Posted on 02/17/2007 3:02:10 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Interview with Chosun Ilbo: "N. Korea would not give up nuke... Kim Jong-il regime should be eliminated."
Washington = Huh Yong-bum
2007.02.16 23:22
After 'Feb. 13 Deal on N. Korean nuke,' John Bolton, the former U.S. Ambassador to U.N., has become the figure getting most attention in U.S. As soon as Beijing agreement was announced, he came out, saying, "It is flatly wrong," squarely criticizing George W. Bush. This tough stance is being talked about again and again (in the media.)
In an interview with Chosun Ilbo held on Feb. 15 at American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank in Washington, he said, "I think what President Bush is doing is flatly wrong," answering to Bush's retort on the previous day that Bolton's criticism is 'flatly wrong. He said, "I do not enjoy saying things like this. What makes me sad is that the current administration changed its policy direction, abandoning principles it held onto in the first term." He expressed that Bush's policy shift toward compromise with N. Korea is "sad."
Q: What is wrong with this agreement?
"Three things. N. Korea would not give up nukes under any circumstance. Therefore, providing economic aids in exchange for their nuke could only strengthen Kim Jong-il regime. In addition, it would send wrong signals to other countries developing nukes such as Iran."
Q: If so, would the regime change the only solution?
"In my opinion, N. Korean regime cannot be changed but should be eliminated. What should infuriate S. Koreans most is the oppression of N. Korean regime. I have hard time understanding why S. Koreans are not more vocal in putting pressure on N. Korean regime, and eliminating it."
Q: Why do you think N. Koreans came out to the negotiation table and reached the agreement, if they had no intention of giving up nukes?
"It was due to pressure from all sides. We actually pushed N. Korea into a corner, but this agreement would allow N. Korea to escape from the corner and repeat the games it used to play. They have been repeatedly playing the (same) game that they agree to one agreement and then start another negotiation, buying time."
Q: (In your opinion,) how would U.S. respond if N. Korea reneges on its promise again?
"President Bush would also have to scrap the agreement. Hopefully, it would make us go back to the more effective way of dealing with them."
He consistently argued that, if it is a 'wrong deal' anyway, it had better be broken down soon, allowing us to go back to tough policy against N. Korea again, which would deny N. Korea the time to produce more nukes.
Can you comment on the current state of Kim's health that might mean the agreement will be short lived simply because of his death?
Bolton is right, yes; when has North Korea lived up to any agreement it ever made?
Dubya, appointed him because he wanted his advice and respected his judgement. John Bolton has always been candid and honest with the press and the rest of the world, its why hes not liked.
In my opinion Bolton's statement on this deal is absolutely in character. Alot of us support Dubya, but we speak out when he's wrong, Thats not disloyal in fact its the highest form of loyalty , maintaining integrity
I disagree about any loyalty shown to Bolton by the White House.
As predicted...
It is possible. Actually, I think that the chance of N. Korean regime imploding in a couple of years is not small. However, it is not something we can control. There is equal or more chance that he and his regime could outlast Bush administration.
We are not in control of events with regard to N. Korea. Unless we prevail decisively in Iraq and Iran, we are left to sitting around and hoping that some serious cracks developing all over N. Korean regime would actually lead to wholesale collapse "in time."
Timing is the key here and we are no longer in control of timing, I fear.
I think we seeing replay of what happen during Clinton adminisation
I'll take that as sarcasm, I hope.
Thanks. I see that a podcast/mp3 is available at his site: http://www.glennbeck.com/audio/
Talk softly but carry a big stick doesn't work when the Rats burn the stick.
Pray for W and Our Troops
I don't know HOW they are going to sell this to the American People. Bushbots (who might otherwise criticize a Clinton Administration had they pulled this kind of stunt) may uncritically bite the baited hook. Not me.
You ought to see the Japanese domestic analysis of this <>AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY FAILURE. Even North Korea celebrated their victory yesterday in the six party talks, just in time for Korean New Years, over Pyongyang Radio (monitored in Japan).
Want to see change? Bolton for Secretary of State.
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