REPORT: Bush Officials Were ‘Rooting’ For North Korea to Test Nuclear Weapon
REPORT: Bush Officials Were ‘Rooting’ For North Korea to Test Nuclear Weapon
Senior Bush administration officials wanted North Korea to test a nuclear weapon because it would prove their point that the regime must be overthrown.
This astonishing revelation was buried in the middle of a Washington Post story published yesterday. Glenn Kessler reports from Moscow as he accompanies Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:
Before North Korea announced it had detonated a nuclear device, some senior officials even said they were quietly rooting for a test, believing that would finally clarify the debate within the administration.
Until now, no U.S. official in any administration has ever advocated the testing of nuclear weapons by another country, even by allies such as the United Kingdom and France.
One of these officials may have been Rice herself, Kessler hints. Rice, he reports, “has come close to saying the test was a net plus for the United States.” Rice has been trying to counter the prevailing view that the test was a failure of the Bush administration’s policy.
A factual timeline of the North Korean program traces how policies of containment and engagement slowed and stopped the program, while threats of regime change increased the dangers. The two key failures were the choice to focus on overthrowing the government in Pyongyang rather than stopping the nuclear program, and the invasion of Iraq which distracted U.S. attention from the real nuclear dangers and propelled both North Korea and Iran to accelerate their programs.
The revelation that some officials secretly wanted North Korea to test their nuclear weapons is evidence of how the administration’s national security policy has become completely divorced from reality.
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Mr Kessler, please report to gitmo, we have a party waiting for you there.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:24 amsickening
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:24 amHey, it’s OK for Pakistan to have and test nukes, they’re our buddies in the war on terrer, they’re even helping us contain Osama!
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:27 amThey are also hoping for a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil, oh, say around November 6.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:27 amDo they also root for more deaths in Iraq so they can “adapt” and “stay the course”?
Do they root for more bombings in the West, so they can continue to trampel over Constituional rights?
Will they cheer after November 7?
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:29 amould it reenforce the possibility , that they were also rooting for an attack on the USA in 2001 to justify their political agenda . “I AM A WAR PRESIDENT
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:29 amI knew it. They have always been trying to build the case that military intervention in NK is needed.
Because at this point only war can keep Republicans in power.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:30 amDick Cheney is really Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He and SPECTRE, having seized the reins of power in the United States, sold the weapon to Kim Jong-Il to further their political agenda in the US.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:30 am“Rice has been trying to counter the prevailing view that
the test was a failure of the Bush administration’s policy.”
Her next project will involve pigs that fly.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:31 amNot that I’m against Pakistanis y’understand. My Pakistani friend Ray and I have pleasant hours of discussion about which of our countries is more screwed up.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:32 amNeedless to say, most of the time we agree it’s my country.
Weird stuff! How very awkward!
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:33 amI knew it. They have always been trying to build the case that military intervention in NK is needed.
Comment by Alan — October 23, 2006 @ 11:30 am
Actually, Alan, that’s not how things work in the Bush administration. They are trying to build the case for war against Iran. This is how it works: North Korea has the bomb, so let’s attack Iran!
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:34 amGee whiz. Bet Bush would have been happier if it had been a big ol’ mushroom cloud. Then the shrub coulda put on his cowboy boots and talked tough about how Dems couldn’t handle these global threats.
Lil Kim has always wanted attention – to sit and talk with the big boys at the big table. Containment and engagement worked with N. Korea’s Elvis impersonating leader. But OH NO, the shrub only talks to people who say exactly what he wants to hear. If not talking means N. Korea and Iran ramp up their nukes, so be it. Bush thinks history will judge him favorably, but he doesn’t realize no one will be here to write or read it if these scary bozos (the shrub included) aren’t reined in and soon. A world on fire isn’t a good thing.
VOTE DEM.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:35 amthankyouverymuch
Needless to say, most of the time we agree it’s my country.
Comment by RUCerious — October 23, 2006 @ 11:32 am
RU, would “your country” happen to be Iraq?
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:35 amAfter Bush uses the situation in North Korea to start a disastrous war in Iran, which will be found have no viable nuclear weapons program, we’ll get three years of that miserable little puke Hitchens telling us why it was right to attack Iran.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:39 amThis is NOT “an astonishing revelation.” Anyone with one working eye or nostril could have told you this administration was hoping N. Korea would test the bomb.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:41 amThis administration reminds me of the Dr. Strangelove scene with Slim Pickens riding the bomb.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:42 amThis reinforces my view that this Administration does NOT want to catch Osama bin Laden because they NEED him out there scaring voters.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:43 amThe Bush Regime does not have the manpower to overthrow the NK government! Does Dubya Dunce Decider Despot want to fight a one million man army? Does he want to lose the 35,000 US troops in the DMZ in 24 to 48 hours after a war starts? Does he want South Korea destroyed along with North Korea? Does he want Japan hit by a nuclear bomb or two? How about the Stock Market collapsing on hearing all the investments in South Korea gone > would Bush like that? Go have sex with Gannon, George!
