Slowly but surely everything about India's capture of the 'MV Mu San' is emerging in cyberspace. Briefly the Indian coast guard after a chase boarded the North Korean vessel in the Bay of Bengal off the Andaman and Nicobar islans which New Delhi considers of vital and strategica importance. Suffice to say, the 'MV Mu San' captain and crew did not anchor without a chase.
The DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea aka North Korea] is subject to sanctions under the US inspired UN resolution 1854, which calls on the world body's member to stop and inspect DPRK ships, suspected of carrying nuclear technology.
To India fell the signal honour of capturing a North Korean vessel. The 'MV Mu San' skipper spoke of 'mechanical difficulties' for being in Indian waters. Indian authorities were wary of this story. What's more, upon inspection of untidy ship's log, the vessel had made runs to China in previous sailings. New Delhi's suspicions had been heightened by the proximity of the vessel to Myanmar, which US intelligence kept beating the hollow drum that Pyongyang was helping the Burmese military junta construct a nuclear facility, a rumour which remains to be proven.
India found in the ship's hold 16.500 tonnes of sugar bound for ports in the Persian Gulf, and no other cargo. Furthermore, it did discover that the 'MV Su Man' had docked or refueled in Singapore. The city state simply did not detain the ship or took cover by ignoring the existence of the ship, thereby avoiding a sack of trouble by applying sanctions.
It does not take a great deal of head scratching to figure out that the DPRK in pursuit of normal commercial life, sought to out run any sanctions. UN resolution 1854 would as its US sponsor hoped, turn the economic screws on Pyongyang's fragile economy, and thus deny it strong currency in the bank.
Nonetheless Indian sources talk of a 'government official' aboard the 'MV Mu San', without further clarification. Communist countries always had a 'political commissar' in units or crews, to keep an eye on their citizens. So the explanation might be as simple as that.
New Delhi has egg on its face in stopping 'MV Su Man'. Of course, it has rights to do so especially when the vessel is 'anchoring' unannounced in its territorial waters, but after days of diligent interrogations of captain and crew, it came up with nothing. And so, will have to allow the 'MV Mu Sun' to go on its way to its final destination.
By uncovering a cargo of sugar, the dramatic turn of events has made long fire, but did underscore the paranoia on which the US has built its cards of sanctions.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Seoul scrubs the launch of KSLV 1
The ROC [Republic of Korea aka South Korea] aborted at the 11th hour the launch of its first long range missile KSLV 1 [Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1] on 19 August 2009.
Was its delay out of respect for national days of mourning for Kim Dae Jung? Hardly. The launch of South Korea's first space satellite would if anything be considered as a tribute to this respected old warrior who risked life and limb for brining democracy to his country.
Furthermore it was yet another delay to a lift off owing to technical problems. Testing KSLV 1 raises many red flags for South Korea among its neighbours in east and southeast Asia.
As Guam Diary noted in 'sanctions for South Korea, the KSLV 1 opens a can of worms for Seoul. It was developed with the generous help of Russian rocket technology, at a cost to Seoul of 500bn Won or us$400m. [According to South korea's science ministry, 160 Russian engineers are working at the Naro space centre off the southern coast of the ROC.] The ROC's nonetheless expose the double standards Washington applies in protecting an ally or client state, it is fair to say.
KSLV 1 long range missile opens a race to develop long range missiles in east and southeast Asia. Now we know, such missiles have peaceful and warlike uses.
Warlike for Pyongyang, pontificates Ralph Cossa, president of the Hawaii based Pacific Forum at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies [CSIS], since it violated UN resolutions, thereby denying them the right to shoot such long range missile into outer space. Well, Mr Cossa's remarks are politically motivated and highly questionable. And objectively challenged, to boot.
Peaceful for Seoul, since it is our ally, if you follow Mr. Cossa train of thought.
One way or the other, Seoul's KSLV 1 will fire the opening shot for a race against time in east and southeast Asia, to amass missile arsenals, spike up the chances for war, nuclear or conventional with such sophisticated technology, open up a drain on Asian treasury for such 'toys', and hasten nuclear development in the region, and with long range missile increase the range of vunerability of countries thousands of kilometres away who until now had little to fear.
Was its delay out of respect for national days of mourning for Kim Dae Jung? Hardly. The launch of South Korea's first space satellite would if anything be considered as a tribute to this respected old warrior who risked life and limb for brining democracy to his country.
Furthermore it was yet another delay to a lift off owing to technical problems. Testing KSLV 1 raises many red flags for South Korea among its neighbours in east and southeast Asia.
As Guam Diary noted in 'sanctions for South Korea, the KSLV 1 opens a can of worms for Seoul. It was developed with the generous help of Russian rocket technology, at a cost to Seoul of 500bn Won or us$400m. [According to South korea's science ministry, 160 Russian engineers are working at the Naro space centre off the southern coast of the ROC.] The ROC's nonetheless expose the double standards Washington applies in protecting an ally or client state, it is fair to say.
