NK’s first reactor went operational in 1986 (I believe tech from China). Therefore built and went online under Reagan.

NK started building the reprocessing plant in 1989 (to get the P239 out of the spent fuel rods). Went operational (supposedly) in 93 – Clinton’s first year in office. Most of the work was done, with little/no limiting actions, under elder Bush.

Clinton uses carrott (Agreed Framework; fuel, food, 2 light-water reactors with spent rods sent back to US) and stick (threatens military strike; some sabre rattling – logistics & additional advisors sent to SK) in early 1994. Jimmy Carter does behind the scenes negotiation with elder Kim and gets Framework. Its a victory for the hated Dem Clinton and, even worse, negotiated by that Peanut Farmer. Goes through as an agreement not a treaty. Therefore bypasses Congressional ratification. Repubs (including McCain) are doubly pissed and over the years try to cut off funding (oil, food) for our part of the Framework – finally succeeding in summer 2000.

The Framework was working. IAEA inspectors had locked up and counted all the old unprocessed fuel rods, the reprocesssing plant was shuttered, and the old reactors from the 80’s were not online. Powell was in favor of continuing the Framework, but Rice rebuked him and made him apologize publically for stating that it would go forward (the “got over my ski tips” speech). This was before he even took office, early Jan 2001.

Add in Bush publically rebuking the new Pres of SK in Jan 2001 for trying to nomalize relationships with NK. In 2002 intel gets good that NK has exchanged long range missles to Pakistan for gas centrifuges for uranium enrichment – not hundreds needed for 3% reactor fuel, but plans (not operational for years) for the few thousand needed for 90% bomb-grade. second path to nuke bomb material). However Pakistan is part of GWOT, so we look the other way. In fact, we release $95M to NK. BTW, India is not happy with things beteween NK & Pakistan and starts negotiating to sell – surprise! – heavy water reactor to Iran. These produce 5-10 bombs worth per year of plutonium byproduct. By late 03 or early 04, NK has unofficalyy confirmed the uranium enrichment, and started reprocessing the old fuel rods. We do nothing really, but start the 6-party talks in 05. Bush also has his off the cuff remark that NK “can’t eat plutonium” around that time. Brilliant.

Diplomacy, to use W’s words, is hard work. The Bush cabal is like a chess player that only thinks one or two moves ahead. They talk tough, but rarely put any action behind it (not when it would count). They are also too lazy to consider related ramifications and derivative repercussions of their actions. You know, like anticipating problems in postwar Iraq, blowback on support of Israel over Lebannon, India selling Iran WMD tech as a response to letting Pakistan get long range missles from NK. The list goes on and on.

We are run by posturing idiots.

http://www.miserywatch.com/200…..a_fal.html

Doesn’t that also work when you have a ship with a hole in the bottom that sinks??? I apologize for my lack of proper terminology to describe it, but I think ships are also scuttled when they have no more use.

Most specifically, it refers to the deliberate act of putting a hole in your own ship so it sinks. See also: Grover Norquist.

Mad Dogs @ 17:

“Cammie jammies” made me smile one smile that ran around my face 2 times! Tell me, do they have a trap door and feeties, as I suspect they do???

Yes indeedy, you do have the visual! *g*

Junya has always seemed so “child-like” to me. A really spoiled child that you wouldn’t wish on any family.

2) The Dems and North Korea are engaged in a smear campaign together.

3) I was never briefed on it.

4) 9-11, 9-11, 9-11.

Christy Hardin Smith @
99

Does anyone know if Rita Cosby is going to have this time slot every day on MSNBC?

Peterr @
101

punaise @
88

“City of Berkeley offices will be closed Monday, October 09, 2006 in observance of Indigenous People’s Day.”

Yes, the City offices will be closed, but more importantly: do you have to feed the parking meters today?

nahh – speaking of Rita’s – the meter maids have the day off too.

Where would we be without you?

http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..2/#respond