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:43 am#5 – How dare you claim they stay the course. We all know they have never said that.
I’m sorry – I had my sarcasm hat on.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:44 amIt is sad that we don’t have a president that will attack and invade North Korea. Hopefully the next administration will attack North Korea and overthrow the regime.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:47 amI second “RealScientist“s sentiments in #15.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG1WtNYEOwU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slmr024JYaA
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:47 amRoger2: “It is sad that we don’t have a president that will attack and invade North Korea.” – - Roger, it’s very good of you to show up here and always provide the comic relief.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:51 am#21 If you want NK attacked. You should join the military. You are an idiol.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:52 amThey are more concerned about being “proven right” than they are about the nuke danger. They are all ready to order the next invasion using other people’s kids.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:52 am#21 – whoah, there’s proof of what too many Chuck Norris movies can do to a person…
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:54 amBush could have just sold them a nuclear bomb…that would have been much easier yes? You know like Rummy did with Iraq, ohh but of course Rummy did help sell reactors to North Korea!!
See, it works like this, you profit from the sales of weapons to a foreign country, then when they won’t kowtow you blow the crap outta them for having weapons! The you get to profit more from the war [a small war is worth billions] and then you get Wolfie to put them under IMF conditions! [slave labor]
And the best part of the whole scam is the taxpayers foot the bill while the privatized MIC makes huge profits.
Of course we are still a debtor nation and this only further indebts America to say China.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:54 amOH…MY…GOSH…this war-mongering lunatic MUST be stopped! In the light of this and EVERYTHING ELSE we’ve learned…if you don’t get into the voting booth and if you don’t TAKE PEOPLE WITH YOU, then shame on YOU…the blood of thousands is on YOUR hands…
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:56 amIt is sad that we don’t have a president that will attack and invade North Korea. Hopefully the next administration will attack North Korea and overthrow the regime.
Comment by Roger_Roger —
Yes Roger that worked so well in Iraq, and Afghanistan, lets repeat that stupidity across the Globe.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:57 amThe US under Bill Clinton gamed out an “attack” on North Korea.
They estimated around 100,000 US troops dead, 100 billion US dollars spent and about 500,000 South Koreans dead.
Yippee, lets give it a shot all you vapid warmongers.
-GSD
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:59 amDid they have an office pool going?
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:00 pmNow the bush assmin has a reason to ramp up the USA’s new nuke program.
Build up to build down baby.
Dr Kissinger will see you now……
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:01 pmOH…MY…GOSH…this war-mongering lunatic MUST be stopped!
Comment by PoliticalTruthWatch.Com — October 23, 2006 @ 11:56 am
You must be talking about Roger-Roger
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:01 pmSo if the Bush Plan is to allow the Axis of Evil to test nuclear weapons why has Bush dispatched the ships to the Gulf?
So they can watch the test up close?
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:02 pm#21 – whoah, there’s proof of what too many Chuck Norris movies can do to a person… Comment by TerrytheTurtle
I’m guessing it also took one too many falls off Bush’s bicycle, without the protection of a helmet.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:03 pmThey estimated around 100,000 US troops dead, 100 billion US dollars spent and about 500,000 South Koreans dead.
Yippee, lets give it a shot all you vapid warmongers.
-GSD
and please be the first in line, warmongers!
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:04 pmI guess old Roger has left the internet.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:05 pmRoger_Roger
Were you abused as a child? Molested by an elder? Alcohol problem?
Is death an destruction the only way with you fools?
Personally I am glad N. Korea tested it too. It showed the world that America under the leadership (haha) of Dubya is about as effective as the Titanic was in clearing icebergs. The world now knows how innefective our military is under Dubya, how innefective Diplomacy is under Dubya.. America sadly has lost total respect
Should we go to conventional war with N korea, they’ll kick our asses like they did the first time. China will for sure be their ally. And once again the only one who may side with us is UK, and Japan.
Look how well our last regime change has gone, yes Saddam is gone, but the country is in chaos, and no end in site. Afghanistan a total loss.. haha you neocons F up every thing you touch.
Roger, repeat this aloud. then shut the F up.
