Posted on 10/18/2002 1:55:22 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON - The U.S. was on the brink of war with North Korea in 1994 before Pyongyang agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program, sources said yesterday.
"It went down to the wire," said a diplomatic source in the Clinton administration. "The American people will never know how close we were to war."
The revelation came a day after the stunning announcement that Pyongyang admitted to U.S. officials last month that it continued its nuclear weapons program despite the agreement.
The program probably has produced one or two enriched-uranium bombs, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday.
Sources said the Bush administration would adopt a low-key approach to the situation.
The North Koreans were working on a plutonium bomb — which is smaller and more powerful than an enriched uranium device, but harder to make — in 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton sent a battery of Patriot missiles to South Korea to shoot down missiles fired from the North, at least two Stealth bombers and additional troops.
A U.S. submarine also was also sent on "a close-in mission" off North Korea.
"Had they not accepted, we had 50,000 troops on the [demilitarized zone]. We were hell-bent about stopping them," the ex-State Department source said.
Urged to suspend work
Clinton also dispatched Assistant Secretary of State Robert Gallucci to Pyongyang to urge the Communist regime in 1994 and again in 1995 to accept two light-water reactors — which do not produce weapons-grade nuclear material — from South Korea in exchange for an agreement to suspend its nuclear weapons program.
"He kept us out of a ground war," the source said of Gallucci's effort.
The North Koreans said at the time their nuclear research was meant for energy production — not weapons. Gallucci argued that if their claims were true, there was no reason not to accept the light-water reactors.
"If we hadn't taken those steps, they were on a glide path to producing nuclear weapons," another source close to Clinton said.
The North Koreans now admit they ultimately broke the deal, but they knew in 1994 the U.S. was serious about taking military action to curb the threat to South Korea, Japan and U.S. troops and interests in the region.
Former President Jimmy Carter also traveled to North Korea in 1994, drawing criticism from some in the Clinton White House, who felt he was meddling.
Carter later briefed Clinton, telling him the North Koreans had vowed to suspend production of weapons-grade plutonium.
Let me see if I understand this.
clinton was going to go to war with N.Korea, but since they accepted two light-water reactors, and promised (as they had done how many times before?) that they would suspend their nuclear weapons program he decided against it?
And this proves what?
----------------------
It makes Clinton appear involved and presidential.
Let's hope the torrent marks paid to the Clinton legacy.
For eight years I could barely look at the bum and the sound of his voice was like fingernails on a blackboard to me. Now I can barely type the traitors name.
So essentially, clinton surrrendered to the NK's. The ongoing clinton legacy spin machine is pathetic to watch. Other administrations quietly go away but not this crowd.
The "dirty joke" prezident has nearly done us in.
We Sold Saddam Nukes
"The Come Soaked Blow-Up Surrender Doll"
Simply that Clinton, miserable piece of walking excrement that he is, would do anything to defray a horrible problem long enough to get out of office and dump the problem(s) on others.
Bump
Number 5 on the list was exactly this.
5. Bush knows we have been paying nuclear blackmail to North Korea for several years and that it is the worst immediate foreign affairs problem he has to solve. He will draw on a host of top quality advisors to tackle this difficult and dangerous situation.
Good question … and note the timing: Peace Prize last week – Korean Nukes this week.
Carter later briefed Clinton, telling him the North Koreans had vowed to suspend production of weapons-grade plutonium.
Hmmm, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Madelin Albright, with this group of foreign policy heavyweights, it's amazing we have a country left at all!! What a mess! Thanks Billy bub for more of your pathetic legacy.
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