U.S. Ambassador Vershbow (unitary English spelling, as far as I know) will likely issue an apology–or at least an "explanation"–for calling North Korea a "criminal regime," reports the Hankyoreh Shinmun.
A diplomatic source said the ambassador would issue the explanation is order to create an atmosphere conducive to the prompt reconvening of the six-party talks. The paper said the statement presumably would be issued in close coordination with State Department officials like U.S. Undersecretary of State Christopher Hill.
The Hani said Vershbow might issue his apology/explanation during an invitational lecture to be given at the Lotte Hotel on Jan. 12.
16 Comments
Does he really need to explain/apologize for the truth? Shouldn’t North Korea be apologizing to the world for being a criminal regime? I’ve quoted this article somewhere before, lunatic Pat Robinson surpassingly makes sense.
We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We dont need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. Its a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.
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He was talking about Chavez, but still, it could be applied to any number of people.
Vershbow’s apology will not do much good, because harm has already been done. He should have been more careful with his words in the first place. He knows damn well that insulting North Korea is not going to help the negotiation process. Vershbow is an embarrassment to America. The New York Times recently criticized Vershbow for his unhelpful comments.
Vershbow is an embarrassment to America. The New York Times recently criticized Vershbow for his unhelpful comments.
You know, some consider the New York Times an embarrassment to America.
I don’t think there is anything anyone can do to make the situation worse or better, anyone outside of South Korea anyways. North Korea sees America (and everyone else) as a chance to get some free money, some free buildings, free whatever. Make some nukes, sell them to America (they call it exchange, but it’s just selling), spend the money to beef up the military, make more nukes, sell them again, build up the military, then they’re ready to invade the South, Japan, and America all at once.
America needs to butt out, let South Korea do all the talking because they’re the only people the North will listen to. It’s just that no one likes what the South is saying. I think the South needs to be a little bit harder, no a lot bit harder on North Korea. They’ve recently stepped it up a notch, and I hope they continue.
U.S. policy quite correctly views North Korea as a criminal regime and Vershbow voiced that policy. I say promote him to replace the departing Joe DiTrani.
An apology would be exactly the wrong thing to do right now, and putting out an explanation that will be termed an apology by some is to.
Not only does he have right/truth on his side, all the whining that has been going on around his comments —- is exposing the bankrupt nature of “speak nice” crowd, and although there is no solution to the North Korean problem until North Korea wants it solved, the speak nice crowd simply gives much needed public support to the the Pyongyang regime.
An explanation - why not, for those that still don’t get it. But an apology for speaking the truth and mirroring what the U.S. administration has been saying and thinking all along? God, I hope not.
well, i guess he’s not going to apologize. so much for that news.
Whether he was right or wrong has little to do with it.
It was a bad move strategically, making it clear for all to see that the Bush Administration want to run the six party talks aground.
Whether the six party talks are useful or not is also irrelevant.
It was a bad move strategically, making the US the party that was ruining the talks.
In other words, if he actually does “express regret,” as they say, over the comments, it easily might not be because he’s “sorry” or has changed his mind. I myself hope it’s some vast neocon conspiracy to act like North Korea, getting all venomous and then suddenly being nice and ready to negotiate.
There is SO MUCH middle ground between (1) going so far out of your way to keep from offending NK that you surrender some of your principles and (2) deliberately trying to piss NK off in order to stand by your principles. It’s like a no-man’s-land between the two extremes, and most people seem to lack the courage to venture there.
I have to disagree, oranckay.
We arent talking about differences in ideology, but criminal counterfeiting. What kind of ‘middle ground’ could there be on that issue?
shakuhachi,
How about “you’re counterfeiting our money, we consider it a threat to our economic security, it has to stop before we get anywhere about closer relations, and here’s the evidence so get to the table so we can show it to your face.”
Repeating that, instead of “it’s a criminal regime and that’s what it is and so there!” might be a better approach with the North or it might not, but at the very least it would look more productive, whereas the name-calling absolutely guarantees no progress is made. A police negotiator doesn’t call a hostage-taker mean names while the situation is still developing, though the names may be accurate and using them might be gratifying.
Pls read again. Perhaps I should’ve been more clear. Not “middle ground” on the issue, but plenty of room inbetween the extremes when it comes to approach.
Vershbow should start off by pulling out a big, fat Websters dictionary and reading the definitions of criminal, regime, counterfeiting, and apologist. He should then say something about his deep regret that some apologists didnt seem to understand that state sponsored counterfeiting (which is what his original comments were in regard to) amounts to a criminal regime.
Ok, we all know thats not going to happen. But his statement should only be a clarification, with perhaps some regret that it was misunderstood by some, not an apology.
Vershbow will not issue an apology. I was able to talk to him for a few seconds this evening. He said “I will not repeat it. I will not retract it.”
I take that to mean that an apology is right out and any kind explanation would only come in reply to a direct question. Even then, I suspect that he will decline to elaborate.
BTW, click here if you want to see me in a suit. I look sharp.
He said “I will not repeat it. I will not retract it.”
Makes sense but… why the heck not repeat it?
Oranckay, it’s not an “extreme” to call the North a criminal regime, and it’s not name calling. It’s a factual description. “Outposts of tyranny,” “axis of evil”–that is bullshit rhetoric, but now the administration is pinpointing true lawlessness. Vershbow’s comments, along with the Congress passing the N.K. Human Rights Act and the EU’s UN resolutions on the same, are all reasonable, concrete steps toward reining in the North. Also, if you pay attention you’ll notice that it’s consistently the North that is “ruining the talks.”
And Yangban, you look like a million bucks in that suit
Surely exporting counterfeit “greenbacks” is significantly less criminal than exporting counterfeit wars.
Vershbow was simply caught out for his hypocrisy.
You know, some consider the New York Times an embarrassment to America.
Who? Why?