Comments on: Chris Hill Resignation Watch: Nuke Disclosure Starts a Category 3 Sh*tstorm http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/ Wed, 23 May 2012 01:27:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: OneFreeKorea » Grim Vindication: Predictably, Appeasement Fails to Disarm North Korea … Again http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-58649 OneFreeKorea » Grim Vindication: Predictably, Appeasement Fails to Disarm North Korea … Again Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:50:50 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-58649 [...] Most eerily, I predicted that the North Koreans would be caught in the act of a grave offense of proliferation, which would draw only a weak response from either the State Department or the U.N.; [...] [...] Most eerily, I predicted that the North Koreans would be caught in the act of a grave offense of proliferation, which would draw only a weak response from either the State Department or the U.N.; [...]

]]> By: OneFreeKorea » North Korea’s Next Tantrum http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-58484 OneFreeKorea » North Korea’s Next Tantrum Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:41:35 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-58484 [...] For reasons that aren’t completely clear to me, Bush has paused, for now, the granting of unconditional concessions, most significantly on de-listing North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.  Maybe he’s finally come to his senses, but my best guess is that he’s run out of political capital.  The key causes of that political bankruptcy were (a) the delayed revelations about the al-Kibar reactor and North Korea’s role in it, (b) the “Singapore Surrender” in which Hill and Rice agreed not to press for answers on uranium, proliferation, or actual nuclear weapons, and (c) what seemed very much like the imminent removal of North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the lifting of other key sanctions, as early as yesterday.  Now the administration says that’s not going to happen … yet:     “Our requirement for moving forward on delisting is a rigorous verification regime and a verification protocol, and until we get there I think we’ve been clear that delisting can’t go forward,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. [AFP] “At this point it is reasonable to say that [August 11th] probably will come and go without that happening,'’ Dennis Wilder, the National Security Council director for Asia, told reporters in Beijing today. “We are in discussions with the North. We continue to try to work with them on this question of a robust verification regime.'’  [….] [...] [...] For reasons that aren’t completely clear to me, Bush has paused, for now, the granting of unconditional concessions, most significantly on de-listing North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.  Maybe he’s finally come to his senses, but my best guess is that he’s run out of political capital.  The key causes of that political bankruptcy were (a) the delayed revelations about the al-Kibar reactor and North Korea’s role in it, (b) the “Singapore Surrender” in which Hill and Rice agreed not to press for answers on uranium, proliferation, or actual nuclear weapons, and (c) what seemed very much like the imminent removal of North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the lifting of other key sanctions, as early as yesterday.  Now the administration says that’s not going to happen … yet:     “Our requirement for moving forward on delisting is a rigorous verification regime and a verification protocol, and until we get there I think we’ve been clear that delisting can’t go forward,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. [AFP] “At this point it is reasonable to say that [August 11th] probably will come and go without that happening,’’ Dennis Wilder, the National Security Council director for Asia, told reporters in Beijing today. “We are in discussions with the North. We continue to try to work with them on this question of a robust verification regime.’’  [….] [...]

]]> By: OneFreeKorea » B.S. Stands for ‘Bovine Spongiform’ http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-58148 OneFreeKorea » B.S. Stands for ‘Bovine Spongiform’ Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:31:37 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-58148 [...] Long ago, I questioned in detail the vital U.S. interests that are at stake in South Korea, which may depend on how you define “vital,” which in turn may depend on which country you’re from.  Today, the main threats to South Korea don’t include a North Korean invasion; they do include a North Korean WMD attack, rising Chinese influence South of the DMZ, chaos in North Korea, and Chinese designs on the North.  The DMZ is no longer a dam holding back a red tide.  North Korea, a promiscuous proliferator to active sponsors of terrorism, probably poses more of a threat to America than it did in 1950, but a large U.S. troop presence isn’t an effective deterrent or response to that threat.  Our presence in Korea does, however, place an inviting target within easy reach of the North Koreans, thus limiting our own ability to deter them.   [...] [...] Long ago, I questioned in detail the vital U.S. interests that are at stake in South Korea, which may depend on how you define “vital,” which in turn may depend on which country you’re from.  Today, the main threats to South Korea don’t include a North Korean invasion; they do include a North Korean WMD attack, rising Chinese influence South of the DMZ, chaos in North Korea, and Chinese designs on the North.  The DMZ is no longer a dam holding back a red tide.  North Korea, a promiscuous proliferator to active sponsors of terrorism, probably poses more of a threat to America than it did in 1950, but a large U.S. troop presence isn’t an effective deterrent or response to that threat.  Our presence in Korea does, however, place an inviting target within easy reach of the North Koreans, thus limiting our own ability to deter them.   [...]

