Anyone else notice that North Korea has seemed to dominate front page news on nearly every continent this week? They’re really at it – and there are no bombs involved. Even The Dear Leader has been mysteriously silent. But North Korea is creating daily headlines that are befuddling all of the nations in the civilized world – and even the media is falling for it.
President Bush has not said anything about North Korea’s hogging of the international squawk box lately, however, he has found a way to stay the course despite the fact that TEXAS is about to get hit by a massive hurricane. According to the Taipei Times, however, Christopher Hill, the chief US nuclear negotiator has expressed a desire to visit the communist country for talks. According to tomorrow’s JoongAng Daily, Pyongyang welcomes his visit.
Yesterday North Korea reiterated demands for light water reactors from the U.S. (audio | text). Simultaneously, DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon announced that U.S. tourists will be allowed to visit for the first time in three years to mark 60 years of North Korean independence and to visit relics from the Korean War.
You’d think those New Orleans evacuees who apparently had things going “very well” when they were left homeless on the Astrodome floor no longer feeling like they found Babs’ golden ticket. Surely Papa Bush can’t be pleased that his home state can only cross its fingers with Hurricane Rita on the way. According to the President’s speaker Scott McClellan, the federal government is going to try and coordinate a little better than last time. What more can you ask of a privatized national crisis management organization?
President Bush decided that staying to course is the surest resolve for natural disaster when he suggested for the second time this month, (contrary to NY Times’ report) that devastation from Hurricane Katrina is linked to the persistent terrorists’ threat. Although NOBODY could have imagined Iraq would break, the administration’s talking points continually allude to the notion that the insurgency would wreak even more havoc if American troops left Iraq… they laugh at our suffering, and “we’re at war with these terrorists…” The truth, as John McCain was noble enough to point out, is that “congress [is] spending more on rebuilding schools in Iraq before they rebuild schools in New Orleans.” New Orleans’ education system was bankrupt BEFORE Hurricane Katrina.
“On Monday, North Korea shocked the entire 6 nation Beijing gathering by announcing that they would ditch their nuclear weapons program. In return they would receive a light-water reactor and other goods from the United States.
The Western media reported this as good, if not revolutionary news, declaring the news an end to nuclear testing in the DPRK, without realizing that a main clause of the agreement would involve an arms/energy deal with the U.S.
Today, North Korea has decided they just don’t want any help at all anymore, despite considerable evidence of a major food shortage. It may seem that this is equivalent to an aid package for disaster victims across the world, but let us not forget North Korea’s utter disregard for civil rights.
All of a sudden, Kofi Annan appears headed out of the disheveled U.N. – doubly shaken by the antics of John Bolton. George Bush’s popularity at home has finally caught up with his reputation globally. Germany just had an election in which d) none of the above came out on top.
Consider the (American media’s reaction of Iran’s nuclear announcement (that they have the right to explore nuclear energy) | compared to the Iranian media’s criticism of America’s reaction to the announcement)
Oh, and by the way, there was a presidential election this week in AFGHANISTAN. But who really cares anymore, right? The U.S. government declares it was a success! And North Korea, without raising the slightest threat to the global community – albeit with absolute disregard for its own citizenry – has the media of the world on a roller coaster ride of unpredictable, yet globally relevant headlines.
My thoughts are with everyone who will be battling Hurricane Rita over the next few days. Write your congress reps to suggest raising the gas tax by a few cents and setting up a public fund for disaster relief from the revenues. And do yourself a favor and fill ‘er up today.
The public MUST help. FEMA has its own agenda and they prove it on their home page, where a national disaster has been declared in nearly every state in the union.