KSLV 1 long range missile opens a race to develop long range missiles in east and southeast Asia. Now we know, such missiles have peaceful and warlike uses.
Warlike for Pyongyang, pontificates Ralph Cossa, president of the Hawaii based Pacific Forum at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies [CSIS], since it violated UN resolutions, thereby denying them the right to shoot such long range missile into outer space. Well, Mr Cossa's remarks are politically motivated and highly questionable. And objectively challenged, to boot.
Peaceful for Seoul, since it is our ally, if you follow Mr. Cossa train of thought.
One way or the other, Seoul's KSLV 1 will fire the opening shot for a race against time in east and southeast Asia, to amass missile arsenals, spike up the chances for war, nuclear or conventional with such sophisticated technology, open up a drain on Asian treasury for such 'toys', and hasten nuclear development in the region, and with long range missile increase the range of vunerability of countries thousands of kilometres away who until now had little to fear.
Another step in the 'Privatisation' of US foreign policy--DPRK diplomats in New Mexico!
DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea aka North Korea] diplomats from its mission to the United Nations normally are restricted in travel in the US. Yet North Korea diplomats accredited to the international body are in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Governor Bill Richardson will be on hand to welcome them.
Is this a sentimental journey to visit a governor who during the Clinton yearhs went to Pyongyang as an emissary of the then sitting president Bill Clinton? Perhaps not. Is the visit the result of Citizen Bill Clinton's surprise mission of mercy to Pyongyang where he spent 195 minutes with Kim Jong il? Yes.
The visit is private, says the Obama White House. The governor will not be negotiating nor representing US president Barack Obama [BHO]. It is good to rec all that Mr. Richardson played
a key trouble shooting role for Clinton in thorny issues with DPRK, Sudan, Iraq, and Cuba.
Yet we the public are asked to believe that the North Korea delegation including minister Kim Myong il and councilor Paek Jong ho, are dropping into the governor's mansion in Santa Fe, for old times sake? Wink, wink, wink!
If BHO wants us to believe that angels can dance on the head of a pin, Guam Diary thinks that it is a transparent fiction, in order to deflect any softening of BHO's failed policy to box in Pyongyang with sanctions and threats. So under the gossamer cover of 'private chats', BHO is moving quickly in talking directly to North Korea, even though he will swear on a stack of bibles, he is not.
The agenda. No one knows, but it is easy enough to come immediately to restarting negotiations, the DPRK nuclear programme, advanced solid liquid missiles, among other issues.
On the other hand, word is leaking out about Citizen Clinton's private flight to the DPRK. Again we are asked to swallow the whale that he asked the BHO White House, advised by his wife's State Department and General Jones' national security network, what to do, what to seek, whilst maintaining the fiction of a non government errand of mercy. Now, in today's 'New York Times' [19 August 2009] online edition, we discover that a US intelligence officer Joseph DeTrani played a major role in choreographing Citizen Clinton's trip, which included Joseph Podesta, a key player in BHO's transition team, and a senior State Department official familiar with Korean affairs.
As days go by, the veil of secrecy will slow lift on this 3 card monte game of BHO's strategy to hid a departure from his public policy towards North Korea and other 'rogue states', such as Burma.
Is this a sentimental journey to visit a governor who during the Clinton yearhs went to Pyongyang as an emissary of the then sitting president Bill Clinton? Perhaps not. Is the visit the result of Citizen Bill Clinton's surprise mission of mercy to Pyongyang where he spent 195 minutes with Kim Jong il? Yes.
The visit is private, says the Obama White House. The governor will not be negotiating nor representing US president Barack Obama [BHO]. It is good to rec all that Mr. Richardson played
a key trouble shooting role for Clinton in thorny issues with DPRK, Sudan, Iraq, and Cuba.
Yet we the public are asked to believe that the North Korea delegation including minister Kim Myong il and councilor Paek Jong ho, are dropping into the governor's mansion in Santa Fe, for old times sake? Wink, wink, wink!
If BHO wants us to believe that angels can dance on the head of a pin, Guam Diary thinks that it is a transparent fiction, in order to deflect any softening of BHO's failed policy to box in Pyongyang with sanctions and threats. So under the gossamer cover of 'private chats', BHO is moving quickly in talking directly to North Korea, even though he will swear on a stack of bibles, he is not.
The agenda. No one knows, but it is easy enough to come immediately to restarting negotiations, the DPRK nuclear programme, advanced solid liquid missiles, among other issues.
