Top U.S. non-proliferation official resigns (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Top U.S. non-proliferation official resigns

By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent

Wed Jan 24, 6:34 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. non-proliferation official submitted
his resignation on Wednesday, leaving the Bush administration with another
major vacancy as it struggles to resolve nuclear-related disputes with Iran
and North Korea.

Robert Joseph, who has a reputation as a hard-liner with deep skepticism
about the potential for any serious deal with Pyongyang, plans to leave the
government in February after completing work-related assignments in Ankara
and Moscow.

Joseph, who holds the title of undersecretary for arms control and
international security at the State Department, declined comment. But other
officials told Reuters he had signed his resignation letter on Wednesday.

-snip-

However, Joseph's departure comes amid a flurry of diplomacy that U.S. and
Asian officials increasingly believe is likely to produce the kind of nuclear
freeze deal with North Korea that Joseph and other hardliners have long
opposed.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070124/pl_nm/korth_north_resignation_dc

[bananas]

1. Is this good news or bad news? nt

[Eugene]

2. It's a mixed bag.

Good: Another hard-liner is gone.
Good: There may be a diplomatic solution to the North Korea crisis.
Not so good: Another important State Dept. vacancy during a critical time.

It depends on who replaced Joseph.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. vacancies only matter if you had a functioning State department

Not only is the shallow, ineffective, and misguided Condi Rice a pathetic administrator, she is unpredictable, she lashes out, and she moves people out when they disagree with her whims.

The rest of that formerly functioning department is taking its lead from her.

So, these vacancies really start between her ears, and that would be the first place to direct our attention to.

[w4rma]

4. I havent researched this much, but I do know that nuclear proliferation has increased while this guy

held his position.

It's probably a good thing since proliferation has been on the rise.

[maddezmom]

3. lots of vacancies in the * admin

:eyes:

[maddezmom]

6. kick