Vershbow was simply caught out for his hypocrisy.

You know, some consider the New York Times an embarrassment to America.

Who? Why?

And Yangban, you look like a million bucks in that suit

Makes sense but… why the heck not repeat 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.

Ok, we all know that’s 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.

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.

We arent talking about differences in ideology, but criminal counterfeiting. What kind of ‘middle ground’ could there be on that issue?

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.