]]> By: Left Flank: Dayr az-Zwar Cipher http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57773 Left Flank: Dayr az-Zwar Cipher Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:19:16 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57773 [...] If OFK's account of the Congressional hearings and this exchange on the Lehrer Newshour are any indication of the useless invective with which conservatives have infused this debate, it's hard to evaluate any of this. One aspect of the A.Q. Khan investigations troubles me in this regard. CIA knew of Khan's activities as far back as the 70s before Khan even assembled a centrifuge in Pakistan. Yet, intelligence officials refused to share their evidence with international agencies, like the IAEA, whose job it is to investigate and regulate, out of simple ideological pique. [...] [...] If OFK’s account of the Congressional hearings and this exchange on the Lehrer Newshour are any indication of the useless invective with which conservatives have infused this debate, it’s hard to evaluate any of this. One aspect of the A.Q. Khan investigations troubles me in this regard. CIA knew of Khan’s activities as far back as the 70s before Khan even assembled a centrifuge in Pakistan. Yet, intelligence officials refused to share their evidence with international agencies, like the IAEA, whose job it is to investigate and regulate, out of simple ideological pique. [...]

]]> By: usinkorea http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57751 usinkorea Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:15:09 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57751 I hadn't been following the news that closely the last six months, so someone might want to correct me --- but --- ---- is not a reasonable interpretation of the Bush NK policy team's actions the last few months one that says ---- ---- they tried to get as far along in giving Pyongyang as it wanted before the Syrian revelations became public knowledge? Does the timing of Hill's biggest cave ins not match this interpretation? I vaguely remember in the first reporting of the possible reasons for the Israeli strike there was talk that everything was being so hush-hush in part because of negociations with North Korea. But, since that time, what have we witnessed? The Syrian strike certainly didn't cause it, but we have seen Pyongyang refuse even openly strong demands by Hill to declare its programs and move the process along. And we have also clearly witnessed Hill throwing in the towel and moving a considerable amount toward giving North Korea what it wants.... ....and obviously this giving North Korea what it wanted came with knowledge of the Syrian connection being firmly held in the minds of the Hill crew. They knew the Syrian connection and decided, what? It is absolutely clear the Hill team decided (for whatever reason) to fall back to a much softer position in the hopes it would create some momentum in the "denuclearization" process. The only question is whether or not one of the big motivations for the timing of the cave in is directly connected to the fact the Syrian intel was going to get out at some point...... Looking at what has been shown of the Syrian intel, I have a sinking suspicion that the connection between the timing of Hill's cave in and that intel is rather strong. I hadn’t been following the news that closely the last six months, so someone might want to correct me — but —

—- is not a reasonable interpretation of the Bush NK policy team’s actions the last few months one that says —-

—- they tried to get as far along in giving Pyongyang as it wanted before the Syrian revelations became public knowledge?

Does the timing of Hill’s biggest cave ins not match this interpretation?

I vaguely remember in the first reporting of the possible reasons for the Israeli strike there was talk that everything was being so hush-hush in part because of negociations with North Korea.

But, since that time, what have we witnessed?

The Syrian strike certainly didn’t cause it, but we have seen Pyongyang refuse even openly strong demands by Hill to declare its programs and move the process along.

And we have also clearly witnessed Hill throwing in the towel and moving a considerable amount toward giving North Korea what it wants….

….and obviously this giving North Korea what it wanted came with knowledge of the Syrian connection being firmly held in the minds of the Hill crew.

They knew the Syrian connection and decided, what?

It is absolutely clear the Hill team decided (for whatever reason) to fall back to a much softer position in the hopes it would create some momentum in the “denuclearization” process.

The only question is whether or not one of the big motivations for the timing of the cave in is directly connected to the fact the Syrian intel was going to get out at some point……

Looking at what has been shown of the Syrian intel, I have a sinking suspicion that the connection between the timing of Hill’s cave in and that intel is rather strong.

]]> By: OneFreeKorea » 2008 » April » 25 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57750 OneFreeKorea » 2008 » April » 25 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:05:14 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57750 [...] You will recall that in this post, I wrote about Kathleen Stephens, the State Department’s nominee to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.  Though well qualified for the job and (so I am told) a nice person when you meet her, Ms. Stephens is also a long-time crony of Christopher Hill, the man who would excuse North Korea from answering for its human rights atrocities, its support for terrorism, its abductions of the citizens of other nations, its counterfeiting of U.S. currency and money laundering, its nuclear proliferation, or its refusal to disclose  all of its nuclear weapons programs before being relieved of key U.S. sanctions.  Hill has long been Ms. Stephens’s protege, and there is every reason to believe that her views closely match Hill’s; in fact, Stephens’s key policy initiative in her current job was to push for a full peace treaty with North Korea.  There is less reason for confidence that Stephens’s views would align with those of a new, more conservative government in Seoul. [...] [...] You will recall that in this post, I wrote about Kathleen Stephens, the State Department’s nominee to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.  Though well qualified for the job and (so I am told) a nice person when you meet her, Ms. Stephens is also a long-time crony of Christopher Hill, the man who would excuse North Korea from answering for its human rights atrocities, its support for terrorism, its abductions of the citizens of other nations, its counterfeiting of U.S. currency and money laundering, its nuclear proliferation, or its refusal to disclose  all of its nuclear weapons programs before being relieved of key U.S. sanctions.  Hill has long been Ms. Stephens’s protege, and there is every reason to believe that her views closely match Hill’s; in fact, Stephens’s key policy initiative in her current job was to push for a full peace treaty with North Korea.  There is less reason for confidence that Stephens’s views would align with those of a new, more conservative government in Seoul. [...]