I AM WE TODD DID
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:06 pmSOFA KING WE TODD DID
Not the first time the Bush admin. has wished for a negative event to either take attention off of them, or allow them to use it as a scare tactic for political gain. Rove purportedly advised the administration to do nothing after Katrina because the images of storm damage would take the headlines off of Iraq (which was going particularly badly that month), and during the Israel-Lebanon fighting wanted to let them keep fighting for the same reason
http://www.miserywatch.com/2006/08/heats_on_us_aga.html
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:08 pmThe entire Congress ans Senate should be impeached along with Bozo and Friends for allowing this behaviour to continue.
How exactly is this juvenile “I dare you ” nonsense making us safer? How?
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:10 pm2 NOV ON HBO
HACKING DEMOCRACY
EVERYONE MUST SEE
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:17 pm#38
under dumbya i don’t think he is really concerned on how the charlies kick our ass the first time. maybe he should ask some vietnam vets.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:21 pm#21 – You and what army? The one that’s bogged down in Iraq? The Navy that’s poised to bomb Iran? If Bush hadn’t squandered our military’s resources so badly in his rush to make more bucks for supporters of the PNAC, maybe we’d have a stronger bargaining position with NK and other countries. Stop repeating the rhetoric and use your head once in a while. We’ve got plenty of slogans. What we need is a plan that works. A plan that lets everyone in the world live without fear. I’ve had it up to here with saber rattling!
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:23 pmThey estimated around 100,000 US troops dead, 100 billion US dollars spent and about 500,000 South Koreans dead.
Comment by GSD — October 23, 2006 @ 11:59 am
Up that cost to $1 trillion. Since there isn’t any army left to fight this new war, they will have to subcontract it out to mercenaries, and Iraq has shown that private contractors charge ten times as much to do the job.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:28 pmI guess old Roger has left the internet.
Comment by Mary Poplins — October 23, 2006 @ 12:05 pm
Actually, Roger has left the internets.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:29 pmah, it really is a win-win for the Bush administration. the time when all the hard work could have been done to avoid such an outcome is over, and now they can harp on about the threat from DPRK, scaring us and whatnot, without actually having to do anything about it, because they can’t even if they wanted to…which apparently they didnt in the first place. way to go guys.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:31 pmI think we should acknowledge the fact that, if this is in dispute, the dispute should be, “Is the Bush administration criminally, purposefully, negligent?” versus “Are they just incompetent fools who probably have trouble dressing themselves in the morning?”
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:11 pm[...] Bird flu death rates increase, European Commission authorities are on full alert. And if someone tripped over the launch button tonight, 52 million Americans would be dead in 25 minutes. And if that isn’t a high enough body count, Bush Officials Were ‘Rooting’ For North Korea to Test Nuclear Weapon. [...]
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:17 pm“Regime change”…gee, when have we heard those words before?
For that matter, has anyone else heard about the supposed North Korean exile who’s been telling the Bush administration about how urgently Kim Il-Jong needs to be stopped? Where have we heard that kind of story before? Does the pseudonym “Curveball” ring a bell for anyone?
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:18 pmThe admin of course rooted for N. Korea to explode a nuke, so we can do with them what we want.
On 911 a nice gift happend (no disrespt to 911 victim’s families), a blank check to attack anyone we wanted. Or the admin and some close buddies made it happen…
N. Korea exploding a nuke, gives the bullshit admin creative licence to attack, nuke, entice the N. Korean’s to launch a nuke at us to test or missle defence shield, what ever possiblity.
Nov 7 im cheering for Dems to impeach and arrest, and finaly throw there ass in prison!
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:25 pmAre we surprised? Of course not. At least they didn’t have to make this one up.
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:28 pmIs this what we elect people for? So they can look for ways to make war? I cannot stress enough the importance of making sure that when November 7 rolls around, you are in the voting booth, having taken several like-minded individuals with you. Accountability will NOT be restored until then.
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:32 pmSo you guys are saying we should support Kim Jong Il and his regime? Maybe we should have sent him a fruit basket for his birthday.
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:50 pmRogx2… that rustling sound is the sound of your worthless strawman drying up and blowing away…..
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:54 pmIt’s one thing to do the wrong thing in error because you thought you knew better than others. It’s another to do the wrong thing on purpose because you thought you knew better than others. It’s yet another thing to do the wrong thing on purpose and then root for others to do the wrong thing on purpose just so you can prove a point. That, my friends, is what we’ve come to in America. . .hoping others will do the wrong thing so we can try and make our own weak arguments. Look, nobody is supporting Kim Jong Il…we’re just not out looking for reasons to go to war…Don’t trouble trouble ’til trouble troubles you….
