Does Bush have any goals regarding North Korea policy whatsoever?

[The Duke]

Didn't see this before, promise I wasn't hiding.

My initial answer was that yes, Bush has a clear objective.  His objective is to keep this debalce off the front page!

Serious response, yes he has objectives but his policy is hampered by a serious misperception of China's role.  He trusts China way too much, given that China benefits greatly from almost any outcome except nuclear war.

[The Duke]

I'm well aware of why the administration has made its decision, but I do have to disagree with some of the premises they used.  For example, it is an implicit premise that China is interested in helping us, I'm not sold that they are.  So I can't support making China the lynchpin of our strategy.

[The Duke]

The only people who hold a "no outside intervention at all" policies are Buchanan-type isolationist conservatives. Who's the last Democratic president who did so, or Democratic politician who promoted such a policy?

Looking at people like Kucinich, you'll see an opposition to both foreign itnerventions and open trade.