- The country is a wasteland, oppressed by a twisted dictator
who thinks nothing of bringing the most brutal hardship to his own people.
He has acted aggressively toward his neighbors - and consorted with those
who wish the United States and others harm.
-
- The dictator has developed weapons that can rain destruction
down on the innocent. The dictator threatens the use of nuclear weapons,
and makes moves to produce them, despite international agreements.
-
- That description certainly fits Saddam Hussein and Iraq.
It also fits Kim Jong Il and North Korea.
-
- So why is the Bush administration handling the two countries
so differently - preparing for war with Iraq, while pushing a diplomatic
solution with North Korea?
-
- On such questions rest deep public support for President
Bush's foreign policy, particularly as it pertains to Iraq.
-
- Despite the certainty found in the White House and elsewhere
in Washington, the American public remains unsure about attacking Iraq.
They see Saddam as a threat. They favor the idea of disarming him, even
removing him from power ... but preferably with allied and United Nations'
support.
-
- To the waverers and the outright critics, the Bush team
and its supporters repeatedly say that people just don't understand. Saddam
is evil; he will hurt us; we have to act against him before he can do so.
-
- OK, then, why doesn't the same doctrine apply to North
Korea?
-
- In many ways, North Korea and Iraq are alike. The people
suffer. The dictator is unstable. Horrible weapons are available, or may
be.
-
- But while the administration has spent months arguing
its case for war in Iraq, it heaves mightily to maintain the peace on the
Korean peninsula.
-
- It is fair for citizens to wonder then which course of
action is correct; and why their national leaders have done so little to
explain these conflicting policies.
-
- In the end, it may be necessary to go to war in Iraq;
the same possibility exists for North Korea. The American people, as always,
will support just actions to defend their security and that of others.
-
- But they want to understand why - and they expect those
granted national power to explain, not just argue.
-
- http://www.lsj.com/opinions/editorials/021230_ed1_(nkorea).html
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