SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, November 18, 2002
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North Korea says it has nukes
Yes, Washington, they have it. Pyongyang seems to be getting desperate for Washington's attention - to bring Washington to the negotiating table. So the apologetic kidnapper thinks he has the upperhand now? Wrong move. The rationale for multilaterally ganging up on Iraq could also be applied to Pyongyang now that it has admitted having nukes. However, there is another way. Washington can get rid of the "Pyongyang problem" diplomatically.
The National Republic Online has come up with an article on how to overthrow Pyongyang peacefully. The four countries - Russia, Japan, China and US - can provide aid to Pyongyang with tight strings aimed at gradually shifting its sovereign prerogatives into South Korean hands e.g., food aid and technical assistance on agriculture could be tied to agricultural-sector reform overseen by an ad hoc four-power technical group, with nongovernmental South Korean participation; energy-sector aid could also be conditioned to require the connection of North and South Korea's electricity grids…etc.). Eventually, the diplomatic solution is a unified Korea. Too ambitious? I don't think so. Read the full article here.
First things first, though. Washington should not let itself be bullied by Pyongyang. Pyongyang should get rid of its nukes. In the meantime, deny it of all aid, except stricly tied ones, as mentioned above. If it still insists, put it next in line after Iraq. After Iraq.
posted by Allan at 2:45 AM (GMT+8)
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