Posted on 10/10/2006 9:15:57 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Appeasement: Democrats have been quick to blame President Bush for North Korea's nuclear test. The real culprits are Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and their diplomacy of wishful thinking.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., on Monday reacted to communist dictator Kim Jong Il's atomic muscle-flexing by predictably blaming the failed policies of the Bush administration, saying, "I regret deeply their failure to deal with the threat."
Another probable 2008 presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said, "The truth is the Clinton administration knew full well they didn't have a perfect agreement (in 1994). But at least they were talking."
That gets to the heart of the Democrats' foreign policy failures: Talking with tyrants is always better than shunning them, no matter the situation. Neville Chamberlain thought so, too, in the late 1930s, and millions paid for his naivete with their lives.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
N. Korea is just more proof of the failure of appeasement.
Excellent post.
Here:
http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/10/the-zucker-gop-ad/
The Frontline report on North Korea takes a Clintonian line, but it makes one thing clear: that in 1993 Noreth Korea used the threat of constructing nuclrar facilities to force the US into talks which ended with the deal that Carter made with NK. When the US did not fully comply with the terms of the agreement, NK testsed an long-range missle. The US then started one on one which led to giving them again what they wanted. Meanwhile SK's "sunshine" policy was nothing more than paying tribute to NK.
Thanks for that link, AV! The most watched GOP ad that the GOP won't show, or something.
http://www.floppingaces.net/2006/10/10/the-zucker-gop-ad/
Thanks for posting the link. It's a superb ad.
I wish Hannity would show it on TV. Just like with the Swifties ads.
I can't help but wonder how HIllary does it, to go in front of the cameras and with a straight face accuse others of stuff her husband is guilty of, this is one example, and talking about too much power regarding the Foley scandal is another. I can't take that woman's hypcorisy, I usually have to switch channels when she's on tv.
Both Bill and HIllary Clinton are sociopaths, who have no conscience whatsoever.
Carter and Clintoon were weak on defense and made many grave mistakes, but we've been in power since 2001 and have done exactly what those two liberal bufoons did about N. Korea, n-o-t-h-i-n-g.
How long must conservatives be in power before we stop blaming previous Administrations for all the problems we have today? What good does that do? If a North Korean nuclear bomb falls on my city it won't help me to blame Clinton. Bush has had 5 1/2 years to get something done, but today we heard what his policy has been all along from Condi Rice: "We have no plans to invade or attack North Korea, the President has guaranteed this...", (paraphrase).
Bush has chosen to neither attack North Korea nor engage them in talks; which means he's done nothing. He needs to take the rap for this problem too.
DNC Says North Korean Bomb Test Another Bush Failure
Reports that North Korea rested a nuclear weapon sparked a sharp denunciation of Bush Administration foreign policy by Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. North Koreas announced A-bomb test is further evidence that President Bush has taken his eye off the ball, allowing a member of the so-called axis of evil to acquire a nuclear weapon, said Dean.
Dean cited Bushs discontinuation of the Clinton Administrations two pronged approach. The Clinton Administrations policy slant and diversionary tactics fended off North Koreas development of nuclear weapons for eight years, said Dean. But those gains have been frittered away by a clueless Republican administration.
Dean described the policy slant prong as a solid thrust to the left that reassured North Koreas Communist government that time was on the side of progressive reform in America. With Democrats taking the lead, North Korea could be confident that there was basic agreement on the big issues of governance, said Dean. The need to develop nuclear weapons was, thus, shown to be misplaced.
According to Dean, the specific examples of policies that promoted a convergence of the two nations social and political programs included the Clinton Administrations efforts to nationalize health care and its opposition to tax cuts. A nationalized healthcare system is a major feature of progressive regimes like the one in North Korea, Dean observed. By working toward such a system in America, Democrats convey a message of hope to nations that many have characterized as our enemies.
Opposing tax cuts is essential if the United States is going to make the transition to full social democracy, Dean continued. Atomistic individualism is a barrier to the collective well-being of the whole. The resources of the nation belong to all. An effective tax system helps put control of more of these resources into the hands of the government, where it should be.
The diversionary tactic prong consisted of the high-profile sex scandal initiated by President Clinton. Kim Il Jongs interest in pornography is legendary, Dean pointed out. By inundating the media with stories of lewd and promiscuous behavior, Clinton was able to distract Kim pursuing nuclear weaponry. Bush, in contrast, has run a dull and boring administration. There has been nothing of abiding interest to distract North Korea from its weapons program.
Dean urged voters to return Democrats to a majority in Congress so we can try to pick up where we left off. A Democratic Congress will kill the Bush Administrations tax cuts and initiate impeachment hearings, Dean promised. While the impeachment hearings wont be able to match the distraction potential of a sex scandal in the White House, the media coverage of it will at least push bad news from places like Korea to the back burner.
In related news, Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM), a reputed candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, is urging face-to-face diplomacy in dealing with North Korea. Richardson volunteered to undertake this task, pointing out that he was U.N. ambassador and U.S. energy secretary during the Clinton administration, visited North Korea, and toured North Korea's nuclear reactor at Yongbyon as part of his effort to try to derail the development of nuclear weapons. And I might add, Richardson said, North Korea and New Mexico have been at peace the whole time Ive been in office. I think this speaks volumes about my ability to handle such a tough and delicate foreign policy issue.
read more...
http://www.azconservative.org/Semmens1.htm
"Bush has chosen to neither attack North Korea nor engage them in talks; which means he's done nothing. He needs to take the rap for this problem too."
Actually, blame Truman. He fired MacArthur who wanted to annilate the chicom and the north koreans. Truman prevented his use of A-bombs and we have had this continued problem since.
There is no such thing as a "partial victory"!
I find it equally amazing that Dems refuse to acknowledge that their great and glorious ex-leader Slick Willy could ever have made a mistake about anything. Republicans, even strong Bush supporters like myself, are quick to jump on any real and perceived errors made by the Bush admin. But the Dems remain tightlipped and refuse to break ranks even though they must know that the Clinton foreign policy was a disaster in every area it touched. Like Tommy Franks said the Clintons simply kicked the can down the field allowing the succeeding admin to handle the problems they (Clinton admin) refused to tackle.
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