On the other hand, word is leaking out about Citizen Clinton's private flight to the DPRK. Again we are asked to swallow the whale that he asked the BHO White House, advised by his wife's State Department and General Jones' national security network, what to do, what to seek, whilst maintaining the fiction of a non government errand of mercy. Now, in today's 'New York Times' [19 August 2009] online edition, we discover that a US intelligence officer Joseph DeTrani played a major role in choreographing Citizen Clinton's trip, which included Joseph Podesta, a key player in BHO's transition team, and a senior State Department official familiar with Korean affairs.
As days go by, the veil of secrecy will slow lift on this 3 card monte game of BHO's strategy to hid a departure from his public policy towards North Korea and other 'rogue states', such as Burma.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The privitisation of US foreign policy
Washington's in your face foreign policy is going private? It looks as though it is! Actually it has taken on a fig leaf of 'private initiatives'. Consider Citizen Bill Clinton's mission of mercy to the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea aka North Korea], to free two American journalists Lisa Ling and Euna Lee, sentenced to 12 years of hard labour. Mr. Clinton spent 195 minutes with Kim Jong il. It is bruited that as a 'private citizen', he delivered a message from president Barack Obama [BHO], which the White House immediately denied, even though its hand tightly choregraphed Citizen Bill's visit. Consider, too, Senator Jim Webb's non governmental sponsored trip to Myumar [Burma]. Mr. Webb, chair of the US Senate foreign relations sub committe on southeast Asia and Pacific affairs, has long been a proponent against sanctions against the Burmese junta. He shows up in Yangun [Rangoon] right after the sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 more months of house arrest. Immediately he is shown into the presence of Genera l Than Shwah. Quickly, he obtains the release into his custody John Yettaw, the man responsibile for Mme. Aung's further imprisonment, and 'annus mirabile', the military junta's chief permits him to visit her, something not even the UN secretary general could do. Citizen Webb's third request of the freeing of Aung San Suu Kyi's release before the 2010 general elections was taken under advisement, but more likely than not will not see the light of day. And rest our woolly heads, if he didn't convey a personal greeting and message from Mr. Obama.
BHO's change of tack is easy to limn. Sanctions and threats have failed in dealing with North Korea and Myunmar. So America's soft power is cut to the cloth of the private. Wink, wink, wink. This game of charades may obtain short term results. In the DPRK's case, Seoul has attenuated the cold war it began in 2008 with Pyongyang, and now since Mme. Hyun's good will mission to Pyongyang, visits to Kumgangsan [Diamond Mountain] and family visits of South Koreans with relatives in the DPRK will start up soon again. Implicitly so will Kaesong industrial zone, too.
Citizen Clinton's trip has not borne much fruit now, but one thing is sure, back channels are opening, as well as more 'private' US citizens' trips to Pyongyang.
It is too much to say that the public can swallow whole such a charade. The ploy might work, but no one is fooled. At least one thing is certain, the new tilt to engagement and 'secret arrangements' won't settle well on the right in the case of the DPRK, and on the left in the case of Burma. Has BHO appreciated the wisdom of Henri IV that 'Paris vaut une messe' [Paris is worth a mass], in order to calm fevered brows and attain, good concrete results in foreign affairs? So far BHO has shown too much zeal in the pursuit of pie in the sky goals in diplomacy, relying more on ideology and wishful thinking than on the everyday reality of diplomacy. But one thing is certain if he continues this masquerade of 'privatising' diplomatic initiatives, whilst mouthing pious formula of the need to respect human rights, the rule of law, so on and on, he ain't fooling no one.
BHO's change of tack is easy to limn. Sanctions and threats have failed in dealing with North Korea and Myunmar. So America's soft power is cut to the cloth of the private. Wink, wink, wink. This game of charades may obtain short term results. In the DPRK's case, Seoul has attenuated the cold war it began in 2008 with Pyongyang, and now since Mme. Hyun's good will mission to Pyongyang, visits to Kumgangsan [Diamond Mountain] and family visits of South Koreans with relatives in the DPRK will start up soon again. Implicitly so will Kaesong industrial zone, too.
Citizen Clinton's trip has not borne much fruit now, but one thing is sure, back channels are opening, as well as more 'private' US citizens' trips to Pyongyang.
It is too much to say that the public can swallow whole such a charade. The ploy might work, but no one is fooled. At least one thing is certain, the new tilt to engagement and 'secret arrangements' won't settle well on the right in the case of the DPRK, and on the left in the case of Burma. Has BHO appreciated the wisdom of Henri IV that 'Paris vaut une messe' [Paris is worth a mass], in order to calm fevered brows and attain, good concrete results in foreign affairs? So far BHO has shown too much zeal in the pursuit of pie in the sky goals in diplomacy, relying more on ideology and wishful thinking than on the everyday reality of diplomacy. But one thing is certain if he continues this masquerade of 'privatising' diplomatic initiatives, whilst mouthing pious formula of the need to respect human rights, the rule of law, so on and on, he ain't fooling no one.
UN sanctions for South Korea? What's good for the Pyongyang goose is good for the Seoul gander?
