The work begins...
Well, Jay has had a rough start to the job, but it looks like he just might pitch a Good hardball after all...
By Barry Schweid, AP Diplomatic Writer September 8, 2005
WASHINGTON --President Bush's newly appointed envoy on human rights abuses in North Korea suggested Thursday that U.S. food aid might be linked to liberating political prisoners.
Despite sharp differences with the insular Pyongyang regime, the Bush administration has provided tons of American food to hungry people in North Korea on humanitarian grounds.
In announcing donation of more than 55,000 tons of food last June, a State Department spokesman, for instance, said "our decisions are made on humanitarian considerations solely." Decisions are made for various reasons. Why does this report allude to a previous and obvious statement?
But Jay Lefkowitz, the new envoy, suggested Thursday at a news conference that approach might be changing. "I think consistent with what the president's overall approach is on human rights, and bringing North Korea directly into the community of nations, we have to take a look at all different areas of our relationship."
Translation(for leftist brainwaves)... "What we have been doing IS NOT FUCKING WORKING! It is time to try something else."
Asked if he meant on his second day on the job to be suggesting North Korea's human rights record be made a condition of receiving food aid, Lefkowitz replied: "I think we need to take a look at the entire relationship."
This is a non-answer. This is a concocted story.
Later, however, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said, "U.S. policy on food aid has not changed.""We do not use food aid as a weapon. Decisions on such assistance are based on need and our ability to ensure that food will reach those for whom it is intended," Casey said.
This is a direct answer. This report does not have any quote or anything of substance pertaining to a link between aid and releasing prisoners. Great idea anyway, and I hope it was Jay's.
Fortunately, there IS a story to be told here, and it is one that needs to be told. It is the story of THIS quote... and it speaks for itself.
"I want to be clear," Lefkowitz said. "What we are looking at is a very, very tough issue, at a tough set of issues. And I think we need to be willing to look at all different aspects of our relationship with North Korea, and our allies' relationship with North Korea, because the one thing that we know is the situation for more than 20 million North Koreans is really intolerable."
By Barry Schweid, AP Diplomatic Writer September 8, 2005
WASHINGTON --President Bush's newly appointed envoy on human rights abuses in North Korea suggested Thursday that U.S. food aid might be linked to liberating political prisoners.
Despite sharp differences with the insular Pyongyang regime, the Bush administration has provided tons of American food to hungry people in North Korea on humanitarian grounds.
In announcing donation of more than 55,000 tons of food last June, a State Department spokesman, for instance, said "our decisions are made on humanitarian considerations solely." Decisions are made for various reasons. Why does this report allude to a previous and obvious statement?
But Jay Lefkowitz, the new envoy, suggested Thursday at a news conference that approach might be changing. "I think consistent with what the president's overall approach is on human rights, and bringing North Korea directly into the community of nations, we have to take a look at all different areas of our relationship."
Translation(for leftist brainwaves)... "What we have been doing IS NOT FUCKING WORKING! It is time to try something else."
Asked if he meant on his second day on the job to be suggesting North Korea's human rights record be made a condition of receiving food aid, Lefkowitz replied: "I think we need to take a look at the entire relationship."
This is a non-answer. This is a concocted story.
Later, however, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said, "U.S. policy on food aid has not changed.""We do not use food aid as a weapon. Decisions on such assistance are based on need and our ability to ensure that food will reach those for whom it is intended," Casey said.
This is a direct answer. This report does not have any quote or anything of substance pertaining to a link between aid and releasing prisoners. Great idea anyway, and I hope it was Jay's.
Fortunately, there IS a story to be told here, and it is one that needs to be told. It is the story of THIS quote... and it speaks for itself.
"I want to be clear," Lefkowitz said. "What we are looking at is a very, very tough issue, at a tough set of issues. And I think we need to be willing to look at all different aspects of our relationship with North Korea, and our allies' relationship with North Korea, because the one thing that we know is the situation for more than 20 million North Koreans is really intolerable."
posted by KnightofGoodMrIronMan at 6:00 PM
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