North Koreans sought to rekindle Clinton-era negotiations. Bush refused

[gatorboy]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/14/politics/main643242.shtml

Mr. Bush preferred a "bold approach, all at once," said Pritchard, who is no longer with the State Department. Pritchard added that President Bush didn't want to get "bogged down in long negotiations."

Mr. Bush's "bold approach" was that diplomacy with North Korea needed to be all or nothing. President Bush chose nothing. The situation worsened.

Following the January speech, in April 2002, "North Koreans finally sought" to rekindle Clinton-era negotiations on its nuclear program, Pritchard said.

"At that point in time we believed we had the nuclear program under control," he added. But the policy shifted. President Bush refused senior level talks.

Official relations between the two countries ceased. In response to being diplomatically cold-shouldered, North Korea's ultimate response was that it became openly nuclear.

[BootinUp]

1. Someone need to turn this into a docudrama.

For the repukes so they can follow the story.

[AndyA]

2. Bush is doing a good job looking out for our best interests, and keeping

us safe, isn't he? What better way to get beat up than to piss off the neighborhood bully? At least if you keep the lines of communication open, there is hope. Bush is such a horrible, horrible President. His arrogance is sending the wrong message to other countries. America stands for freedom, peace. You can't do that slamming doors in people's faces.

Go back to Crawford, George. Permanently. You aren't helping us in D.C.

[Sadie5]

4. Is Bush crying to the UN?

I thought the Repug slogan was "US out of UN". The mixed boaeds I post on was where I used to see this.

[stepnw1f]

3. OH SH*T..... It Get's Worse for the GOP Everyday! (nt)

[Hav]

5. .

And again, yet another point that raises the question: How the hell can repubs claim that they are the ones who are strong on national security while saying that Dems are dangerous for America?

Indeed, the actions count, not the words.

[Botany]

6. What a fucking idiot

Way to go *

Official relations between the two countries ceased. In response to being diplomatically
cold-shouldered, North Korea's ultimate response was that it became openly nuclear.

[Tom Joad]

7. This has been repeated much, even on MSM news. There was

a major difference in approach. Clinton, by sending former Pres. Carter and other initiatives to deal directly with North Korea, did prevent this tragedy of a nuclear testing (i feel all nuclear tests are a crime against humanity). I wish Clinton had done more, like really set a goal for the US to divest itself of all nuclear weapons, and doing more to encourage worldwide nuclear disarmament.

Bush, in contrast, did much, much, worse, by refusing to talk to North Korea directly.

[Disturbed]

9. Busholini is a fraud.

He took the advice of the Hardliners, the NeoFascists, to starve NK into submission and an attempt to have the NK Regime implode via economic sanctions. He also refused to sign a Non Agression Pact that NK wanted. It didn't work.

[tridim]

8. Diplomatin' is hard werk..

Especially when you have no idea what the word diplomacy means.

[It was not a pretzel]

10. or work n/t

[tridim]

13. Faking bushspeak is also hard werk (sic)

[question everything]

11. Thank you. Was looking for this info

I remember back in 2003 when many wondered about Bush going to war with Iraq that "may" have had WMD, while ignoring N. Korea that was certain to have had it.

Yes, I know. Trying to find any logic in any policy by this gang is an exercise in futility.

[madinmaryland]

12. He has never negotiated with anyone.

(including himself). It's either his way or the highway.

[Olney Blue]

14. How's that brilliant policy workin for you, El Chimpo?