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Why Carter’s not embarrassed
This past week, under determined questioning from a U.S. Assistant Secretary of State visiting North Korea, the North Koreans finally let on that—in total violation of their 1994 agreement with the U.S.—they had proceeded full speed ahead with their nuclear weapons program, and, in fact, had made substantial progress in it. This is of course terrible news for the United States, coming at the very moment when it is trying to focus all of its attention and energies on Iraq. It’s also not such great news for Jimmy Carter, for the Nobel Committee, and for the international peace movement, coming just days after Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for, among other things, his role in brokering the U.S.-Korean accord.
Unfortunately, it only seems like bad news for Carter and the liberals. True, if they had any intellectual conscience, the event would embarrass them in the extreme, forcing them to question the efficacy and sanctity of the “peace” agreements they are always so eager to bestow upon criminal and totalitarian dictators. In reality, the North Korean revelation won’t even make Carter and his fellow liberals break a sweat. The reason for this is that, from their point of view, the real purpose of the 1994 agreement was not to stop the threat of North Korea developing nuclear weapons. The purpose of the agreement was to stop the threat of the United States making trouble over North Korea developing nuclear weapons. And, in that regard, the agreement worked splendidly. America, the Cowboy of Nations, was successfully “pacified”—and the world kept at peace—for eight long years. Of course, liberals are realistic, and do not expect perfection in this dark world. Still, to hold such evil at bay for eight years is an achievement worth celebrating, don’t you think?
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