U.S., North Korea near war in 1994 / Clinton got no-nuke vow

New York Daily News ^ | 10/18/02 | KENNETH R. BAZINET

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON - The U.S. was on the brink of war with North Korea in 1994 before Pyongyang agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program, sources said yesterday.

"It went down to the wire," said a diplomatic source in the Clinton administration. "The American people will never know how close we were to war."

The revelation came a day after the stunning announcement that Pyongyang admitted to U.S. officials last month that it continued its nuclear weapons program despite the agreement.

The program probably has produced one or two enriched-uranium bombs, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday.

Sources said the Bush administration would adopt a low-key approach to the situation.

The North Koreans were working on a plutonium bomb — which is smaller and more powerful than an enriched uranium device, but harder to make — in 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton sent a battery of Patriot missiles to South Korea to shoot down missiles fired from the North, at least two Stealth bombers and additional troops.

A U.S. submarine also was also sent on "a close-in mission" off North Korea.

"Had they not accepted, we had 50,000 troops on the [demilitarized zone]. We were hell-bent about stopping them," the ex-State Department source said.

Urged to suspend work

Clinton also dispatched Assistant Secretary of State Robert Gallucci to Pyongyang to urge the Communist regime in 1994 and again in 1995 to accept two light-water reactors — which do not produce weapons-grade nuclear material — from South Korea in exchange for an agreement to suspend its nuclear weapons program.

"He kept us out of a ground war," the source said of Gallucci's effort.

The North Koreans said at the time their nuclear research was meant for energy production — not weapons. Gallucci argued that if their claims were true, there was no reason not to accept the light-water reactors.

"If we hadn't taken those steps, they were on a glide path to producing nuclear weapons," another source close to Clinton said.

The North Koreans now admit they ultimately broke the deal, but they knew in 1994 the U.S. was serious about taking military action to curb the threat to South Korea, Japan and U.S. troops and interests in the region.

Former President Jimmy Carter also traveled to North Korea in 1994, drawing criticism from some in the Clinton White House, who felt he was meddling.

Carter later briefed Clinton, telling him the North Koreans had vowed to suspend production of weapons-grade plutonium.

[kattracks]

Clinton also dispatched Assistant Secretary of State Robert Gallucci to Pyongyang to urge the Communist regime in 1994 and again in 1995 to accept two light-water reactors — which do not produce weapons-grade nuclear material — from South Korea in exchange for an agreement to suspend its nuclear weapons program.

Let me see if I understand this.

clinton was going to go to war with N.Korea, but since they accepted two light-water reactors, and promised (as they had done how many times before?) that they would suspend their nuclear weapons program he decided against it?

And this proves what?

[RLK]

And this proves what?

----------------------

It makes Clinton appear involved and presidential.

[backhoe]

 

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/771000/posts

The Atomic Genie- what we have about North Korea's Nuclear program
various FR posts | 10-17-02 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[Robert_Paulson2]

"a diplomatic source in the Clinton administration"

well for starters...somebody is so worried about the trouble they are in they won't sign their name to the lies this article no doubt is filled with.

unnamed sources, breathing...."you don't know how HARD we worked to save you worthless peons... well, I worked harder than I have ever worked before in my life!!!

er... uh... we came so close to war in korea... I just had to go over and give them some missile technology, and saved our asses by the skin amy teeth..."

"WE were as close to war in korea, as I was to hitting osami ben laden with those several hundred million dollars worth of my cruise missiles..."

As the REAL truth of the Clinton legacy, wreaks its way homeward in every theatre of conflict... there will be more and more of this spinning... by his worshippers on the left.

Like taliban fury when confronted with the sorry fact that allah is a pretty fourth rate God, and all around failure... the dems are going wacko over the demise of their lying god, clinton der sinkderbater...

Funny how extremist cult followers act when their false gods are exposed for the frauds they are... funny, and DANGEROUS.

We need that senate majority... NOW.
Looks like North Korea is in our crosshairs before NEXT christmas... so many member of the evil axis... so few the years to end their reign of terror.

[tm61]

how much of carters Peace prize was based on his untiring efforts in N. Korea?

[metesky]

The spring thaw always starts with a drip, drip, drip before it turns into a raging torrent.

Let's hope the torrent marks paid to the Clinton legacy.

For eight years I could barely look at the bum and the sound of his voice was like fingernails on a blackboard to me. Now I can barely type the traitors name.

[Lion's Cub]

I find the article laughable--as in derisive laughter.

North Korea Admits Nuclear Weapons Program
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770463/posts

It's a long read (the whole thread) but very insightful because of the fascinating entries from various freepers.

There is no place better than FR if you are trying to understand an issue!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

"The American people will never know how close we were to war."

So essentially, clinton surrrendered to the NK's. The ongoing clinton legacy spin machine is pathetic to watch. Other administrations quietly go away but not this crowd.

[kattracks]

Eight years of the clintons and their crowd has brought us to where we are today. It's no wonder that they feel the need to constantly make excuses for the lack of any leadership.

The "dirty joke" prezident has nearly done us in.