]]> By: Photographs of the Syrian Nuclear Reactor Released http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57748 Photographs of the Syrian Nuclear Reactor Released Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:35:26 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57748 [...] Further Reading:Make sure to go over to One Free Korea to get his always informative take on the latest development surrounding this issue.  He is wondering if the Agreed Framework 2.0 will collapse along with possibly Christopher Hill resigning.  Richardson over at DPRK Studies is wondering who is at the wheel of coordinating American policy with North Korea.  [...] [...] Further Reading:Make sure to go over to One Free Korea to get his always informative take on the latest development surrounding this issue.  He is wondering if the Agreed Framework 2.0 will collapse along with possibly Christopher Hill resigning.  Richardson over at DPRK Studies is wondering who is at the wheel of coordinating American policy with North Korea.  [...]

]]> By: usinkorea http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57747 usinkorea Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:50:57 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57747 I remember my reaction to watching the PBS Wide Angle airing of the documentary <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/northkorea/index.html" rel="nofollow">A State of Mind </a> about two young girls who participated in the mass games for Kim Jong Il and dead father. The idea stated by the film makers at the start that the families they were shadowing were "free" to talk about anything they wanted was enough to make me angry, but the opening monologue by the PBS host and their expert sent me into a conniption. The prefaced the documentaries pitiful look into the "real" North Korea by saying abruptly that North Korea was listed as part of George Bush's Axis of Evil, but that "North Korea is no Iraq, and we'd be making a big mistake if we thought that...." No fudge? NK isn't Iraq. Gee Golly!! At its best, it was a simplistic nothing statement. But what it really did was show just how far up their bums a certain type of intellectual likes to shove their heads. What makes it worse is that they at least have some knowledge to know better!!! I utterly despise anyone who gets so worked up on the politics (and mostly pseudo-politics) of American (and Western) Society that they end up doing little more than creating space for the Kim Jong Il's of the world to exist. I put up a video I hotly made after getting over my conniption, but I think I've since taken it down. It included some comments from the Dutch documentary maker who did the "day in the life" film of a factory worker with the comment being how he wanted to show the world that North Koreans were not shiny robots without real feelings. Stuff like that just makes me understand the need for physical things like a good slap in the face.... I remember my reaction to watching the PBS Wide Angle airing of the documentary A State of Mind about two young girls who participated in the mass games for Kim Jong Il and dead father.
The idea stated by the film makers at the start that the families they were shadowing were “free” to talk about anything they wanted was enough to make me angry, but the opening monologue by the PBS host and their expert sent me into a conniption.
The prefaced the documentaries pitiful look into the “real” North Korea by saying abruptly that North Korea was listed as part of George Bush’s Axis of Evil, but that “North Korea is no Iraq, and we’d be making a big mistake if we thought that….”
No fudge? NK isn’t Iraq. Gee Golly!!

At its best, it was a simplistic nothing statement.
But what it really did was show just how far up their bums a certain type of intellectual likes to shove their heads. What makes it worse is that they at least have some knowledge to know better!!!
I utterly despise anyone who gets so worked up on the politics (and mostly pseudo-politics) of American (and Western) Society that they end up doing little more than creating space for the Kim Jong Il’s of the world to exist.

I put up a video I hotly made after getting over my conniption, but I think I’ve since taken it down. It included some comments from the Dutch documentary maker who did the “day in the life” film of a factory worker with the comment being how he wanted to show the world that North Koreans were not shiny robots without real feelings.

Stuff like that just makes me understand the need for physical things like a good slap in the face….

]]> By: SRS http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57746 SRS Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:37:50 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57746 Full Text of the Syria briefing posted <a href="http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/1865/full-text-of-the-syria-briefing" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Includes this back and forth: Q: And North Korean intentions? Cash? SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL 1: Cash. SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL 2: It’s cash. SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL 1: Cash. Full Text of the Syria briefing posted here.

Includes this back and forth:

Q: And North Korean intentions? Cash?

SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL 1: Cash.

SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL 2: It’s cash.

SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL 1: Cash.

]]> By: CIA report on the North Korea/Syrian connection (Update 2) | DPRK Forum http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-57745 CIA report on the North Korea/Syrian connection (Update 2) | DPRK Forum Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:29:38 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2008/04/24/chris-hill-resignation-watch-nuke-disclosure-starts-a-category-3-shtstorm/#comment-57745 [...] Update: see One Free Korea’s post. Very good read. [...] [...] Update: see One Free Korea’s post. Very good read. [...]

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