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:57 pm#53
just because we don’t support reichwing dumbya, his whacked out foreign policies ” if your not with us your against us” has no bearing on what we think of lil’kim. stop with the kindy symantics.
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:59 pmYes, sickening. Though, sadly, not surprising in the least.
There is only one underlying goal of this administration: to maintain power. In their eyes, if they have to create a hell on earth to secure that goal, so be it.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:04 pmSo you are in favor of invading North Korea. So am I. Sadly it will never happen unless they attack someone first. They don’t have anything we need unlike Iraq and Iran.
North Korea can test 100 nuke bombs and we won’t touch them. Iran could look at us the wrong way and we might invade. We need the Oil afterall :)
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:05 pmMaybe we should have sent him a fruit basket for his birthday.
Comment by Roger_Roger
Maybe. Being civil, letting the leader of a nation have a voice on the world stage, not backing a certifiably mentally ill leader into a corner, negotiating, talking, and true diplomacy – hmm, or maybe we should just blow everyone up who disagrees with us. The first approach is nuanced and difficult – the second is merely Bush’s “hard work”.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:08 pmroger
if you are so supportive of dumbya than you support: killing of innocence including our young men and woman in bdu’s, imminent domain, pork spending, backdoor drafts, bildaberg, k-street, military commisions act, torture, lying, halliburton, pnac, nwo, carlyle group, bohemian grove, skull&bones, awol, destruction of constitution & habeas corpus, illegal invasion & occupation of other countries, theft of oil, anti-privacy, sympathize with the nazis & zionists, tax-cuts for the rich, stiff the poor, elderly & middle class, LIE LIE LIE, and o’ did i say LIE.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:12 pmHey, I just noticed the headline states that Buish Officials were “rooting”.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:13 pmIsn’t that what pigs are supposed to do>? Nothing new there.
So you are in favor of invading North Korea. So am I.
Never fails to surprise me how armchair Napoleons are cheap with other people’s lives. Sign up Roger, let’s see you cross the 38th parallel. Let us know how it goes.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:15 pmTT – The first gunshot fired, Roger would have a wet crotch.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:17 pmREPORT: Bush Officials Were ‘Rooting’ For North Korea to Test Nuclear Weapon…
Senior Bush administration officials wanted North Korea to test a nuclear weapon because it would prove their point that the regime must be overthrown. This astonishing revelation was buried in the middle of a Washington Post story published yesterday….
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:18 pm#63
and shit running down his leg
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:19 pmFlash! Someone tell #64 that they’re like, late…
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:22 pmWhere I come from, somebody out looking for fights is called a “bully” and they usually get tossed out of the area they’re causing trouble in…
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:27 pmI’ve suspected that these guys were stupid and now it’s been confirmed by their thought processs. Let me get this right, they wanted NK to test a nuke. What ever they have been smoking they need to stop smoking, because that CRACK they’ve been smoking is starting to affect them in strange ways.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:39 pm63, 65, 68… It’s not what is running down his leg that bothers me, but that white stuff on his chin, as well as that brown stain on his nose really is starting to look bad..
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:49 pmThe government in Pyongyang supports Bush! This is a polical move by North Korea to get Republicans elected. Isn’t is it “interesting that” North Korea would do this right before the midterm elections. (sarc)
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:54 pmI heard that there is going to be another “threat” just prior to the elections on November 7.
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:55 pm“if you are so supportive of dumbya than you support: killing of innocence including our young men and woman in bdu’s, imminent domain, pork spending, backdoor drafts, bildaberg, k-street, military commisions act, torture, lying, halliburton, pnac, nwo, carlyle group, bohemian grove, skull&bones, awol, destruction of constitution & habeas corpus, illegal invasion & occupation of other countries, theft of oil, anti-privacy, sympathize with the nazis & zionists, tax-cuts for the rich, stiff the poor, elderly & middle class, LIE LIE LIE, and o’ did i say LIE.”
So your saying that the Democrats won’t have pork spending? Are you saying they will reduce the Budget? Are you saying they will shut Halliburton down? Are you saying we won’t use Oil anymore? How are the repugs hurting the Elderly and how will the Dems better help them? Social Secuirty is bankrubting us and the Repugs are doing nothing about it. Are you saying the Dems will finally shut that program down which would help the middle class, young, and poor? Hrmm, I guess I’ll vote Dem if that is what your saying!!!
October 23rd, 2006 at 3:19 pmWere these not the same people who were rooting for a “new Pearl Harbor” in the runup to 9/11/01? Heckuva job, BushCo.