The Republic of Korea [ROC aka South Korea] is positioning its first long range missile for blast off within a matter of days. The KSLV 1 is expected to put a satellite into space. Built with kiand assistance of Russia, after many delays in the delivery of the 33 metre rocket, the launch will take place from the Naro space centre off of South Korea's south coast.
Guam Diary muses on the possibility that Seoul's long range rocket will be the object of the UN Security Council's alert eye? It is useful to recall that after fair warning to the international community the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [DPRK aka North Korea] launched a similar home grown rocket with a satellite into outer space. Immediately the US seized the UN Security Council calling for sanctions against Pyongyang. Thanks to Washington's arm twisting, the vote for sanctions was unanimous, based on a dubious interpretation of resolution 1718. The DPRK responded swiftly by walking out of the six party talks in Beijing for good; by restarting its nuclear programme; by multiplying short and medium range rocket tests; and finally by tearing up the 1953 Armistice Accords. Tensions mounted, and the trip wire to war on the divided Korean peninsula became tauter than ever.
Consider that Seoul is a stalwart ally of the US, it is hardly probable that even say if the DPRK brings a resolution for sanctions against the ROC, it will not fly. More, Washington would cast a veto blocking any action.
Japan too is a big chum of South Korea, so you won't hear any fuss and muster from Tokyo. Sporadic protests perhaps but nothing really to write home about.
Russia cannot say much since it was Russian technology and cooperation that the KSLv 1 reached the launch pad.
China might raise a mild protest formally.
Yet, South Korea's long range missile test raises a curious eyebrow! Washington, so far as we now can discern, has not helped its long time ally Seoul from building the rocket. Even with Moscow's assistance, sharp differences with Seoul delayed the delivery of the missile till now.
Can the UN really sustain punitive sanctions against Pyongyang without applying the same yardstick against Seoul? It won't. Nor can it apply sanctions against Pyongyang with a straight face. ROC launch simply makes a mockery of US president Barack Obama's [BHO] hard line stance against the DPRK. The blantant hypocrisy is quite apparent and in the short term, the sanctions will fall into disuse, the more especially since the visit of Bill Clinton and Mme. Hyun Jeong un, chairwoman of the Hyundai Group with heavy economic and emotional ties to North Korea.
Washington's favouritism will like a big rock that it launched will land on its own toes.
Guam Diary finds a long silver thread of failure and misinformed and ill conceived policies in the US diplomatic effort to throw its wait around. And Washington has but itself to blame for its arrogance, laziness, and false pride, if not arrant obtuseness.
Guam Diary muses on the possibility that Seoul's long range rocket will be the object of the UN Security Council's alert eye? It is useful to recall that after fair warning to the international community the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [DPRK aka North Korea] launched a similar home grown rocket with a satellite into outer space. Immediately the US seized the UN Security Council calling for sanctions against Pyongyang. Thanks to Washington's arm twisting, the vote for sanctions was unanimous, based on a dubious interpretation of resolution 1718. The DPRK responded swiftly by walking out of the six party talks in Beijing for good; by restarting its nuclear programme; by multiplying short and medium range rocket tests; and finally by tearing up the 1953 Armistice Accords. Tensions mounted, and the trip wire to war on the divided Korean peninsula became tauter than ever.
Consider that Seoul is a stalwart ally of the US, it is hardly probable that even say if the DPRK brings a resolution for sanctions against the ROC, it will not fly. More, Washington would cast a veto blocking any action.
Japan too is a big chum of South Korea, so you won't hear any fuss and muster from Tokyo. Sporadic protests perhaps but nothing really to write home about.
Russia cannot say much since it was Russian technology and cooperation that the KSLv 1 reached the launch pad.
China might raise a mild protest formally.
Yet, South Korea's long range missile test raises a curious eyebrow! Washington, so far as we now can discern, has not helped its long time ally Seoul from building the rocket. Even with Moscow's assistance, sharp differences with Seoul delayed the delivery of the missile till now.
Can the UN really sustain punitive sanctions against Pyongyang without applying the same yardstick against Seoul? It won't. Nor can it apply sanctions against Pyongyang with a straight face. ROC launch simply makes a mockery of US president Barack Obama's [BHO] hard line stance against the DPRK. The blantant hypocrisy is quite apparent and in the short term, the sanctions will fall into disuse, the more especially since the visit of Bill Clinton and Mme. Hyun Jeong un, chairwoman of the Hyundai Group with heavy economic and emotional ties to North Korea.
Washington's favouritism will like a big rock that it launched will land on its own toes.
