Wednesday, May 21, 2003
This is almost unbelievable. The State Department knew, because they were told by the North Koreans, that the DPRK was reprocessing plutonium but State didn't tell the Pentagon and the White House. If this is true, as well as the other allegations in this Washington Times editorial, then State needs a shake-up - hard.
The Washington Times: Editorials/OP-ED (Via LGF)
Foreign Service sneering at a president is nothing new, of course, but such open disrespect for a commander-in-chief hasn't existed since Foggy Bottom's diplomats decried Ronald Reagan's description of the Soviet Union as an "evil empire." But at least then-Secretary of State George Schultz was able to keep something of a handle on his lieutenants and foot soldiers. Colin Powell has not.
Consider an example with deep policy ramifications. On March 31, representatives of the North Korean government told State Department officials, for the first time, that they were reprocessing plutonium, a key step in developing nuclear weapons. The Pentagon and the White House did not learn of this stunning announcement until Pyongyang told them during previously scheduled talks with North Korea in China on April 18. The State Department intentionally withheld this vital piece of information, fearing that, if the White House knew, officials there might call off the meeting. The White House was reportedly furious about this deception, but it has done nothing concrete to make sure it doesn't happen again. A White House official laments, "We always get really worked up, but then we don't do anything." [...]