October 23rd, 2006 at 3:22 pmRogx2 – wow Roger, I’ve never seen so many strawmen in one paragraph – you could feed a whole stable all winter with those. Oops they just dried up and blew away as well.
October 23rd, 2006 at 3:29 pmOf course the administration was rooting for the North Koreans to test. That is why they abandoned the monitoring program left in place by the previous administration that was keeping the North Korean’s ambitions in check.
October 23rd, 2006 at 3:44 pmIn much the same way that the BushCo/PNAC cabal encouraged and facilitated the attacks on the United States on September 11th.
Keeping the electorate in perpetual fear is the order of the day. If the current slide of democracy is allowed to continue, it will not be long before the Haliburton built U.S. prisons are brimming with “disappeared” dissenters.
[...] I was a bit skeptical when I saw this headline, REPORT: Bush Officials Were ‘Rooting’ For North Korea to Test Nuclear Weapon. After all, who in their right mind would want North Korea to test a nuclear weapon. It looks like Think Progress can back up their story with this story at The Washington Post (emphasis mine): At many points, the United States found itself at odds with other partners in the six-party process, such as China and South Korea, which repeatedly urged the Bush administration to show more flexibility in its tactics. Meanwhile, administration officials were often divided on North Korea policy, with some wanting to engage the country and others wanting to isolate it. [...]
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:52 pmCan’t this be turned against them?
October 23rd, 2006 at 6:42 pmEvery time a Democrat opposed the war, they were accused of treason.
Can’t the 6PM news make a headline story on this one – Republicans want a nuclear Korea to jusfity war.
“A factual timeline of the North Korean program…”
That links back to Think Progress? Heh. HooAhh!
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:27 pm[...] REPORT: Bush Officials Were Rooting For North Korea to Test …Think Progress, DC - 8 hours agoSenior Bush administration officials wanted North Korea to test a nuclear weapon because it would prove their point that the regime must be overthrown. … [...]
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:39 pmIt’s hard work to lie (Iraq+Iran+Syria) etc..
October 23rd, 2006 at 8:13 pmRight,
October 23rd, 2006 at 10:11 pmAnd George Bush started the Civil War. Damn Yankees!
ROTFL – I’ll bet NK is not the Oct surprise, and I can’t wait to check back here to see what it is going to be to see you go nuts as you ROTFL and still be in the minority. Of all the popular guesses as to what the surprise will be, here’s my guess: Conservatives don’t believe the mainstream’s cheerleading for the dems and actually turn out to vote becuase we realize that even if EVERY thing you say about Repubs is true, it is still better than having a party in power who would give more rights to a terrorist than they would a gun owner.
I’ll check back – and you’re going to go blind typing ROTFL one handed so much.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:37 pm“79. Can’t this be turned against them?
Every time a Democrat opposed the war, they were accused of treason.
Can’t the 6PM news make a headline story on this one – Republicans want a nuclear Korea to jusfity war.”
Yes the 6pm news could make a headline out of this, but they won’t because they are republican corporate toadies.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:32 amThe Bushevicks are revealed as the insecure, infighting, hotheads amatuers they really are.
Had enough?
Vote the corrupt Repubs out on Mov 7.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:53 amWould someone explain to me why i’m supposed to be so scared of obl?Or why anyone should fear these cowards?Why have americans become such a bunch harvey milqtoasts?Fight them here or fight them there doesn’t matter much to me because either way they’re going to get there turbans torn off with heads still inside.No,what you folks need to be afraid of is George Bush,this boy has singlehandedly taken away the very essence of what once made this a great country and most of you aren’t even aware of this fact yet.And most won’t until the “Patriot Act” is used against you or family member.Or at some future date someone in the WH doesn’t like what you said on one of these blogs and you become a victim of “rendition”.Go ahead and laugh,but the day is coming quicker than you think as long as simian george remains in the WH.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:39 pm[...] Bush officials have been reported as actually wanting North Korea to have nuclear weapons…because as any scum of the earth knows, war is good for business. Until now, no U.S. official in any administration has ever advocated the testing of nuclear weapons by another country, even by allies such as the United Kingdom and France. [...]
October 24th, 2006 at 3:18 pm[...] REPORT: Bush Officials Were ‘Rooting’ For North Korea to Test Nuclear Weapon [...]
October 24th, 2006 at 9:14 pmAnd they also want chaos in Iraq, binLaden free, start a war with Iran, corrupt democracy by making elections moot and they are responsible for 9/11 … what’s your point?
October 25th, 2006 at 12:51 am[...] http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/23/north-korea-nuclear-rooting/ [...]
October 29th, 2006 at 10:18 pm