Is John Bolton Upset The North Koreans Once Called Him

[cal04]

Is John Bolton Upset The North Koreans Once Called Him Bloodsucking ‘Human Scum’?

Ever since news broke that President Clinton was traveling to North Korea to finalize the release of two imprisoned American journalists, super-hawk John Bolton has been on the attack. While he first charged Clinton with “negotiating with terrorists,” he piled on even after the journalists’ release, saying Clinton was “rewarding bad behavior.”

While only a handful of conservatives have criticized Clinton, Bolton has been leading the charge — in major op-ed pages, television, and radio. After criticizing Clinton for “encouraging rogue states” on NPR yesterday, the host asked Bolton what he would have done instead. “orked harder with China,” was all he could muster. And last night on Fox News, Bolton continued the attack, saying that Clinton had endangered the lives of Americans who travel abroad:

BOLTON: Obviously, we’re happy that they’re released, and obviously, the president has a responsibility to try and protect Americans. But he needs to do it in a way that doesn’t endanger other Americans in the future by making it look profitable for terrorist groups or rogue states to grant other Americans and get ransom. … So this is the question looking forward. What Americans now are not important enough for Bill Clinton to come and secure their release?

Watch it: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/06/bolton-nk-scum/


But what explains Bolton’s harsh backlash against Clinton over the past few days? Back in 2003, when he was serving as U.S. Undersecretary of State in the Bush administration, the North Koreans called Bolton “human scum” and refused to negotiate with him because of his attacks on the North Korean regime:

North Korea said Saturday that it won’t deal with U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton because he described Kim Jong Il as a “tyrannical dictator” and said “life is a hellish nightmare” for many North Koreans. Bolton had made the remarks during a visit to South Korea last week.

“Such human scum and bloodsucker is not entitled to take part in the talks,” a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said, according to the North’s official KCNA news agency. “We have decided not to consider him as an official of the U.S. administration any longer nor to deal with him.”

Maybe this is more about Bolton holding a grudge than it is about criticizing President Clinton for securing the release of two Americans being detained in North Korea.

[Buzz Clik]

1. No, he likes being called names. He wants that kind of attention now.

[Ikonoklast]

9. And being slapped in the face while tied to a chair.

With a dirty sock in his mouth.


Bolton sure misses Condi.

[Buzz Clik]

11. heh

[quiet.american]

2. It's obvious Bolton's jealous as hell of Clinton's success. That's where it begins and ends.nt

[Johonny]

5. I agree

[Kajsa]

3. Note to John Bolton,

Diplomacy works.
It has for a long, long time.

Get a clue, John.

[ensho]

4. Bolton is Bloodsucking ‘Human Scum’ - N. Korea is right

nt

[izquierdista]

6. One thing he will never say

"I was wrong."

"Everything I touched turned to shit and I should reevaluate my political beliefs. Maybe lack of results does indicate stupid thinking and I should study what does work."

[Champion Jack]

7. No, he takes that as a compliment

That albino caterpillar that lives just under his nose was pissed, and it's the one running things.

[AzDar]

8. N. Korea went TOO far... Yosemite Mike 'human' ? I think not.

;)

[Nyquil Man]

10. The idea that negotiation can accomplish anything is antithetical to his philosophy.

Simple as that.

Why do you think the guy hates the UN?