McCain Raps Clintons On North Korea

Leader In GOP Presidential Derby Takes Swipe At Democratic Front-Runner

(AP)  Republican Sen. John McCain on Tuesday accused former President Clinton, the husband of his potential 2008 White House rival, of failing to act in the 1990s to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.

“I would remind Senator (Hillary) Clinton and other Democrats critical of the Bush administration's policies that the framework agreement her husband's administration negotiated was a failure,” McCain said at a news conference after a campaign appearance for Republican Senate candidate Mike Bouchard.

“The Koreans received millions and millions in energy assistance. They've diverted millions of dollars of food assistance to their military,” he said.

Democrats have argued President Clinton presented his successor with a framework for dealing with North Korea and the Republican fumbled the opportunity. In October 2000, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a groundbreaking visit to Pyongyang to explore a missile deal with Chairman Kim Jong Il. There was even talk of a visit by President Clinton.

Reports this week suggesting North Korea tested a nuclear device prompted a number of Democrats to criticize Bush, arguing that he focused on Iraq, a country without weapons of mass destruction, while ignoring legitimate threats from Pyongyang.

The criticism took a presidential campaign turn on Tuesday as McCain, the Arizona senator considered the Republican front-runner for the party nod, assailed Clinton's husband and mentioned her by name. The New York senator is considered her party's leading candidate in 2008.

Sen. Clinton's spokesman dismissed McCain's criticism and argued that it was time for a new policy from the president.

“Now is not the time to play politics of the most dangerous kind — with our policy on North Korea,” Philippe Reines, spokesman for Sen. Clinton, said in a statement. “History is clear that nothing the Bush administration has done has stopped the North Koreans from openly testing a nuclear weapon and presenting a new danger to the region of the world.”

Five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Bush “has allowed the 'axis of evil' to spin out of control. Our Iraq policy is a failure. Iran is going nuclear and North Korea is testing nuclear weapons,” the statement said.

A spokesman for President Clinton, Ben Yarrow, said in a statement that it was “unfortunate that anyone would attempt to rewrite history to score political points at a time when we need to address this serious threat.”

“For eight years during the Clinton administration, there was no new plutonium production, no nuclear weapons tests and therefore no additional nuclear weapons developed on President Clinton's watch,” said Yarrow, who added that Colin Powell, Bush's secretary of State, endorsed Clinton's policy toward North Korea in 2001.

McCain's criticism also elicited a strong response from Democratic Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 presidential nominee and a potential 2008 candidate.

“He must be trying to burnish his credentials for the nomination process,” said Kerry, who labeled McCain's comments “flat politics and incorrect.”

“The truth is the Clinton administration knew full well they didn't have a perfect agreement. But at least they were talking. At least we had inspectors going in and we knew where the (nuclear fuel) rods were. This way, we don't know where the rods are, the rods are gone. There are no inspectors. Ask any American which way is better,” Kerry said.

The Massachusetts senator made the remarks in Nevada during a campaign appearance with Elizabeth Carter, wife of Democratic Senate candidate Jack Carter.

In U.S.-North Korea relations, the initial breakthrough occurred in October 1994 when U.S. negotiators persuaded North Korea to freeze its nuclear program, with onsite monitoring by U.N. inspectors. In exchange, the United States, with input from South Korea and Japan, promised major steps to ease North Korea's acute energy shortage.

These commitments were inherited by the Bush administration, which made clear almost from the outset that it believed the Clinton policy ignored key elements of North Korea's activities, especially the threat posed by the hundreds of thousands of troops on permanent duty along the Demilitarized Zone with South Korea.

McCain, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he backed tough U.N. sanctions against North Korea in response to the reported test. The measures, he said, should include a military embargo, financial and trade sanctions and the right to inspect all cargo in and out of North Korea.

McCain also called on China to “step up to the plate” and vote for sanctions and rejected calls for one-on-one talks between the United States and North Korea.

“The worst thing we could do is to accede to North Korea's demand for bilateral talks,” McCain said. “When has rewarding North Korea's bad behavior ever gotten us anything more than worse behavior?”

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, speaking during a debate Tuesday with his Republican rival for the Senate, accused the Bush administration of walking away from relationships the Clinton administration had developed.