[cgbg]

So what this article is trying to see s that one pack of pathological liars (the Clintonoids) was negotiating with another pack of pathological liars (NK) and they reached an agreement. Therefore the first pack did not go to war with the second pack.

This story is silly on its face.

However, it is more likely that we get the truth from a future North Korea than the Clintonoids, because the first group is capable of reform in the long run while the second group is prepared to take its lies to the grave.

[PogySailor]

I don't recall a prolonged Congressional debate or hand wringing in the UN about "preemptive action" against NK. I must have missed all the media stories about the US being a bully.

But the Clinton administration was on the brink of war?

They would have acted unilaterally?

Fat chance. This is a CYA story. Sorry Bubba, your "legacy" unravels more everyday

[STD]

The Next Shoe to Drop

We Sold Saddam Nukes

[STD]

Can we refer to x42 as the Comeback Kid or as a

"The Come Soaked Blow-Up Surrender Doll"

[Peach]

There goes Hillary's presidential bid. Everyone knows Bill would still be running things, and few will support that scenario.

[RightOnline]

"And this proves what?"

Simply that Clinton, miserable piece of walking excrement that he is, would do anything to defray a horrible problem long enough to get out of office and dump the problem(s) on others.

[Samwise]

Simply that Clinton, miserable piece of walking excrement that he is, would do anything to defray a horrible problem long enough to get out of office and dump the problem(s) on others.

Bump

[patriciaruth]

Two years ago I was passing around my Twenty Reasons to Vote For George W. Bush.

Number 5 on the list was exactly this.

5. Bush knows we have been paying nuclear blackmail to North Korea for several years and that it is the worst immediate foreign affairs problem he has to solve. He will draw on a host of top quality advisors to tackle this difficult and dangerous situation.

[bimbo]

how much of carters Peace prize was based on his untiring efforts in N. Korea?

Good question … and note the timing: Peace Prize last week – Korean Nukes this week.

[demlosers]

HAHAHAAHAHAAHA!

[Cuttnhorse]

"Former President Jimmy Carter also traveled to North Korea in 1994, drawing criticism from some in the Clinton White House, who felt he was meddling.

Carter later briefed Clinton, telling him the North Koreans had vowed to suspend production of weapons-grade plutonium.

Hmmm, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Madelin Albright, with this group of foreign policy heavyweights, it's amazing we have a country left at all!! What a mess! Thanks Billy bub for more of your pathetic legacy.

[mj1234]

We have not been paying blackmail....This is a ruse by the
Demonrats...they are funneling money to-China,North korea,
indonesia and others--those countries then launder the money
back to the Demonrat party--Clinton and Al and company are
willing traitors.

[Cuttnhorse]

Good prediction patricia...very perceptive

[Miss Marple]

Former President Jimmy Carter also traveled to North Korea in 1994, drawing criticism from some in the Clinton White House, who felt he was meddling.

Carter later briefed Clinton, telling him the North Koreans had vowed to suspend production of weapons-grade plutonium.

Ahhhh...I see. It's all Jimmy Carter's fault!! At least this time they aren't going to try to blame Dad Bush, although I bet that is their fall-back position.

[Mr. Bird]

"He kept us out of a ground war," the source said of Gallucci's effort.

This statement is laughable. First of all, the "source" is saying that the man who could not in good conscience support the war in Vietnam would actually INVADE North Korea. He would never survive the debate.

Second of all, in 1994, Clinton was a dead man walking. He had less political capital than Al Sharpton in Forsyth, Georgia. No way he could have garnered the support for such action.

If anything, Gallucci's "effort" consisted of approaching Pyongang with his hat in one hand and his nuts in another. Clinton had rendered us impotent.

[CT]

More BILGE from the people at Clinton's LEGACY-PROTECTION-TEAM

[Rob45and2]

As if we needed more evidence that appeasement NEVER works.

[Rob45and2]

"It makes Clinton appear involved and presidential."


Clinton used appeasement and gave the N Koreans $5 billion to expand their war capabilities. Not my idea of being Presidential but I can see how a Liberal would think so.

[Honcho]

More BILGE from the people at Clinton's LEGACY-PROTECTION-TEAM

My thoughts exactly, I don't believe a word of what the "former Clinton Advisor" said.

[Hillary'sMoralVoid]

How ridiculous. I was a senior Air Force Intelligence Officer during that time period. There was no intelligence build-up for war. This claim is simply not true.

Just like all other Clinton crap.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Clinton also dispatched Assistant Secretary of State Robert Gallucci to Pyongyang to urge the Communist regime in 1994 and again in 1995 to accept two light-water reactors — which do not produce weapons-grade nuclear material — from South Korea in exchange for an agreement to suspend its nuclear weapons program."

Wheeee!!! Bill Clinton invents new physics. I got news for Bill (and the reporter who wrote this claptrap). Light water reactors "do" produce weapons-grade nuclear material--its called plutonium. It has to be separated from the fission products and residual uranium to get the weapons grade stuff, but the chemical separation process is far simpler than the isotope separation process necessary to make weapons-grade uranium.