Guam Diary finds a long silver thread of failure and misinformed and ill conceived policies in the US diplomatic effort to throw its wait around. And Washington has but itself to blame for its arrogance, laziness, and false pride, if not arrant obtuseness.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
US hypocrisy: North Korea, India, sanctions & the bomb
The DRPK's [Democratic People's Republic of Korea aka North Korea] vessel 'MV San' is in India's custody. To New Delhi goes the dubious honour of boarding a North Korean vessel in Indian waters in the Bay of Benegal, off the shores of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands [which is famous for the Thuggies, Indians pirates]. Indian authorities boarded 'MV San' armed with the authority of UN Resolution 1758, and with the right to search the ship's cargo. New Delhi has kept a sleepless on Myunmar which it is bruited has 'louche' dealings with the DPRK in nuclear technology. India also had the right to challenge the vessel since it was anchored in its waters without permission. So since the ship was in proximity nautically speaking to Myunmar, and since the US inspired sanctions see Pyongyang's suspicious hand in fomenting nuclear hanky panky, and since India is in a tight contest with China to curry favour with the Burmese military junta, New Delhi putting North Korea + Myunmar + an unauthorised DPRK vessel three and three together, and came up with an ah ha, we caught the DPRK playing nuclear transfer with Myunmar. Not.
New Delhi seized the 'MV San's crew of 39, and began interrogating its captain, officers, and hands. It scoured the vessel for traces of nuclear material, but found only 16.000 ton[ne]s of sugar for the Middle East. How long ship and crew will be detained, remains a question.
In late June and early July, the US aircraft carrier 'The John McCain 2' followed hot on the heels
of the 'Kang Nam 1', which an American journalist described as 'a tub', with the US 'knowingly' claiming that its destination was Myunmar, and its cargo nuclear technology. Well the DPRK ship gave the US aircraft carrier a run for its money; it took the US naval vessel on a wild goose chase into the South China sea, then executed a 180 degree turn, heading back to the safety of North Korean waters in the China sea. Thus it robbed eager US hands of seizing and boarding the ship in a neutral port or on the high seas.
How does this square with the 'private' but highly controlled and choreographed White House, trip of Citizen Clinton to Pyongyang to rescue two imprisoned US journalist and his 195 minute tete a tete talk with Kim Jong il? A good question. So far no great protest from Pyongyang of New Delhi's seize of the 'MV San' and crew. Which might indicate new private channels of talks are opening with the DPRK. Yet, no one will or cannot say for sure.
Let's now turn to US hypocrisy on the nuclear issue. India has never signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty; it built its own nuclear arsenal and carried out tests in the deserts of Rajastan. It steadfastly refused to sign the treaty; its gathering of nuclear warheads, brought into the nuclear club rival Pakistan who trained its nuclear devices towards India. New Delhi reciprocated by aiming its warheads on Islamabad. Now this has not stopped the BHO administration from signing an agreement with India in order to share nuclear technology with New Delhi. Translation, supposedly for peaceful purposes but this can turn deadly in developing military applications. Hardly a protest raised in the US; in India, thanks to stronger leftist parties, read the Communists, loud voices could be heard. But after the last elections which returned a stronger Congress party to power without Communist support, the stage was set for Washington's move which was eagerly agreed to by the Indian government. Thus we see the sheer hypocrisy of the US strategy on reining in the DPRK's nuclear programme. And we turn to this.
During the Clinton years, thanks to Jimmy Carter's face saving trip to the DPRK, the White House managed to put a damper on the DPRK's nuclear programme, with IAEA seals and inspections, and more, Pyongyang's signing of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. With George Bush in the White House, armed with the sword of righteous against 'evil', his administration and army of avenging angels in State and the White House scuttled the Clinton policy. This resulted in the DPRK opting out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, sending packing the IAEA inspectors and removing the IAEA seals, and started up its nuclear development once against. Mr. Bush never one step away from a policy bereft of logic, tried to lure the DPRK back to talks without really talking to Pyongyang through the charade of the six party talks in Beijing. To not put a fine point on it, the Bush strategy so backfired that to get Mr. Bush's attention, Kim Jong il & co. exploded a nuclear device, thereby by stupidity he brought the number of members of the nuclear club to 8 nations. And then the Bush White House backpaddled fast in its North Korean non policy but didn't do much thereafter.
We are now in the opening months of a new administration. President Barack Obama [BHO] has gone one better than Mr. Bush in a hard line tack towards the DPRK. He opted for sanctions against Pyongyang when it didn't postpone a much advertised satellite launch on a long range missile, by running to the UN Security Council for sanctions against the DPRK, which he got through much arm
twisting. And the proverbial sand ground things to a diplomatic halt. Swift and non nonsense replies can out of Pyongyang. One, the DPRK refused ever to return to the six party talks; two, it again ordered IAEA inspectors out of the country; three, it started up again, its nuclear reactor; four, it tore up the 1953 Armstice Agreement, technically turning the frozen Korean War into a hot war again. And to put icing on the cake, it set off an large non nuclear underground explosion and fired more short and medium range missiles. Tensions and temperatures rose according in Washington and Pyongyang. And were it not for two US journalists who in pursuit of a story on North Korea refuges in China, had not violated North Korean territory, who could guess the next steps in mindless escalation? The trial and condemnation of the two reporters gave Kim Jong il a hook to get Mr. Clinton to Pyongyang, to pitch the DPRK's new demands for direct talks, and not going back to the six party talks, brushing aside BHO's refrain for returning to these dead talks and endless mantra of living up to past agreements.
