North Korea, Making Nukes and Starving Folks

The New York Times and writer Nicholas Kristof published July 12, 2005 the following article, “Behind Enemy Lines.” http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/opinion/12kristof.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fNicholas%20D%20Kristof&pagewanted=print

"The Bush administration has refused to negotiate with North Korea one on one, or to offer a clear and substantial package to coax Mr. Kim away from his nuclear arsenal. Instead, Mr. Bush has focused on enticing North Korea into six-party talks. The North finally agreed on Saturday to end a yearlong stalemate and join another round of those talks."



Mr Kristof seems to even give more respect to Kim Jong Il, calling him “the Dear Leader,” possibly written with sarcasm. Yet, when comparing to his addressment of the President as “Mr. Bush,” it becomes clear to the the casual reader of Mr Kristof's lack of respect and possibly his own political leanings.

It seems the author is also masquerading and attempting arduously to appear as a learned man and one who has important political opinions. Statements made in the article are not grounded in fact, they are at best loosley formulated opinions on a topic of which he cannot honestly claim to be an expert.

After spending an unknown amount of time speaking with a N Korean general, the vice president or whomever he interviewed, Mr Kristof truly believes he has the answers to the North Korean problem, the nuclear issue and maybe others.

Mr Kristof it appears has taken his position too far. His journalism amounts making summations of which he is most certainly not an expert. Mr Kristof is a journalist. If he only wrote about North Korean history, politics and was invited into a weekly war room meeting with the North Korean dictator, maybe I would consider him an expert and consider the conclusions he draws as note worthy. After spending a hand full of days and speaking with couple of scripted political and military representatives of the country, a journalists expertise is still under question. I spent 2 weeks in Europe in 94, I surely would not consider myself an expert of anything in Europe. Unless I spent the entire two weeks only studying the fasade of the Arch De Triumph. Report what you observe. Take it no further.

And as HeyDudeWhoa suggested, write about the hundreds of thousands of deaths Kim Jong Il has on his hands and the uncontrolled starvation. Facts are a journalist's best friend. Subjective material has a place, at the pub with the swilling of dark beer.

HeyDudeWhoa commented on the article. The first is a serious point; stating the article blames the Bush Administration for the North Korean “crisis”. To which it appears he did not agree. His second point is also a serious one, written with some hilarity. Mr. Kristof’s love for North Korean Noodles took precedent over the millions of hungry North Koreans.

In time the world will see the "fallout" of North Korea using or selling a nuclear weapon. But it is still avoidable. By what method, it is difficult to say. Will the talks be awash, perhaps. No progress ever was made if someone only considered what could go wrong. Entertaining what could go right and letting this be a motivator is very American.

What is unavoidable for Kim Jong Il, is the time left in keeping the plight of his country under his rug. In time we will see the product of a ruthless hand of a dictitorial man.

The ignorance of Nicholas Kristof, the journalist, may be seen in his first sentence when describing North Korea as “bizarre”. A North Korean citizen, might use the adjectives "death camp."

Finally, a Doctor will typically like to be called a such because they earned the title. A judge deserves to be called by his title. The President deserves his title followed by his last name and no less.