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The next president would do well to conduct a thorough independent reassessment of the threat and various available diplomatic and military options. Such independent assessments could go a long way towards forging not just a domestic but an international consensus on how to most effectively confront global missile proliferation.
The fundamental problem of all post-communist states is corruption, or the misuse of public power of private gain. This is an inheritance of the lawless socialist state. The task is to establish a new state, replete with sound laws and norms. Kyrgyzstan has already accomplished much of this task, but many measures remain to be undertaken in the governance of the state.
After US Secretary of State Albright's historic trip to North Korea the US appears cautiously optimistic that the visit will lead to future progress on a key security issue that has long concerned Washington: North Korea's continued development and export of missiles. The two sides agreed to hold talks on Pyongyang's missile programs this week, reportedly in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, November 1. The results of the talks may determine whether President Clinton will visit North Korea later in the year.
In Pyongyang Tuesday, US Secretary of State Madeline K. Albright concluded the highest level talks between North Korea and the United States since the end of the Korean War. During the three-day visit, Albright addressed a number of US security concerns, including North Korea's missile development programs and missile exports. US officials have stated that further improvement of relations will hinge on North Korea reigning in its missile programs. Negotiations also may lead to an easing of military tensions on the Korean peninsula, and eventual normalization of US relations with the Communist nation.
In light of the failed Oslo Peace Accords and other events that have transpired since, Edward Said's support for an Israeli unilateral withdrawal from Palestinian territories, rather than reaching a Israeli-Palestinian rapprochement, was not only pragmatic, but it was right.
In a major step towards establishing formal relations and easing tensions on the Korean peninsula, U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright will travel to North Korea on October 23 to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. This would be the first ever meeting by a high-level U.S. official with the North Korean leader, and the trip could pave the way for a visit to Korea by President Clinton in November, an event unimaginable just one year ago.