Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Richardson Meets with NK Officials

Ummmnnnnhhhhhhhh.....

North Korea believes it’s owed bilateral talks with the United States after the communist government released two detained American journalists this month—a notion that senior Obama administration officials quickly rejected on Wednesday.

“They feel, the North Koreans, that by giving us the two American journalists, that they’ve made an important gesture,” New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told CNN Wednesday after meeting with two North Korean diplomats. “And now they’re saying the ball’s in our court.”

Last time I checked, one of the few actual enumerated powers of the federal government is to conduct foreign relations.  What the heck is the Governor of New Mexico doing meeting with foreign officials and trying to tinker with our foreign policy?  If I were Obama, I’d be ticked.

(6) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2212 hrs
Foreign Affairs + Politics + Politics - General

  1. “If I were Obama, I’d be ticked. “

    Your assuming that Obama did not ask Richardson to do this.  Such an agrangment would allow Obama have a dialog without having to admit that he is talking to North Korea.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 20, 2009 at 0737 hrs


  2. The one who ought to be ticked is Hillary.  When was the last time we had such a weak Secretary of State?  Obama has thrown her under the bus.  Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person, but the ramifications of this could be quite bad.  If a 2 bit dictator can dictate the terms of the talk, that’s not good and it makes the U.S. look weak.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 20, 2009 at 0817 hrs


  3. What the heck is the Governor of New Mexico doing meeting with foreign officials and trying to tinker with our foreign policy?

    From the Wall St. Journal:

    “Gov. Richardson, a Democrat, has long played the role of diplomatic troubleshooter with the North, having traveled to Pyongyang to negotiate the release of American servicemen. The White House and State Department stressed that he was hosting the North Koreans in his capacity as a private citizen. But the State Department provided legal approval for the two North Korean diplomats to travel to New Mexico, according to U.S. officials.”

    In the words of Emily Litella, “That’s very different. Never mind.”

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 20, 2009 at 1114 hrs


  4. He’s a former UN Ambassador and Energy Secretary.  If you’re a Democratic Administration and you’re going to have “unofficial” talks with the No Kos, he’s the guy to send.

    Posted by james wigderson on August 20, 2009 at 1310 hrs


  5. “If a 2 bit dictator can dictate the terms of the talk, that’s not good and it makes the U.S. look weak.”

    You’re missing the point of the post AND the nature of the talks.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 20, 2009 at 1434 hrs


  6. You do realize that he talks with North Korea all the time.  His initial swearing in when he was elected Governor was delayed two months while Bush sent him to North Korea.  They are a weird bunch and he seems to be one of the only ones who can deal with them.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 20, 2009 at 2050 hrs


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