“When the North Korean ambassador came to the United States, he had to go to New Mexico to meet Bill Richardson, who had been at the United Nations, because he didn't have anyone else to talk to,” Kennedy said. “The United States is the heavy in this. The United States has to engage. This administration has to have direct contact with North Korea.”

[rsoxfan1123]

McCain shows his true stripes at last. Notice he does not mention the agreement that Clinton had in place with North Korea (that was obviously successful)that Bush quickly dispensed with which triggered this whole mess.

[itchybrain]

Almost 6 years after he left office, the republicans are still blaming Clinton for everything. Of course, the repubs are to blame for nothing. I used to have a lot of respect for McCain until he sold out over the torture bill... and this is just the icing on the cake. How low can he go?

[rharrin1]

I used to like and respect McCain but he turned around and now he's just a good little bushey.
To bad he couldn't stay himself.

[tpeks40]

Hear hear to all the writers before me who can see this as a political move by Sen. McCain. How does Clinton have anything to do with N. Korea now? Look no further than your president Mr McCain, and you will see where the problem lies.

[ellygumera]

The Blame Game...again!

We need to unite and focus our agenda into one concrete action! No use crying over spilled milk.
Let us all rally behind Pres. Bush and show him 101% full support.

[huskerarmy]

"Yea, there was a deal back in 1994-it failed folks."

"In October 2000, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a groundbreaking visit to Pyongyang to explore a missile deal with Chairman Kim Jong Il."

So the deal was still on the table in 2000. O.K. so remind me again... Why did it fail?

[tpeks40]

I suppose now we're going to be bringing up George Washingtons failed policies with Great Britian as to why we fought the battle of 1812.

[j-whitman]

Great, just great,,, Another GOP party line politician still blaming Clinton,,, I used to have respect for McCain,, NO LONGER

[tpeks40]

Maybe, just maybe, Dubya should've developed some policies on N. Korea all by himself by now, don't ya think?

[russellvbrla]

Once again we have a textbook-typical republican like McCain ignoring the fact that his party was in charge of the entire federal government for the last 6 (seems like 60) years. Being that North Korea was a problem even before Clinton, you can use republican logic (a contradiction in terms if there ever was one) and conclude that Ronald Reagan's korea policy failed. afterall, we do know that Reagan gave us the modern day war on terror when he sent Marines to the slaughter in lebanon and then cowardly withdrew thereby emboldening the islamic terrorists even further. Mccain.... what an embarrassment to america.

[tpeks40]

Oh, that's right, he was too concerned with all those weapons of mass destruction in Iraq...

[fedora1958]

Okay now, everybody sing along, By now we all know the words.
Clinton clinton shaboom shaboom clinton clinton dowoop dowoop personal responsibility Clinton.

I really do miss Clinton. Also Bush 41, Reagan, Carter, Nixon... They're all looking pretty good right now.

Come on, what do you expect? You declare 3 countries an "Axis of Evil", and then you invade 1 of the 3 countries. What other outcome can there possibly be other than the other 2 countries scrambling to arm themselves, lest they too find themselves on trial for their lives?

McCain is just doing what they always do, blaming Democrats. Last week it was Tom Foley. The week before it was 9/11. The Democrats have power over nothing, yet they are to blame for everything.

[huskerarmy]

A summary on how Bush undermined the 1994 agreement here:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/sr.gowans/elichnorthkorea.html

[talkingham]

McCain is so 6 years ago. Can't these repubs get a life or a policy of their own? Bush disengaged from N Korea and now the repubs want to blame someone else. But they don't engage in the politics of blame, what a joke.

Rumsfeld was on the board of directors of the company that brought the technology into N Korea but I guess he didn't know anything about it, just like Condi can't remember anything unpleasant from her meetings with Tenent, and didn't pay any heed to Richard Clark.

Neo-cons, see nothing and do nothing but line their pockets and lie. The republican party gets the Sargent Schultz Award for "knowing nothing" except how to bash the Clintons. Fits right in with their hate spewing talk radio crowd. And why does being a prisoner of war, getting shot down, make someone a good Presidential candidate?

