The Jaker

I don't think you can blame the Republicans for the North Korea nuclear crisis, although this administration certainly has had its share of diplomatic errors. If you think bilateral talks with NK would have changed anything, simply look to Clinton's miserably failed policy of engagement that occurred in the mid-90's.

The reality is that if the United Nations fails to bring about meaningful consequences, that organization will be completely discredited. Expect to see Iran, Venezuela, not to mention South Korea and Japan build substantial nuclear arsenals.

Bush's real failure is Iraq, which, because of gross strategic and tactical errors, has stretched our military thin and taken away the ability to present a credible military threat.

However, I think the Republicans have significant ammunition on this issue. How many democrats voted to go into Iraq? How many democrats voted against the missle defense program? The political reality is that its a national security issue, and Republicans will win it.

If only the democrats can refocus attenion on the real issues facing this country, like congressmen piddling pages!

 

Bryce (Hi),
Your 3rd paragraph is what I think hits it on the head... I think Iran and North Korea acting up, and us being powerless diplomatically to do anything about it, is a direct consequence of Bush's Iraq conflagration. Rumsfeld and his own NIE estimate say that we are breeding a population of America-haters faster than we can create them. That is the national security issue... it's the "first do no harm" principal. I fear Bush has done harm left and right, and we haven't even fixed the patient.

There's no reason that Republicans should always be seen as the party with national security gravitas, especially not with a lot of military folks running as Dems these days. I think we might be at an inflection point in that argument.