Kristof-Grabbing the Nettle

[realFedUp]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/01/opinion/01KRIS.html

Grabbing the Nettle
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

The Pentagon held an all-day meeting a couple of weeks ago seeking ways to restrain North Korea. At the end of it, one expert turned to another and summed it up: "In other words, we're" doomed — except he used a pungent phrase I can't.

It was a fair judgment. North Korea was always more terrifying than Iraq, and now the situation is getting worse.

It's true, as the administration enthusiastically announced yesterday, that we seem to be moving toward a new round of multiparty talks with North Korea, and that's great. But it's very unclear what North Korea is demanding and when the talks will take place. In any case, no one thinks that this round of talks will produce much more than possible photo-ops.

-continued-

[grytpype]

1. But... democracy is flowering in the Middle East now!

Look at it flower! Just look at it!

[realFedUp]

2. I thought just this morning that McClellan said no way was US going to

have bilateral talks with N. Korea...guess this is more
bandaid diplomacy along with the bonus photo.

[realFedUp]

3. Multilateral talks...

a few dozen translators and a menu from columns A, B, and C.