President Bush seems to desperately want to add laurels to his presidency in its twilight hour. How else could one explain the striking off of North Korea from the terrorism blacklist? It is very likely that North Korea has been supplying nuclear arms technology to Iran and Syria. It is also very probable that it is continuing with its nuclear enrichment programme.
President Bush not only took off the ‘bad boys’ label from North Korea but has also sent in shiploads of badly needed wheat into the country. In return for what? For a dramatic destroyal of the old Yongbyon nuclear reactor. Besides that North Korea has only given some details of its nuclear programme. What is totally missing is any mention of its enrichment plans and its aid to Iran and Syria.
Many in the Bush administration are not happy with the concessions given to North Korea. It seems that Condoleezza Rice has won over Dick Cheney as far as that country is concerned. Though Rice has said there is still a long way to go and that North Korea has to do much more, one wonders why the rogue country was not squeezed further to bring it into line. The floods in the country last year have destroyed the crops. More concessions could have been got from Kim Jong Il.
Instead the US seems to be taking a “big-hearted” approach towards a country that has always acted aggressively and secretly. It has contributed much to the proliferation of missiles and nuclear technology in the world. There is a saying that a dog’s tail always remains crooked. It applies prefectly to Kim Jong’s Korea.
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Source: WSJ
