Dean for Sestak
Tonight I had the distinct pleasure of attending a fundraiser for Joe Sestak with DNC Chairman Howard Dean as the guest speaker. Gov. Dean spoke plainly and simply about the current poor state of the governing administration. He commented that it's unbelievable that the Bush administration is still trying to blame things, most recently N. Korea, on Clinton. The reason: they have no accountability. Dean also spoke openly about Weldon's corruption in getting consulting contracts and jobs for his daughters, son, and friends.And hey, there's not too many opportunities to wear my old Dean for America t-shirt! And it made me wonder a little...what if...
posted by Seventh Watch at 12:18 AM
9 Comments:
Intresting,so Bill Clinton has no blame for N.Korea.Dean better go back and check the facts.
Howard Dean,the best thing that could happen to a Republican in a tight race.
Glad to see the chairman of the Dem party backing Sestak personally. Dean has done a great job with his 50 state strategy.
The Bush adminstration broke away from the Clinton strategy. That was when N. Korea got serious about it's nuclear program. Bush is responsible for the last 6 years.
As for Dean, the 50-state strategy has opened opportunities for us since the GOP has been shooting itself in the foot.
Clinton strategy of non-verification,that worked well.It rained yesterday,can I blame Bush?
RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That Drudge-created Roar is still good for a laugh with the Repubs. We'll see how much they're laughing on Nov. 8. I think it might be fun if we all give a good Dean Roar at the victory parties as we list the Congressional seats we've won...
"We took PA-06.
"We took PA-07.
"We took PA-08.
"Now it's on to Washington...RRRRRAAAAHHHHHH!"
The clinton policy had inspectors keeping an eye on the pool of spend fuel rods. Bush allowed N. Korea to remove the inspectors and begin using the rods to produce plutonium.
N. Korea built one or two bombs during Reagan/Poppa Bush 12-years. No bombs during Clinton 8 years. New weapons during Bush 6 years. Do the math.
http://www.gwu.edu/%7Eaction/2004/dean/dean021703sp.html
Dean gave this speech in Feb 2003, before the US invasion of Iraq.
Read it now.
Or if you can't take the bloody 9 pages of telling is straight, read the cliff notes version and comments at: http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/10/invading-iraq-and-north-korean-threat.html yesterday by Glenn Greenwald at Unclaimed Territory.
Here is just part of what Dean said, the month before our invasion:
We must remember, though, that Iraq is not the greatest danger we face today. Consider, to begin with, North Korea.
The Administration says it is wrong to draw a parallel between the situations in Iraq and North Korea, because those situations are quite different. I agree.
Iraq has let UN inspectors back in. North Korea has kicked them out.
Saddam Hussein does not have a clear path to acquiring nuclear weapons. North Korea may already have them - and is on a clear path to acquiring more.
Saddam Hussein has missiles that can go 40 miles farther than the 90-mile range allowed by the UN. North Korea has tested a three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile that might be able to reach California, Oregon, and Washington.
I marvel at the discipline of this Administration in sticking to its message - that Saddam is the greatest danger - regardless of world developments.
We have the most dangerous situation in East Asia in a decade - perhaps in five decades, and the Administration is treating it as a sideshow. The reason is that North Korea doesn't fit into any of the Administration's preconceived little boxes.
They haven't wanted to talk to North Korea because a solution requires negotiation - and sitting at the bargaining table is something Bill Clinton used to do. They do not see themselves as negotiators; they see themselves as pre-emptors. But preemption on the Korean Peninsula is a much different proposition than it is in the Persian Gulf. . . .
In recent weeks, it has become clear that the North Koreans have broken the agreement. They have begun moving the fuel rods to a new location, and threatening to unseal them. They could also re-start their reactor and produce more and more plutonium.
Within months, North Korea could become a confirmed nuclear power. Unlike Iraq, it has an advanced missile program, which would make its possession of nuclear arms even more dangerous.
The Administration's response to all this has been to say that "every option is on the table." Now, I have been in public service for quite awhile, and I'll let you in on a little secret. When government officials say, "every option is on the table," it's because they haven't got a clue what they intend to do.
It would be unfair for me to suggest that negotiating with North Korea is a simple matter. By all accounts, it is extremely difficult. No one can guarantee a successful outcome. But you can guarantee failure if you do not even try. And this administration has not tried.
Instead of a serious policy, they have wasted time, alienated our allies and engaged in a pointless war of words with Pyongyang.
Even now, the Administration seems to want to avoid anything that would shift the world spotlight from the dangers of the Persian Gulf to the even greater perils of the Korean Peninsula.
I think we can do better. . . . You would not know it from the Administration's approach, but time is not on our side. North Korea will be far easier to contend with as a threatening power than as a declared nuclear power.
Together with our allies, and others in the region, we should challenge Pyongyang to return the fuel rods to their previous location, and allow international authorities to inspect and re-seal them. North Korea must also continue its moratorium - secured by President Clinton, I might add - on tests of long-range missiles.
In return, the U.S. can pledge to take no military action against the North and agree to resume direct, high-level talks. Both sides should agree to maintain these pledges as long as talks are ongoing. The discussions should be wide-ranging and designed to give North Korea a chance to reduce its isolation and begin moving in the direction of a normal society. North Korea is a far greater danger to world peace than Iraq.
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