NORTH KOREA NUKES NO: THANKS, GEORGE W. BUSH

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

IF, and that’s a huge IF, North Korea is sincere in its telling the world that it has agreed to halt nuclear weapons build-up, then it is US President George W. Bush who deserves the lion’s share of gratitude.

Yes, it is Mr. Bush who has held the North Korean’s hands to the fire over time. Patience over time.

It’s the same strategy Mr. Bush has maintained in his other international agendas. It is patience over time in the New Iraq. It is patience over time in Afghanistan. It is patience over time now with North Korea. The same with his approach to the Iranian nuclear threat.

It is Mr. Bush who has not flinched.

Others have given up or never got into the dialogue with North Korea. The US Democratic Party surely has been no major assistance to the Bush administration in its international dealings, including the North Korean nuclear debacle.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bush has kept to his principled agendas. When asked by such interviewers as Barbara Bush if he has made mistakes along the way, Mr. Bush has responded candidly by saying that he has not. That speaks not of egocentricity but his confidence.

Of course, Mr. Bush, being mortal, is not without flaw. However, it is comforting to the American public to have in the Oval Office a gentleman of morality and conviction, forging ahead in some of the most significant issues confronting the global community.

Therefore, with the Associated Press Burt Herman stating today that North Korea agreed to "stop building nuclear weapons and allow international inspections. . .," such is encouraging. Once again, I as an American citizen concerned about our relations with North Korean applaud our Chief Executive for remaining firm in his stance regarding North Korea’s position.

What is sad is that so many in the United States take for granted the accomplishments of Mr. Bush. That is particularly true of the liberal mainstream media. When he has seen through diligently a success level in any area, he is provided scant news attention. However, when Mr. Bush is not quite perfect in performing yesterday what liberals demand, the news makers are most quick to cast a doubting eye on his administration.

Of course, that’s politics. But for those of us who can abide politics in a democracy as well as appreciate work well down, we seek more from Americans than a mere ho-hum when Mr. Bush provides us with another benefit to our own daily freedom enjoyment.

Of course, a North Korean halt to nuclear programming is just that. That is, it is a benefit to our daily freedom privileges which we often taken so lightly that is selfish of us. However, for those of us who do pause long enough to thank heaven and earth’s sincere democracy leaders for the liberties we have, we thank Mr. Bush on this North Korean news.

May it be genuine. May it last. May it be deep and abiding.

But if it is not, still Mr. Bush has set the pace for where we are at the present. And for that all those who recognize the freedom milieu that we wake up to each morning should applaud the President for his unfailing efforts to secure our peace.

Thank you, Mr. Bush.

Copyright © 2005 by J. Grant Swank, Jr.

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