So Bush's N Korea policy is a success- they've got nucs probably, makes people scared, yes, that's a success in the Bush playbook. The repubs are asleep at the switch from 911, to Foley, to Katrina, and now to N Korea. They've really got a great track record.

[huskerarmy]

"I really do miss Clinton. Also Bush 41, Reagan, Carter, Nixon... They're all looking pretty good right now."

Heck even Herbie Hoover is looking good right now... well maybe a tie.

[fedora1958]

And why does being a prisoner of war, getting shot down, make someone a good Presidential candidate?


Okay, that was uncalled for.

McCain, Rice, Yes Sr Mr Bush!

[jumkey]

So let me see if I understand this.

Since Hillary Clinton might run against him in '08 she is responsible for North Korea getting nukes because her husband was President 6 years-ago.

Wow.

[gwagener]

It is clear that both the Clinton and Bush administrations failed in dealing with N. Korea. Sen. McCain should give us a way out of the mess to demonstrate Presidential worth rather than placing blame.

[huskerarmy]

I don't get it. They claim to be for individual responsibility, yet they can't take responsibiity for anything. Hey rich man, since Clinton is responsible for everything, give him all your "self made" wealth. He would certainly do more good with it then you will.

[fedora1958]

It is clear that both the Clinton and Bush administrations failed in dealing with N. Korea. Sen. McCain should give us a way out of the mess to demonstrate Presidential worth rather than placing blame.
Posted by gwagener at 05:27 PM : Oct 10, 2006

How will THAT help the GOP hold onto Congress?

[fedora1958]

"While pundits like yourself love giving into terrorists and bullies, McCain wants us to call them on their lies and deceit instead of promising them more riches for defying internatinal law."

Hell yes, I LOVE giving into terrorists! I do it five times before breakfast. Do you think you can convince anyone of anything with this kind of caricature? It is my belief that Bush is playing right into Osama's hands. You may not share my belief and that's valid, but when you tell me how much I love terrorists, you're only convincing me that you know nothing of who I am or what I believe.

McCain isn't talking about "bullies and terrorists". He's talking about the Clintons. Same old song and dance.

[huskerarmy]

LEARN HISTORY!!! Clinton was made a FOOL of by North Korea.

ckMagic,
I have a BA in history. But it's not necessary to understand this issue.

The fact is that part of the 1984 agreement with N. Korea was for the U.S. to provide light water reactors to help with their critical energy shortage. Light water reactors do not produce weapons grade material. Once Bush took office he declared N, Korea part of the "axis of evil" and refused to provide the reactors, encouraging N. Korea to proceed with its nuclear (that's nucular in neo-con) program. Now N. Korea has met and exceeded all the criteria Bush used to justify the invasion of Iraq and you say they made a fool of Clinton?

[fedora1958]

"Clinton sure seems to know alot on how to do things correctly ,that when he was President didn't work then . May be now that he isn't spending so much time under his desk and can see more clearly .
Posted by FARTKNOCKER2 at 05:43 PM : Oct 10, 2006"

We were about due for a Monica Lewinsky reference. Haven't heard one of those in almost 15 minutes. The beauty of this particular post is that you can use it verbatim for almost any occasion where Clinton's name is evoked, thus reducing the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, and frowm lines from having to think too much. Just copy and paste.

Same old song and dance.

[huskerarmy]

"...that when he was President didn't work then."

Yea, you're right kid:

Peace
balanced budget
affordable gas
respect of our allies
fair elections
cleaner air
safer food

What was he thinking!

[roger_inkart]

Yes, when all else fails blame Clinton. Pathetic, but typical of the GOP. I would expect more from McCain.

[doctorgraz]

It's tough out there. Maybe we should all leave this earth.

[jumkey]

We always have 3 choices in dealing with countries that do things we don't like:

1) Ignore them
2) Attack them militarily
3) Negotiate with them

Bush unilateraly decided not to do #3. That only leaves 2 options. Given our pre-emptive attack on Iraq and our threats against Iran, North Korea had no other choice but to do what they did - their actions makes sense and it was a logical conclusion.

North Korea pursued and aquired nuclear weapons because Bush precluded diplomacy and forced their hand.