US hypocrisy becomes more glaring in this sense. It turned a willing and eager DPRK who for years had been anxious to talk directly to the US, to iron out outstanding issues since the Korean War, now almost 6 decades old; Washington did talk but in very strict,limited terms, which under Clinton's presidency got results [see above]. Today the BHO administration faces new challenges whilst clinging to outdated and trumped demands. An endless stream of visiting firemen and scholars and Russians and Chinese have brought back information that Pyongyang was open to discussions with the US, and what's more willing to sign off on the nuclear programme. But Mr. Bush and now BHO think that the US is in the cat bird's seat. Yet, the Clinton's presidency got results [see above]. And yet Kim Jong il is willing to negotiate broadly on many issues; since its a nuclear power, it wants that recognised, and who knows if might destroy its very limited and small stockpile, as did South Africa and Libya, for recognition and equal treatment as a member of the world community. If BHO had applied the same stringent terms on nuclear Israel, peace and a Palestinian state would have come about without a doubt!
US nuclear hypocrisy knows no bounds. Were it not for the US, the DPRK would never have explosed a nuclear device. Without US blindness to results, the DPRK's nuclear plants would have remained monitored and sealed, even with some cheating here and there. Without the US eagerness to partner nuclearly with India, and maintain a double standard as to who and who shouldn't sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the world would be on sure footing.
New Delhi seized the 'MV San's crew of 39, and began interrogating its captain, officers, and hands. It scoured the vessel for traces of nuclear material, but found only 16.000 ton[ne]s of sugar for the Middle East. How long ship and crew will be detained, remains a question.
In late June and early July, the US aircraft carrier 'The John McCain 2' followed hot on the heels
of the 'Kang Nam 1', which an American journalist described as 'a tub', with the US 'knowingly' claiming that its destination was Myunmar, and its cargo nuclear technology. Well the DPRK ship gave the US aircraft carrier a run for its money; it took the US naval vessel on a wild goose chase into the South China sea, then executed a 180 degree turn, heading back to the safety of North Korean waters in the China sea. Thus it robbed eager US hands of seizing and boarding the ship in a neutral port or on the high seas.
How does this square with the 'private' but highly controlled and choreographed White House, trip of Citizen Clinton to Pyongyang to rescue two imprisoned US journalist and his 195 minute tete a tete talk with Kim Jong il? A good question. So far no great protest from Pyongyang of New Delhi's seize of the 'MV San' and crew. Which might indicate new private channels of talks are opening with the DPRK. Yet, no one will or cannot say for sure.
Let's now turn to US hypocrisy on the nuclear issue. India has never signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty; it built its own nuclear arsenal and carried out tests in the deserts of Rajastan. It steadfastly refused to sign the treaty; its gathering of nuclear warheads, brought into the nuclear club rival Pakistan who trained its nuclear devices towards India. New Delhi reciprocated by aiming its warheads on Islamabad. Now this has not stopped the BHO administration from signing an agreement with India in order to share nuclear technology with New Delhi. Translation, supposedly for peaceful purposes but this can turn deadly in developing military applications. Hardly a protest raised in the US; in India, thanks to stronger leftist parties, read the Communists, loud voices could be heard. But after the last elections which returned a stronger Congress party to power without Communist support, the stage was set for Washington's move which was eagerly agreed to by the Indian government. Thus we see the sheer hypocrisy of the US strategy on reining in the DPRK's nuclear programme. And we turn to this.
During the Clinton years, thanks to Jimmy Carter's face saving trip to the DPRK, the White House managed to put a damper on the DPRK's nuclear programme, with IAEA seals and inspections, and more, Pyongyang's signing of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. With George Bush in the White House, armed with the sword of righteous against 'evil', his administration and army of avenging angels in State and the White House scuttled the Clinton policy. This resulted in the DPRK opting out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, sending packing the IAEA inspectors and removing the IAEA seals, and started up its nuclear development once against. Mr. Bush never one step away from a policy bereft of logic, tried to lure the DPRK back to talks without really talking to Pyongyang through the charade of the six party talks in Beijing. To not put a fine point on it, the Bush strategy so backfired that to get Mr. Bush's attention, Kim Jong il & co. exploded a nuclear device, thereby by stupidity he brought the number of members of the nuclear club to 8 nations. And then the Bush White House backpaddled fast in its North Korean non policy but didn't do much thereafter.
