RNS Quote of the Day: 10/20/06

From the AoSHQ

Ahem. It appears that pressure from the Chinese did the trick.

As was Bush’s intent.

This doesn’t resolve the crisis. But North Korea has been backed down by a country it actually fears — China.

Again, in case the liberals don’t understand:

The US can offer nothing but carrots to North Korea.

North Korea has taken carrots from the US before — from the Clinton Administration — and conducted nuclear research anyway.

What is needed now is sticks.

China can wield sticks against North Korea.

Like threatening to cut off oil and grain deliveries upon which North Korea depends for its very existence, for instance.

Ergo, only a negotiation in which China is participant is likely to change North Korea’s behavior.

Ergo, John Kerry and the rest of the kneejerk Bush-anklebiters who urged bilateral talks — which would offer no sticks — were, despite their towering genius, wrong.

Ace