North Korea - The Failure of Bush's Policy Realized - 2003

[taquinas101]

I originally posted this in response to another thread, but it actually relates to the separate point about what the Bush administration was thinking back in 2002-2003 when Korea announced that it would start producing plutonium and the U.S. subsequently invading Iraq. Here is a 2003 article discussing the Bush's administration's strategy with respect to North Korea in 2003. Three years later, it is apparent that the strategy backfired.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0421-08.htm

Published on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 by the Daily Telegraph (UK)
Rumsfeld Calls for Regime Change in North Korea
by David Rennie in Washington

A secret Donald Rumsfeld memorandum calling for regime change in North Korea was leaked yesterday, opening a fresh foreign policy split in the Bush administration.

The classified discussion paper, circulated by the defense secretary, appears to cut directly across State Department plans to disarm Kim Jong-il, the North's dictator, through threats leavened by promises that his regime is not a target for overthrow.

The paper does not call for military action against North Korea, but wants the United States to team up with China in pushing for the collapse of Kim Jong-il's bankrupt but belligerent regime, the New York Times reported.

In a sign that Washington is girding itself for a repetition of the bitter rows that preceded the Iraq conflict, the memorandum was leaked on the same day that a senior State Department negotiator flew to Beijing for three-way talks with China and North Korea.

Officials working for Mr Rumsfeld are implacably opposed to the talks, pointing to North Korea's long history of extorting aid and concessions in return for promises - never kept - to behave in a more reasonable way.

Instead, they seek to use the salutary effect of the rapid victory in Iraq to push North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons program immediately.

They also want to demand weapons inspections across the country. That would be an unthinkable concession for a Stalinist police state that bars even aid agencies from a third of its territory.

This raises the prospect that Washington would be urging inspections for form's sake and with little hope of success, much as happened in Iraq.

Even before the American envoy, James Kelly, arrived in Beijing for the talks, there were signs of new North Korean brinksmanship.

Pyongyang released conflicting statements last Friday, saying in an English language text that it had started reprocessing spent fuel rods into plutonium, a dramatic step that would place it only months from producing several nuclear warheads. However, a Korean version of the statement said that Pyongyang was merely poised to begin reprocessing.

[Make7]

1. I just watched Frontline's "Kim's Nuclear Gamble" episode last night.

It can be viewed online at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kim/view/

It highlights the attitude and ineffectiveness of the Bush Administration's policy on North Korea. Frontline reported that it was the Bush Administration that dropped the "framework" agreed to under the Clinton Administration, after which the North Koreans eliminated whatever oversight of their nuclear programs that were in place at that time. I guess to some no oversight is preferable to imperfect oversight.

- Make7

[taquinas101]

2. Here's Dennis Kucinich Back In 2003 Discussing DOD Memo

regarding the planned failure of the talks with North Korea. I guess an "I told you so," is a little empty as this point. Still, I have to give Dennis Kucinich a hand on his foresight.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_kucinich/030422DODMemo.html

Kucinich: DOD Memo Calling For Regime Change in
N. Korea Counterproductive To Goal Of Disarmament

On Eve Of Key Negotiations Secretary Rumsfeld Is Circulating
A DOD Memorandum Calling For Regime Change in N. Korea
On the eve of negotiations with North Korea, and our allies in the region, the circulation of a Defense Department (DOD) memo calling for regime change in North Korea is counterproductive to the goal of disarmament and raise questions about the Administration’s commitment to the talks, stated Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) today.

Kucinich, Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, issued the following statement:

“Recent press accounts that Secretary Rumsfeld, on the eve of disarmament talks, is circulating a DOD memorandum calling for regime change in North Korea is inflammatory and is undermining efforts for a negotiated settlement.

“Such a memo, circulated so close to the beginning of negotiations, is counterproductive to the shared goal of the international community of the nuclear disarmament of the Korean peninsula.”

“President Bush should caution Secretary Rumsfeld, whose irresponsible behavior is damaging to peace talks. The United States must work with our allies in the region, and the world community, to encourage peaceful disarmament.”