We are now in the opening months of a new administration. President Barack Obama [BHO] has gone one better than Mr. Bush in a hard line tack towards the DPRK. He opted for sanctions against Pyongyang when it didn't postpone a much advertised satellite launch on a long range missile, by running to the UN Security Council for sanctions against the DPRK, which he got through much arm
twisting. And the proverbial sand ground things to a diplomatic halt. Swift and non nonsense replies can out of Pyongyang. One, the DPRK refused ever to return to the six party talks; two, it again ordered IAEA inspectors out of the country; three, it started up again, its nuclear reactor; four, it tore up the 1953 Armstice Agreement, technically turning the frozen Korean War into a hot war again. And to put icing on the cake, it set off an large non nuclear underground explosion and fired more short and medium range missiles. Tensions and temperatures rose according in Washington and Pyongyang. And were it not for two US journalists who in pursuit of a story on North Korea refuges in China, had not violated North Korean territory, who could guess the next steps in mindless escalation? The trial and condemnation of the two reporters gave Kim Jong il a hook to get Mr. Clinton to Pyongyang, to pitch the DPRK's new demands for direct talks, and not going back to the six party talks, brushing aside BHO's refrain for returning to these dead talks and endless mantra of living up to past agreements.
US hypocrisy becomes more glaring in this sense. It turned a willing and eager DPRK who for years had been anxious to talk directly to the US, to iron out outstanding issues since the Korean War, now almost 6 decades old; Washington did talk but in very strict,limited terms, which under Clinton's presidency got results [see above]. Today the BHO administration faces new challenges whilst clinging to outdated and trumped demands. An endless stream of visiting firemen and scholars and Russians and Chinese have brought back information that Pyongyang was open to discussions with the US, and what's more willing to sign off on the nuclear programme. But Mr. Bush and now BHO think that the US is in the cat bird's seat. Yet, the Clinton's presidency got results [see above]. And yet Kim Jong il is willing to negotiate broadly on many issues; since its a nuclear power, it wants that recognised, and who knows if might destroy its very limited and small stockpile, as did South Africa and Libya, for recognition and equal treatment as a member of the world community. If BHO had applied the same stringent terms on nuclear Israel, peace and a Palestinian state would have come about without a doubt!
US nuclear hypocrisy knows no bounds. Were it not for the US, the DPRK would never have explosed a nuclear device. Without US blindness to results, the DPRK's nuclear plants would have remained monitored and sealed, even with some cheating here and there. Without the US eagerness to partner nuclearly with India, and maintain a double standard as to who and who shouldn't sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the world would be on sure footing.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Kim Jong il is in full control says US general. Quelle surprise!
US president Barack Obama [BHO]'s national security [NSC]advisor General James 'Jim' Jones likes to shun the public light. Would you say that he was almost as secretive as the DPRK's[Democratic People's Republic of Korea aka North Korea]Kim Jong il in this respect? Maybe. Maybe not. He did however choose to come out of the shadows yesterday, Sunday 9 August 2009, to appear not on one but three Sunday political affairs talk shows! This fact alone flashed across the pages of 'the Financial Times of London' pages and 'Al Jazeera English' website, but not in the authoritative 'New York Times'. You could hear the laughter across the globe at this startling news!
Citizen Clinton's 'surprise' visit to the DPRK brought the general before the tv cameras, to tell the American people that after 'debriefing' Mr. Clinton who spent some 195 minutes alone with Kim Jong il, discussing any number of issues undisclosed and publicly denied by the White House that he either handed over or recited a verbal message from BHO. What a piece of non news, excuse Guam Diary for saying so.
The photo flashed around of the world of Mr. Kim and Mr. Clinton sitting side by side, with the Clinton team standing behind them, told us as much.
General Jones' appearances did one thing: it put a break on the endless rumours mouthed by a complacent and lazy US media, punditocracy, and Korea hands in and out of government. Rumours fed by South Korean intelligence.
Now, it is no use denying Mr. Kim has recovered from a serious illness. He is much thinner, but he remains head of the DPRK. He's not dying of pancreatic cancer nor are his kidney failing him, as far as we know.
Consider the spin doctors in the US media who go off on a tear the moment they think for him and the networks or newspapers they are working for, will scoop the competitioChn. The sometimes lurid accounts might in some instances come out of Evelyn Waugh's 'Vile Bodies' or 'Scoop'. Make believe news. Fabricated News.
At times you wonder where US rate or taxpayers' monies have gone to train analysts, in Korean affairs. Consider the claims that we're dealing with an 'exotic' plant or beast or an unknowable state, a secretive, unchangeable society, an unfathomable danger to the west as though Kim Jong il's DPRK fits the description of Sax Rohmer's evil Dr. Fu Man Chu. Give us a break, fellows!
North Korea acts impulsively; there is no logic to its moves. Or the clever devils who play poker expertly that they outwit us, read the UES, at every turn. And so the easy, disingenuous crocodile tears flow uninterrupted.
