#8 It's said the US has never lost on the battle field and never won at the negotiating table. All the president's statement about ruling out attacking NK does is reset the negotiating bar by taking away the ultimate and, in the final analysis, the only threat the US has.
The mistake in US negotiating tactics is to assume all actors have a desire to come to agreement and meet somewhere in the middle. False and deadly conceit. For most of the world, negotiations are just another way to defeat your enemy; all the better if no shot is fired in the process.
And it's not "We won't attack you, now about those nukes." It becomes "So you won't attack us. Now let's talk about giving me new plutonium producing reactors and all the other goodies."
All this NK fiasco has done is show Iran that it has nothing to fear from the US. It's now nukes for everyone who wants them. Isn't that gonna be an interesting world?
Prez Bush conference:
The United States affirmed that we have no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. We affirmed that we have no intention of attacking North Korea. With its actions this week, North Korea has once again chosen to reject the prospect for a better future offered by the six-party joint statement. Instead, it has opted to raise tensions in the region.
I'm pleased that the nations in the region are making clear to North Korea what is at stake. I thank China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia for their strong statements of condemnation of North Korea's actions. Peace on the Korean Peninsula requires that these nations send a clear message to Pyongyang that its actions will not be tolerated, and I appreciate their leadership.
The United States remains committed to diplomacy. The United States also reserves all options to defend our friends and our interests in the region against the threats from North Korea. So, in response to North Korea's provocation, we'll increase defense cooperation with our allies, including cooperation on ballistic missile defense to protect against North Korean aggression, and cooperation to prevent North Korea from exporting nuclear and missile technologies.
Our goals remain clear: peace and security in Northeast Asia and a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. We will take the necessary actions to achieve these goals. We will work with the United Nations. We'll support our allies in the region. And together, we will ensure that North Korea understands the consequences if it continues down its current path.
1. No attacking NK.
2. Increase defense cooperation with allies.
3. Nuclear-free Korean Peninsula: Too late. Horse is out of the barn. Coop with UN is counterproductive.
4. Prevent North Korea from exporting nuclear and missile technologies: NK is already exporting missiles and missile technologies without interference and cooperation of China and Russia. China and Russia already export nuclear tech to Iran and Pakistan which then spread further. Why would they hinder NK from doing what they already do? |
President Bush demanded stiff sanctions on North Korea Wednesday for its reported nuclear test and asserted the U.S. has "no intention of attacking" the reclusive regime despite its claims that it needs atomic weapons to guard against such a strike. Still, in a Rose Garden news conference, Bush said the United States remains committed to diplomacy but also "reserves all options to defend our friends in the region."