The North Koreans, that is.
North Korea’s No. 2 leader pledged his country’s commitment Thursday to giving up its nuclear program amid intensifying diplomacy aimed at implementing Pyongyang’s pledge to disarm.
“The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the dying wish” of the country’s late founding president Kim Il Sung, Kim Yong Nam said in Pyongyang during a visit from a high-level South Korean delegation.
The North “will make efforts to realize it,” he said.
It’s easy to assume that anyone with half a brain can see through this charade, right?
Yet I fear the softening stance of some in the State Department who appear ready to trust Pyongyang and thereby repeat the mistakes made by the previous White House administration. It could easily happen. Faulty intelligence brought the U.S. to war with Iraq. No one wants to be the first to rely 100% upon North Korean intelligence (or the same from Iran). No matter how solid the evidence, the political liabilities are too great.
And frankly, I think that stinks.
America is less safe today because each move we make is judged by the weight of political fallout. That’s usually the case when Democrats occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But this time Republicans live there, and that’s what scares me.