McCain: North Korea is 'Clinton's Greatest Failure'

newsmax ^ | 2/15/2003 | Carl Limbacher

[TLBSHOW]

McCain: North Korea is 'Clinton's Greatest Failure'

When Arizona Sen. John McCain criticizes the White House, his comments usually receive wide coverage in the mainstream press. That is, at least when he criticizes the Bush White House.

However, Sen. McCain's scathing denunciation of the Clinton administration's bungling of the North Korea nuclear crisis this week has yet to appear anywhere it print.

NBC Today Show host Katie Couric asked the celebrated Republican maverick on Wednesday about the advice ex-President Clinton offered the day before, where Clinton urged the Bush administration to begin an "intense, exceedingly high-level engagement" with Pyongyang and then offer "a grand bargain" to resolve the crisis.

"My reaction," said McCain, "is that the greatest failure of the Clinton administration was the agreement they made with North Korea, which allowed them to reach the stage where there are today, where they have nuclear weapons."

"We supported their regime," he continued, "with over a billion dollars and fuel while 2 million of their citizens starved to death (and) 200,000 of their people are in gulags reminiscent of Joseph Stalin."

McCain recommended that the U.S. not negotiate with North Korea, but instead begin intensive talks with China, South Korea, Japan and Russia to force Pyongyang to comply with the nuclear nonproliferation treaty."

Meanwhile, MSNBC, which offered the Clinton and McCain audio on its Web site, claimed in a companion blurb that McCain had also told Couric that the latest Osama bin Laden audiotape "did not necessarily prove a link between al-Qaida and Iraq."

Actually, while Couric did her best to elicit such a comment from the Arizona Republican, he repeatedly confounded her efforts. Here's an excerpt from their exchange:

COURIC: (After quoting from the bin Laden tape) Some might argue, Senator, that it doesn't sound as if these two men (Saddam and Osama) are necessarily in cahoots, but that bin Laden is reaching out to Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq itself.

MCCAIN: Well, I think he does that. But I also think that he's exercising an old Middle Eastern adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And clearly he has a common cause with Saddam Hussein and that is the destruction of the West and all the cultures and values that we hold so dear, and the United States of America in particular. (End of Excerpt)

Listen to Sen. Hillary Clinton, in remarks embargoed by the mainstream press, as she blames the Bush administration for "mishandling North Korea" in an exclusive interview with WLIE Radio's Mike Siegel.

[ysoitanly]

maybe not the worst - there's a part of his anatomy that's caused a lot of trouble, too.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

"We supported their regime," he continued, "with over a billion dollars and fuel while 2 million of their citizens starved to death (and) 200,000 of their people are in gulags reminiscent of Joseph Stalin."

Clinton is a feckless coward.

Without a doubt, he did more damage to this nation in every possible way than any traitor, imprisoned or executed!

[TLBSHOW]

His brain!

[Commander8]

Bush inherited North Korea from Clinton, but I don't see him doing anything about it.
George W. Bush is Neville Chamberlain to Kim Jong Il's Hitler.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2003/02-24-2003/vo19no04_korea.htm

[TLBSHOW]

I want to know what Clinton did in Moscow in the 60's there lies the key........

[Enemy Of The State]

Clinton is his own greatest failure.

[TLBSHOW]

What is The President doing helping these people as newsmax reports our taz dollars help North Korea and this is now! There is one answer and I hate to even think it.

......

U.S. Feeds North Korea, So It Can Fight ... the U.S.

President Bush, continuing the astonishing policies of the Clinton administration, has actually boasted that this enemy nation is on the U.S. dole. And this is the same nation he described as part of the "axis of evil."

"I can't tell you how sorry I feel for the North Korean people," Bush said in February on a visit to South Korea. "My heart breaks for people who live in a society that is not free, and where there is tremendous starvation."

Bush said that if the regime were not pouring the country's resources into weapons, it could feed its people. But of course, why should North Korea fulfill its responsibilitites if the U.S. will?

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/4/25/143656.shtml

[TLBSHOW]

I think he may of been blackmailed in Moscow and his sex drive got the best of him either he raped someone or they filmed him and they have had him on the payroll like Ritter is to Iraq, Clinton is to Moscow. Wild Guess!

[InterceptPoint]

McCain recommended that the U.S. not negotiate with North Korea, but instead begin intensive talks with China, South Korea, Japan and Russia to force Pyongyang to comply with the nuclear nonproliferation treaty."

Unusually wise words from McCain. That is exactly what we should be doing.

You cannot negotiate with anyone who operates from the basic premise that they do not have to honor agreements. It will always be one way and there is no sense in going down that path. Let the Chinese and Russians put the pressure on the North Korean. They need another renegade nuke power in their neighborhood like a hole in the head.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Bush has instituted an increased effort and urgency to build a missile defense system. If Comrade Klinton or Gore were in office, they would be still making the usual liberal excuses, while blocking any missile defense system. With that said, I think the only thing North Korea will respond to is force. If there is going to be a conflict, I have two words - PREEMPTIVE STRIKE!!

[Commander8]

Decapitate the regime's leadership in Pyongyang and send in the South Koreans to fill the vaccuum before the Red Chinese do.

[mass55th]

[McGavin999]

George W. Bush is Neville Chamberlain to Kim Jong Il's Hitler.

I beg to differ. North Korea is surrounded by very powerful neighbors. China, Russia, South Korea and Japan are all quite capable of taking care of the situation if they will just step up to the plate. There is no reason for us to do anything unless, and until, these other four are ready to do their part.

Iraq, on the other hand, have neighbors who are not as militarily or economically advanced and they have been unable to contain Iraq. Further, Iraq has been a problem for over 12 years, North Korea is just beginning. Bush is handling this exactly right.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Clinton is his own greatest failure.

The Fabians might disagree.

[Commander8]

Wrong, North Korea has been a problem since 1951.

[TLBSHOW]

taz = tax

[TLBSHOW]

So why are we feeding North Korea's Military now?

[McGavin999]

Uh, hate to tell you this but we stopped sending the food because it was not getting to the people. It was on FOX the other night.

[TLBSHOW]

Then that is not bad news that would be good news! Thanks!