Well for sure some ex CIA analysts do have a finger of a pulse in things North Koreans, and out of government have written articles which remain either unread or appear in journals with a limited readership; the Chinese and the Russians have a wealth of material on the DPRK. Some material is available in English, and Princeton's Woodrow Wilson Centre has tapped into Soviet archives and is translating documents which graduate students are working on but hardly hardly for public consumption, and more oft than not, the material translated disappears into the black hole of US governmental agencies and departments.
But Guam Diary like others do plum the web and find material which the US media ignore or choose not to publish. Guam Diary like others, amateur 'sleuths' or pros, find a rationality in the DPRK's pronouncement, more likely reactive to outside powers and events. Guam Diary like others, read books by scholars many formerly residing in the USSR or eastern 'people's democracies' who studies in Pyongyang and who know North Korea. Appreciations vary from outright hostility to mildly critical. But the info is there for those who wish to see it.
So whither the US after Citizen Clinton's visit? Well Jones spoke from the White House script: no rewards till Pyongyang returns to the six party talks which it repudiated after the US got the UN to impose sanctions on North Korea; until it lives up to agreements on denuclearising North Korea. Nowhere did we hear of Kim Jong il's new positions, calling for direct talks, to discuss all issues on the table. And so the merry go round continues.
Actually since BHO plays his cards close to his chest, we're in the dark. And so it's more imperative than ever to read, ask questions, and delve the 'rational' mind of an administration which many before it, really haven't a policy towards the DPRK when faced with newer conditions and reality.
Citizen Clinton's 'surprise' visit to the DPRK brought the general before the tv cameras, to tell the American people that after 'debriefing' Mr. Clinton who spent some 195 minutes alone with Kim Jong il, discussing any number of issues undisclosed and publicly denied by the White House that he either handed over or recited a verbal message from BHO. What a piece of non news, excuse Guam Diary for saying so.
The photo flashed around of the world of Mr. Kim and Mr. Clinton sitting side by side, with the Clinton team standing behind them, told us as much.
General Jones' appearances did one thing: it put a break on the endless rumours mouthed by a complacent and lazy US media, punditocracy, and Korea hands in and out of government. Rumours fed by South Korean intelligence.
Now, it is no use denying Mr. Kim has recovered from a serious illness. He is much thinner, but he remains head of the DPRK. He's not dying of pancreatic cancer nor are his kidney failing him, as far as we know.
Consider the spin doctors in the US media who go off on a tear the moment they think for him and the networks or newspapers they are working for, will scoop the competitioChn. The sometimes lurid accounts might in some instances come out of Evelyn Waugh's 'Vile Bodies' or 'Scoop'. Make believe news. Fabricated News.
At times you wonder where US rate or taxpayers' monies have gone to train analysts, in Korean affairs. Consider the claims that we're dealing with an 'exotic' plant or beast or an unknowable state, a secretive, unchangeable society, an unfathomable danger to the west as though Kim Jong il's DPRK fits the description of Sax Rohmer's evil Dr. Fu Man Chu. Give us a break, fellows!
North Korea acts impulsively; there is no logic to its moves. Or the clever devils who play poker expertly that they outwit us, read the UES, at every turn. And so the easy, disingenuous crocodile tears flow uninterrupted.
Well for sure some ex CIA analysts do have a finger of a pulse in things North Koreans, and out of government have written articles which remain either unread or appear in journals with a limited readership; the Chinese and the Russians have a wealth of material on the DPRK. Some material is available in English, and Princeton's Woodrow Wilson Centre has tapped into Soviet archives and is translating documents which graduate students are working on but hardly hardly for public consumption, and more oft than not, the material translated disappears into the black hole of US governmental agencies and departments.
But Guam Diary like others do plum the web and find material which the US media ignore or choose not to publish. Guam Diary like others, amateur 'sleuths' or pros, find a rationality in the DPRK's pronouncement, more likely reactive to outside powers and events. Guam Diary like others, read books by scholars many formerly residing in the USSR or eastern 'people's democracies' who studies in Pyongyang and who know North Korea. Appreciations vary from outright hostility to mildly critical. But the info is there for those who wish to see it.
So whither the US after Citizen Clinton's visit? Well Jones spoke from the White House script: no rewards till Pyongyang returns to the six party talks which it repudiated after the US got the UN to impose sanctions on North Korea; until it lives up to agreements on denuclearising North Korea. Nowhere did we hear of Kim Jong il's new positions, calling for direct talks, to discuss all issues on the table. And so the merry go round continues.
Actually since BHO plays his cards close to his chest, we're in the dark. And so it's more imperative than ever to read, ask questions, and delve the 'rational' mind of an administration which many before it, really haven't a policy towards the DPRK when faced with newer conditions and reality.
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