Bush today would not replicate '94 North Korea negotiations (Carter)

[RamblingRose]

Bush today would not replicate '94 North Korea negotiations, Carter says
By ERNIE SUGGS
Cox News Service
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
ATLANTA — With North Korea possibly readying to detonate a second nuclear device and calling the implementation of U.N. sanctions an act of war, former President Jimmy Carter reflected Tuesday night on his role 12 years ago to diffuse tensions over the communist regime's nuclear program.

He is not sure that what he did in 1994 — traveling to North Korea to negotiate a settlement with the approval of then-President Bill Clinton — could be done today.

"I think, as far as North Korea is concerned, they would be willing ," Carter said. "But I don't think there is a chance in the world that the U.S. government would approve , or someone else, to go negotiate with North Korea."

<snip>

In 1994, Carter accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Il-sung and negotiated an agreement in which North Korea halted its nuclear program and allowed inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"This country owes a great amount of debt to the Carters for that trip, which was historical," Laney said. "President Carter saved us from a war."

<snip>

Creekmore said Carter's work in North Korea led to the tiny nation shutting down its nuclear program — at least until 2002, when President Bush labeled the nation as part of his "axis of evil."

<snip>

"They don't respond well to threats, intimidation and punishment," Carter said.

Talking "is not appeasement or being a wimp," Laney said. "It is sensible."

Carter said despite tough talk, war is less likely than it was 12 years ago — largely because North Korea is developing weapons and the United States would be less likely to attack a country with nuclear capabilities.

"I think in 1994 war was more imminent," Carter said. "If the U.N. passed sanctions, North Korea would have responded with an attack on South Korea. Now that the sanctions have passed — which are mild — there won't be a war."


http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared/news/stories/2006/10/NKOREA_CARTER_1018_COX.html

[Gman]

1. One of the fundamental differences between us and the neocons

is that we seek to avoid war in a way that does not leave us weak but that gives all parties a chance to achieve what they want or need. We do it because of the high costs of war in lives and money. The neocons actually seek war in for the sake of US hegemony and with no regard to the cost in lives and money. They think these are justifiable costs that ultimately benefit the US.