I really don't know what prompted the North to deal, but my guess is it wasn't reasoned discourse and negotiations. My guess is that either their nuclear program wasn't working out the way they had hoped, or they finally realized it was more financial and political trouble than it was worth militarily, purely from a cold practical point of view.
The negotiations probably were just a way to give them an "out", and allow them to save face, and to give them the illusion they had played a bargaining chip and gotten something out of it. My guess is the deciding factor was a swift kick in the behind from China, who is starting to realize that their NK buffer state and ally was actually causing them more headaches than it was preventing, and was on the verge of instability, which is no good for anyone. China probably just called up and said "Deal, or we cut your allowance."
Whether they will welsh on this deal still remains to be seen. These guys are ruthless, cunning and desperate. However, it cannot be denied, if there had been no negotiations, nothing probably would have happened.
Flame » in reply to Interesting turn of events
Yes and no...
The whole thread (47 posts)
- Talking to the bad guys.
- Interesting turn of events
- We are all locked in the same jail cell.
- Even the LA TIMEs now "gets it"..how long will it take here?
- re: Talking to the bad guys.
- Not talking and not understanding leads to situations like Iraq.
- Of course we should be talking...
- re: Talking to the bad guys.
- "At least you concede the existence of "bad guys." Way too many people don't."
- re: "At least you concede the existence of "bad guys." Way too many people don't."
- Name one of the "dozen of posters here' who don't believe there are bad guys. (n/t)
- Window to the world
- Pissing into the wind.
- re: "At least you concede the existence of "bad guys." Way too many people don't."
- "At least you concede the existence of "bad guys." Way too many people don't."
- No blubbering here...