Clinton And Dole On North Korea
In the latest in a series of two-minute debates for CBS News 60 Minutes, former President Bill Clinton and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole talk about North Korea. Following is a transcript of their debate:
PRESIDENT CLINTON: With America's victory in Iraq, President Bush has the time and increased leverage to resolve the nuclear standoff with North Korea. The North Koreans have missiles that can reach our shores, and the capacity to build several nuclear weapons a year.
They probably won't use them -- it would mean their certain destruction -- but they'll be tempted to sell them for food and energy since they can't produce either.
I believe we can get an agreement that ends all their bomb and missile programs, subject to international verification, in return for the U.S. and North Korea's neighbors providing food, energy, and a non-aggression pact -- which of course would be void if they committed a hostile act against South Korea or Japan.
President Bush is in a strong position to resolve this crisis, and I hope he will.
SENATOR DOLE: President Clinton, you used to spin North Korea as a foreign policy victory, remember? I do. You even worried that President Bush has squandered your diplomatic triumph. In return for promises immediately broken, your administration gave North Korea boatloads of aid, and even threw in two nuclear reactors.
Surprise! Guess What? Communist North Korea lied. They snookered us, took the loot and kept working on nuclear weapons. Should the Korean peninsula be nuclear-free? You bet.
Today, wishful thinking does not control our foreign policy. President Bush proved that in Iraq and North Korea got the message. Amazing how leadership works!
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Now Senator, Colin Powell said, "Lots of nuclear weapons were not made," because of the 1994 agreement. The present crisis started with a different and much smaller nuclear program.
When the administration refused to talk to North Korea, they started the big one again. Now that the administration has changed its position and agreed to negotiate, I think we'll be successful.
SENATOR DOLE: President Clinton, excuse me, but the truth is you left Colin Powell and George Bush with a mess to clean up. Really, how many nuclear weapons are you willing to trust North Korea with?
You know, the only thing the Bush administration has changed is your legacy of patty-cake diplomacy. North Korea understands it and so does President Bush.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. PRESIDENT CLINTON: With America's victory in Iraq, President Bush has the time and increased leverage to resolve the nuclear standoff with North Korea. The North Koreans have missiles that can reach our shores, and the capacity to build several nuclear weapons a year.
They probably won't use them -- it would mean their certain destruction -- but they'll be tempted to sell them for food and energy since they can't produce either.
I believe we can get an agreement that ends all their bomb and missile programs, subject to international verification, in return for the U.S. and North Korea's neighbors providing food, energy, and a non-aggression pact -- which of course would be void if they committed a hostile act against South Korea or Japan.
President Bush is in a strong position to resolve this crisis, and I hope he will.
SENATOR DOLE: President Clinton, you used to spin North Korea as a foreign policy victory, remember? I do. You even worried that President Bush has squandered your diplomatic triumph. In return for promises immediately broken, your administration gave North Korea boatloads of aid, and even threw in two nuclear reactors.
Surprise! Guess What? Communist North Korea lied. They snookered us, took the loot and kept working on nuclear weapons. Should the Korean peninsula be nuclear-free? You bet.
Today, wishful thinking does not control our foreign policy. President Bush proved that in Iraq and North Korea got the message. Amazing how leadership works!
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Now Senator, Colin Powell said, "Lots of nuclear weapons were not made," because of the 1994 agreement. The present crisis started with a different and much smaller nuclear program.
When the administration refused to talk to North Korea, they started the big one again. Now that the administration has changed its position and agreed to negotiate, I think we'll be successful.
SENATOR DOLE: President Clinton, excuse me, but the truth is you left Colin Powell and George Bush with a mess to clean up. Really, how many nuclear weapons are you willing to trust North Korea with?
You know, the only thing the Bush administration has changed is your legacy of patty-cake diplomacy. North Korea understands it and so does President Bush.
