Moral Surrender To Pyongyang, (Washington Post)…Michael Gerson, Dec 19, 2008
…The negotiations with North Korea were worth a try. But diplomatic engagement does not require moral surrender. And when diplomats such as Christopher Hill are deployed, it does not signify that the adults have arrived. It means that hope is fading.
The argument was simple: In an impossible situation — facing an infantile and possibly ill dictator with a nuclear weapon — Hill’s approach was worth a try. China was skillfully enlisted in an effort to pressure and isolate North Korea. Concessions were made in exchange for the resumption of negotiations, incremental progress and vague promises of future cooperation. Fuel was shipped. North Korea was removed from the sponsors-of-terrorism list.
Some have called this appeasement. It is more like bribery — with a special emphasis on getting North Korea to part with at least 30 kilos (66 pounds) of plutonium. Hill has summarized his approach this way: “If you give up 30 kilos, we will sign a bilateral assistance program.”
The negotiations with North Korea were worth a try. But diplomatic engagement does not require moral surrender.
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