Schieffer Warns Bush That DPRK Nuke Deal "Could Harm" Japanese Relations.

[JMS]

Neo conservatives have been trying to scrap Bush/Rice N. Korean disarmament deal in several ways.

(1) Noteing/Publisizing the N. Korean nuke facility in Syria, which may or may not have existed.

(2) Now this. Saying it could harm our relations with Japan.

Schieffer Warns Bush That DPRK Nuke Deal "Could Harm" Japanese Relations. The Washington Post (10/26, A8, Kessler, 723K) reports US Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer "sent President Bush an unusual private cable this week warning that the pending nuclear deal with North Korea could harm relations with Japan. He also complained that the U.S. Embassy had been left in the dark while the deal -- which could include North Korea's removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism -- was negotiated by top State Department officials." Noting that "both Schieffer and the White House acknowledged the existence of the cable ... but ... declined to discuss it in detail," the Post reports the telegram "appears to be another sign of the unease in some parts of the administration over the North Korea agreement," which "has come under attack from conservatives, especially Republicans on Capitol Hill." Schieffer "warned the president that rumors were flying in Tokyo that the talks on removing North Korea from the terror list were progressing rapidly, which he suggested could potentially harm U.S. relations with its closest ally in the Pacific." Most US envoys "do not send diplomatic cables directly to the president, but Schieffer has unusual status as a longtime friend of Bush's."

[JMS]

Neo conservatives have been trying to scrap Bush/Rice N. Korean disarmament deal in several ways.

(1) Noteing/Publisizing the N. Korean nuke facility in Syria, which may or may not have existed.

(2) Now this. Saying it could harm our relations with Japan.

Schieffer Warns Bush That DPRK Nuke Deal "Could Harm" Japanese Relations. The Washington Post (10/26, A8, Kessler, 723K) reports US Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer "sent President Bush an unusual private cable this week warning that the pending nuclear deal with North Korea could harm relations with Japan. He also complained that the U.S. Embassy had been left in the dark while the deal -- which could include North Korea's removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism -- was negotiated by top State Department officials." Noting that "both Schieffer and the White House acknowledged the existence of the cable ... but ... declined to discuss it in detail," the Post reports the telegram "appears to be another sign of the unease in some parts of the administration over the North Korea agreement," which "has come under attack from conservatives, especially Republicans on Capitol Hill." Schieffer "warned the president that rumors were flying in Tokyo that the talks on removing North Korea from the terror list were progressing rapidly, which he suggested could potentially harm U.S. relations with its closest ally in the Pacific." Most US envoys "do not send diplomatic cables directly to the president, but Schieffer has unusual status as a longtime friend of Bush's."

[PeterMP]

Well, could it? Or is he just blowing smoke?

[PeterMP]

Well, could it? Or is he just blowing smoke?

[JMS]

Well, could it? Or is he just blowing smoke?

The new Bush/Rice deal with North Korea is a lot like the old Clinton deal with North Korea which Bush pulled out of 7 years ago. The Clinton deal didn't harm relations with Japan, at least we didn't hear about it if it did.

I think the Neocons are just against the idea of paying off these little tin plated dictators like "I'm-a-diner-jacket" in Iran or kim Il Jong in N. Korea. From a pragmatic point of view, something usually associated with conservatives, The Iraq war is on pace to cost of a trillion dollars(Post yesterday). If we can solve the N. Korean, or Iranians situation with eight or nine figures I think it's a deal.

[JMS]

Well, could it? Or is he just blowing smoke?

The new Bush/Rice deal with North Korea is a lot like the old Clinton deal with North Korea which Bush pulled out of 7 years ago. The Clinton deal didn't harm relations with Japan, at least we didn't hear about it if it did.

I think the Neocons are just against the idea of paying off these little tin plated dictators like "I'm-a-diner-jacket" in Iran or kim Il Jong in N. Korea. From a pragmatic point of view, something usually associated with conservatives, The Iraq war is on pace to cost of a trillion dollars(Post yesterday). If we can solve the N. Korean, or Iranians situation with eight or nine figures I think it's a deal.