You mindless Clinton haters are so blinded by rage that you fail to see that his negotiating with NK forestalled their development of nuclear weapons by at least 10 years.

[jeff776]

God know's I will vote McCain over Hilary anyday, but playing the blame game over Korea does no good.

When will our leaders stop looking to blame and start looking towards positive progression for our nation and the worlds problems?

Sounds like a bunch of 3 year olds blaming each other over ***.

[getcentered]

The Clinton's defense on this attack from Republicans is easy.

1.
"For eight years during the Clinton administration, there was no new plutonium production, no nuclear weapons tests and therefore no additional nuclear weapons developed on President Clinton's watch," said the statement, which added that Colin Powell, Bush's secretary of State, endorsed Clinton's policy toward North Korea in 2001."

2.
"The truth is the Clinton administration knew full well they didn't have a perfect agreement. But at least they were talking. At least we had inspectors going in and we knew where the (nuclear fuel) rods were. This way, we don't know where the rods are, the rods are gone. There are no inspectors. Ask any American which way is better,"

3.
"Democrats have argued President Clinton presented his successor with a framework for dealing with North Korea and the Republican fumbled the opportunity. In October 2000, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a groundbreaking visit to Pyongyang to explore a missile deal with Chairman Kim Jong Il. There was even talk of a visit by President Clinton."

If you "really" want the truth, you can find it.
Do Republicans really want to know the truth?

[the74blaster]

Does it surprise anyone that McCain needs to place blame on the Clinton administration for yet another foreign policy failure by the Bush Administration? It is obvious that the new rage in GOP politics is to blame everything on the Democrats and not take responsibility for their own actions! Boy are they making great role models for our children!

The fact is that the GOP has had control over the executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government for the last six years. If they were able to work something out with their foreign policy we wouldn%u2019t be reading about a North Korean atomic blast. This is a Bush administration failure and I challenge the GOP readers to show some leadership and accept the fact that they made the wrong choice by reelecting Bush!

1500 characters is not enough space to list the other failures or reasons not to vote for the GOP!

[janemcgreeve]

For once the senior erratic former war hero turned clown has said and done something right. Of course, this so-called Republican who favors amnesty for ILLEGALS and soft treatment of throatslitters is only doing this because he wants to be President. He needs to firm up the Conservative vote, which has all but abandoned him.

But this time around, despite what the anal-retentive Neo-Fascists and Pervert Clinton defenders whine, he's right. Clinton gave North Korea a pass. With the assistance of that other piece of work, Howdy Doody Carter, outside of equally gutless Jemmy Buchanan the worst President in American History, Clinton and Miss Piggy NoBright gave this babykilling regime economic aid and perks - so that they would not build nukes.

So what did Kim do? He smiled. Did the hoochie koo with the befuddled Miss Piggy, and built the nukes nonetheless. Once again, Democratic appeasement, cowardice and lies have put the world in jeopardy. Wonder what Cuckolded Shrill Shrew wants to tell the Japanese. Oh yeah, her hubby is such a nice, brave guy. Pardon me while I puke.

[janemcgreeve]

huskerarmy,

you say Clinton gave us peace, right.

Where did you get your education? Heinz 57 varieties? Oh, Teresa was your college dean, and Benedict Arnold Kerry your chief instructor. I got it!

Peace? Well, tell that to the 2000 Serbian men, women and children who perished under the explosions of USAF B-52s bombing Belgrade on a regular basis.

Peace?

Yeah. When the pervert could have sent those bombers on regular runs to Afghanistan, he chose not to. Too busy with Lewinsky, or bombing people who were not a threat to the U.S. - UNLIKE BIN LADEN or North Korea.

And respect of our allies? Who? The Israelis, whose 1999 election was manipulated by Carville? Barak might have kissed Lewinsky's spot - but that didn't save him from the Intifada Clinton's real ally, Arafat (you know, the terrorist whom Clinton invited to the White House 9 times!) dropped on him. Luckily the Israelis wised up and got rid of gutless wonder ehud at the same time we put paid to Gore. But much too late to stop both Osama and Kim.

Care to applaud the Pervert and his Cuckolded Shrill Shrew now?

