Was the Korean Attack a Mistake?(backdoor spin control via fmr NYT reporter)

The Daily Beast ^ | 05/27/10 | Philip Shenon

[TigerLikesRooster]

Was the Korean Attack a Mistake?

Washington fears Kim Jong-Il ordered the attack that has the Koreas on the brink. But North Korea says it was an accident, according to America's unlikeliest diplomat.

Is it possible that a self-described “goomba” who owns a northern New Jersey barbeque joint has the answers to the latest crisis with North Korea—a showdown over a sunken South Korean warship that may be the most serious threat to peace since the Korean War?

American diplomats and F.B.I. agents acknowledge that Robert “Bobby” Egan, owner of Cubby’s BBQ Restaurant in Hackensack, New Jersey, has managed over the last decade to turn himself into an important—if crazily unlikely—go-between for the United States in its ever-treacherous dealings with Pyongyang.

A 52-year-old New Jersey native who proudly acknowledges he grew up among mobsters and who speaks with the “dems-and-does” of a Tony Soprano, Egan tells The Daily Beast he has been in contact with North Korean officials dozens of times in recent weeks, and that he has been assured that the torpedo attack on a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors was a mistake.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[counterpunch]

Wheew! That was a close one!
Crisis averted.
Thanks internet blog and BBQ guy from New Jersey!

[Ronin]

Muddies the waters, though.

Which is undoubtedly what Pyongyang intended from the start. They are playing this chump like a fiddle.

[Tamar1973]

He describes North Korean diplomats in New York as “pretty lonely” and eager to find a way, like their masters back in Pyongyang, to end their nation’s isolation. “They didn’t make themselves a hermit kingdom,” Egan insists. “They’ve tried to come out and talk to the world. But every time they’ve done it, we’ve pushed them back.”

Obviously, Mr. Egan's knowledge of Korean history is very shallow. The nickname "Hermit Kingdom" long precedes the Japanese Occupation of Korea in the early 20th century.

[highlander_UW]

If it were a mistake then the proper way to handle it is to apologize, not threaten war. No, it was no mistake.

[rawhide]

Egan, whose astounding adventures in American foreign policy are detailed in his new book, Eating with the Enemy: How I Waged Peace with North Korea from My BBQ Shack in Hackensack

[martin_fierro]

"Someone should get a Pulitzer for this writing!" -- Walter Duranty

[JPG]

The Kanamits only wanted to eat, too.

[PLMerite]

Yeah, I’m pretty sure no NK sub commander normally has “weapons free” orders on a general basis. I’m no authority on firing torpedos, but I’d bet there are at least a half-dozen steps and safeties before you get to that big red button.

[Waco]

Sure, it was a ‘’mistake’’ and the times has 46 staffers to donate to the next ‘’mistake’’. Will these gerbil stuffers ever get their heads out?????

[Sender]

The first time, when the customer with the halting English and singsong accent called for some ribs to go, I didn't think nothing of it, you know, cause it's Hackensack. But then when he gave his address, I knew this was no $10 rib order. "Tony!", I shouted, "Get a tape recorder or sumpin!"

[Clioman]

Well of course it was a mistake. Even a novice goomba knows that you don’t leave incriminating evidence at the scene of the crime. Oh, it was a mistake, alright. Luckily for the Dear Leader, his victims will keep opening their wallets and offering him money so as not to be robbed.

[gandalftb]

Theater of the absurd attended by an audience of the gullible.

It may well have been a mistake. All NK military units are extremely tightly controlled....for fear of defection. Border units are given little or no ammunition.

There was an SK sub in the area that was used as bait for a joint US/SK anti-sub exercise about 50 miles W and at the time of the Cheonan sinking.

Possible NK subs were there to see if they would be spotted also, testing their stealth in shallow waters. If so, tubes would have been loaded in case the NK sub was attacked. However, the order to fire would have to come from at least two officers in agreement.

My theory is that the NK sub sent a homing tropedo in the general direction of the anti-sub exercises to see what the response would be. The very noisy Cheonan happened along and the torpedo turned and chose it instead.

[gandalftb]

Frankly, the strangest behavior is by our own Navy. We sent a lone destroyer to the scene at flank speed, followed by a salvage ship. They were both there in less that two hours.

Our commanders had to assume a potential hostile event either torpedo or mine. Why would we send a lone destroyer and not sweep the area clear of enemy subs first? In an area known for NK belligerence and unprovoked attacks? And risk another ship to the same fate? Much less an undefended salvage ship?

We had an entire anti-sub exercise underway at the same time, an hours sailing time away and they continued their exercise for another 8 hours before responding. Very odd.

[AdmSmith]

Off topic:

It would be interesting to read about the length of the players in the NK soccer team during the years. Here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_DPR_national_football_team they disclose the names. Some of them have info about lengths. The shortest is 169 cm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mun_In-Guk

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Having a Jersey thug who runs a BBQ joint handling delicate situations for the State Department makes as much sense as having Neapolitano and Holder take care of the Gulf oil spill. Bill had some close buddies who ran Chinese restaurants.

It may be, though, the reason the general was dumped awhile back. Someone has to take the rap, guilty or not.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks.