Insdie the Ring: North Korea split (in Bush administration?)

Washington Times ^ | August 08, 2003 | Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough

[TigerLikesRooster]

Inside the Ring

By Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough THE WASHINGTON TIMES

North Korea split Below the public facade of near unanimity on policy toward North Korea, the Bush administration's top national security officials are divided on the best way to deal with the North-created nuclear crisis.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz favor a policy of "regime change" as the ultimate solution. This view, we are told, is based on the almost unanimous intelligence assessment that Pyongyang's communist regime is not going to give up its nuclear arms, regardless of multiparty talks and diplomacy.

The State Department and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell favor the diplomatic approach — even at the expense of concessions to Pyongyang, such as holding bilateral talks.

One solution being considered is to try fomenting a military coup against North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. An idea floating in high-level circles within the administration is to get the Chinese military to lead the way by telling North Korean military leaders that their future is dark as long as Mr. Kim rules.

The coup plan calls for convincing Chinese military leaders to back the North Korean military in ousting Mr. Kim. In exchange, the new military regime in Pyongyang would be guaranteed its survival for 10 years or so if it gives up the nuclear weapons program.

[TigerLikesRooster]

the almost unanimous intelligence assessment that Pyongyang's communist regime is not going to give up its nuclear arms, regardless of multiparty talks and diplomacy.

to try fomenting a military coup against North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-il is in trouble, however well the upcoming talk turns out. Bush is doing his Iraq dance again. Bush was conciliatory, conducted a long series of shuttle diplomacy, allowing Powell to be kicked in the knee by Arab states, and U.N. meetings, only to whack Saddam in the end. The same thing seems to be in progress. This time, instead of invasion, the weapond of choice is to destabilization.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[AmericanInTokyo]

a regime change, sans direct or massive American military intervention, is in fact my preferred option. so i look forward to developments, and certainly tend to side with the DOD hawks on this one

[Semper Paratus]

The playbook is use Powell and State to turn the other cheek and when it gets slapped, hit back.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Wing attack. Plan R. R for Robert.

[drypowder]

What happened to Bush's statement, "you're either with us or your with those who want to destroy freedom and our way of life." There is no gray in that statement. I believe that Bush still believes and will act accordingly to his own words. The hope is that he acts before foreign hands kill more Americans here at home.