[jumkey]

God you neocons are idiots. Your inability to reason on even the most simple topics is appalling. Stunning actually.

Here's a good primer on why you're all competely insane:

http://tinyurl.com/6bylt

[janemcgreeve]

three words that are the mantra of the gutless, cowardly, lying Democrats (Clintons, Kerry, Carter, Kennedy, Byrd and Dean) are enough to vote Republican, especially when it comes up to the security of our people and the future of our children:


"CUT AND RUN"

[janemcgreeve]

You're the idiot, little Neo-Fascist boy.

Neo-Cons elected a great American President, Ronald Wilson Reagan - whom did you elected, sonny? Howdy Doody Carter or Good Ol' Bill the Pervert - BOTH COWARDS - BOTH LIARS - BOTH DEMOCRATS.

[a8m3h]

Why was former Pres. clinton threatened with impeachment for lying about his actions, which didn't kill anyone, but Mr. Bush has lied, and thousands have been killed, and everyone is ho-hum ? I hear there was a demonstration in Washington, but nothing came of it... So, what are all of you complaining about???
Korea has tweeked the nose of the whole world, not just US but we are yelling the loudest. All I say.. is get on your knees.... Widow lady

[janemcgreeve]

If anyone cannot reply rationally or tell the truth, it is the dems and their Neo-Nazi supporters.

Clinton told the truth? Say, where and when.
He lied under oath, but then again he was a cowardly opportunist all his life. You pathetic weasels and ******* cannot even refute a truth like Clinton's failure in North Korea, his appeasement of Yasser Arafat, which culminated in a decision by his advisers NOT to launch another missile strike on Bin Laden that might have gotten him before 9/11.

But hey, it was quite all right to drop high explosive on Belgrade for a month, wasn't it.

Go fly your swastika flag, shout Heil Clinton, Heil Carter, Heil Kerry, and go goosestepping. That's about all you are truly worth.

[getcentered]

JaneMcGreeve

I think you work for Fox or something.

It's good writing, but without factual basis.
Just like in most GOP/Conservative/Republican leaning viewpoints in the media these days, it sounds convincing but the logic is scrambled.

Less emotion, more facts please.

High on money but low on cash?
I understand, I'm with you.
Get informed, Get centered.

[getcentered]

JaneMcGreeve!

Sticks and stone will break my bones but names....................oh never mind.

Is it worth the time?

[sharncedar]

The direct consequence of Clinton was Bush. It is much like ancient Rome. Read for example the 12 Caesars, you see that the institution of emperor that started with smart and apparently competent emperors led inevitebly to weak and stupid emperors that devestated Rome.

Clinton's major crime against America was to embrace the notion of the imperial presidency, which directly led to the idiotic half-witted son of a former emperor (Bush) taking the throne. Clinton's supporters, every time they praise his personal actions as if he was a god or emperor, are participating in the destuction of our nation. They are participating in the dumb hero-worship and lack of political understanding that led us to trust Bush after 9/11, rahter than trusting each other.

To be a Clintonite is to be treasonous against the constitution. This is more dangerous than Korea's nuclear weapons.

[the74blaster]

I several comments here and hopefully somone can answer them without resorting to name calling or going back into history to rip on previous presidents.

Should we reward the Bush administration a GOP majority considering how it has performed over the over the last 6 years?

Better yet can anyone tell me about a foreign policy success in the Bush administration?

Does the fiscal irresponsibility of the GOP and the Bush administration warrant another 2 years of GOP majorities?

As an engineer I am paid to provide a solution that addresses a need for my customers. I cannot afford to exceed my budget or timing requirements for my assigned projects without being held accountable. Why is that we are not holding this administration accountable for their failures over the last 6 years? Are they royalty or above the law?

The fact is the GOP has had 6 years to solve all those problems the democrats are being blamed for.

All I ask is to keep that in mind and disregard the negative campaign ads when deciding who to vote for. Focus on the issues.

[nynative1340]

Yes, janem is an Ann Coulter fanatic in the true sense of the word. Very mean spirited...

