Letter: Blame Bush for North Korea going nuclear

Friday, Oct. 13, 2006 | 8:02 a.m.

Every American, Democrat or Republican, ought to be deeply concerned that North Korea appears to have developed nuclear weapons. Although a direct attack against the United States is unlikely, North Korea (a country that is renowned for selling anything for a price) could easily transfer such a weapon to al-Qaida, which would then have no trouble transporting that weapon into the U.S. in a cargo container. How did the U.S. allow this to happen?

Let's examine the facts. In 1994 Jimmy Carter, on behalf of the Clinton administration, negotiated a treaty with North Korea that ensured the presence of IAEA inspectors to make sure spent fuel rods would not be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. In return, the U.S. agreed to ship fuel oil to North Korea and help build two nuclear power plants. During the Clinton administration, as part of this agreement, North Korea purchased no plutonium.

When George W. Bush assumed office, however, he refused to comply with this agreement. Instead, he abruptly cut off all communications with North Korea and labeled that country as part of "an axis of evil." North Korea's response was to expel the IAEA inspectors and resume construction of nuclear weapons. Since then the Bush administration has refused to even speak to North Korean representatives, while North Korea has proceeded to purchase enough plutonium to manufacture eight nuclear weapons.

As in many other areas, the tough, macho stance of the Bush administration has backfired. We are now in greater danger of a nuclear terrorist attack. And the Republicans continue to argue that they are better at combating terrorism?

Albert G. Marquis, Las Vegas

Editor's note: The writer is founder and president of Target Nuclear Terrorism, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit group that describes its mission as working to prevent a nuclear terrorist attack in the United States.