the follow through."
That's an excellent analysis. For them, it's all about the issue.
Oh, well, I guess it's OK for Dubya to go ahead then....
Looks like the DUmocrats are hopeful that Bush will clean up the mess they left behind once again!
They hope to goad the President into striking North Korea so they can get the "BUSH = HITLER" headline.
Thank God Mondale went down to defeat.
We did'nt need intemperate,half crazy leaders then and we don't want them now.
Hey Fritz, let's wait and see if they can even ignite the thing. Then we'll shoot it down and see where they go next.
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