Bill Clinton made the best of a bad situation in North Korea.

[Tony_FLADEM]

Bush has taken a bad situation with North Korea and given us the worst possible outcome. This is just like everything else he touches.

[Phredicles]

1. He really does have a Reverse Midas Touch:

Everything he comes into contact with turns to shit.

[pinto]

2. I think Clinton and his Administration did a good job containing

North Korea's movement to nuclear arms. Regardless of Bushco's rewrite of the history of the bilateral talks, it was a game well played by Clinton, Chris Hill - who's still around - and Ms. Allbright. Basic carrot and stick diplomacy, but with real benefits, and risks, for both sides. And the balance, at that time, surely favored North Korea's delay with their agenda. And maintained some control on their access to material.

I don't think the eventual outcome was ever really in doubt. Containment and delay was the goal - and was achieved in return for economic aid, non-military technology support, and intimations of support for a legitimate role in the world of nations.

North Korea would buy technology from somewhere, at some time. Eventually, A.G. Khan, of Pakistan, filled the bill. Par for the course, he's totally overlooked in the recent Republican rehash of events.

In Bush's world Pakistan good, Iran bad. No nuance, no grey area, and only the flimsiest of attempts at real diplomacy or apparent recognition that geez, Pakistan might be playing both sides of the fence.

Oh, and it hasn't been mentioned much in the press, but North Korea built up the bulk of their plutonium stockpiles on Bush's watch...that's what happens when you're AWOL from the issue.