[nynative1340]

So, janem, what has Bush done to get bin Laden? What has Bush done to mitigate the North Korean nuclear threat? The answer is: Bush's only focus since he took office in 2001 was to wage war on the man who embarrased his father; to wage war on the man who tried to assasinate his father. It didn't matter that bin Laden was responsible for almost 3000 American deaths, Bush's focus was on getting Saddam. We all know the rest... Apparently you don't.

All these negative things you say about Democrats, but you haven't put forth (or put out), any positives that Bush has done on the same subjects.

You must live one bitter life to feel the way you do and say the things you say. Anyone who doesn't agree with you is a Nazi?? HA HA HA. We know where you are coming from.

[janemcgreeve]

Should we reward a Democratic Party that gave us the Ayatollah's Iran; that moddycuddled Arafat, that refused to go after Bin Laden - and they had much better chances of getting him than Bush did. After all, we knew where he was in the Clinton years - and the pervert was too busy with Monica or bombing Serbs to want to do anything about it.

Funny how every response to my comments is typical Democratic Neo-Nazi (and if the shoe does fit, wear it, kiddies - after all, you've retained a Klansman in our government, not the GOP) Evasiveness and Lies. Even when we admit Bush or McCain have faults, the Dems and their Neo-Nazi allies can't bring themselves to saying the same about Clinton, Carter, or the traitor Kerry.

Not once. Not at all. Just lie - just hate Bush and love the finger wagging perv and his shrew; just love the Jew-baiting Carter. That's all - and that's all that you are.

Pretty pathetic. But then again, you wouldn't have it any other way.

[janemcgreeve]

Neo-Cons might not be perfect. But they are *** good patriotic Americans who care about their country and our future.

What do you Neo-Fascists stand for - you from MoveOn.Org, from Air Hate America, from ANSWER, from the Daily Kostroite? The second coming of Hitler, but if he doesn't arrive another Clinton or Carter will do, right. Since you hate Jews and Christians so much, why not elect your hero KKK Byrd - or is the white-sheeted *** just a little too much for you?

[janemcgreeve]

nynative,

the shoe obviously fits in your case. After all, what did Clinton do to get at Bin Laden? One half-assed missile strike and crying that Arafat would be offended when Clarke suggested another strike after the Cole bombing. Nothing else. Nothing more.

And North Korea? He gave them economic aid - not bomb their nuke sites. But hey, he reserved that for innocent Serbian civilians.

Go and sieg heil your cuckolded shrill shrew Hil and that hapless *** who looks like the befuddled defense attorney on "Law and Order SVU" - you know, Chuckie Schmucker. Oh, but you're too busy sieg heiling your other hero Sharpton.

[bellal-2009]

Whoa! Jane! down girl. You is one angry white chick. What's up with that. Both parties have their fair share of corruption let's face it. that's politics.

[janemcgreeve]

Hey Bellal,

Not angry. Actually I get a kick out of the anal-retentive neo-fascists who call themselves Liberals and don't even know what the word means. They're laughable, and you're right, both parties have their share of losers and half-wits. From my perspective though, it is the Dems who are much, much worse because they lie through their teeth and try to say its the truth.
Bull____.

One other thing that they won't admit, girl, is that Clinton was a predator, a sad sack who claimed he loved women. If demeaning is Love, then I wonder what is hate to the finger-wagging pervert. He's a gutless joke, and so is that cuckolded shrill shrew who still defends him!

[pakaal]

No less than six years into the Bush administration, two years into his second term, with the American people up to our necks in the Iraq quagmire, leaving North Korea free to develop what seems to be a fledgling nuclear program, and who is Senator McCain blaming? Who else? Bill Clinton! I swear, the only thing the Republicans haven't accused him of yet is Global Warming.

Let's see here, exactly what has George Bush done on the North Korean issue since he took office six years ago? Well, let's see I do recall him saying that North Korea was part of a modern "Axis of Evil". And.... Umm.... Yeah, I think that's about it. It's great to play the oldies but goodies, but seriously, Bush has had a Republican House and Senate to work with his entire presidency, the closest thing to carte blanche a president could ask for. If there is a failure here, it's because we were misled about and misfocused upon Iraq, at the cost of not addressing a real threat - North Korea.

The Bush Administration didn't deal with this, so let's be honest and say so, rather than try to blame someone who hasn't been in office for two whole terms.