May 5, 2003 5 min read

The problem is how to stop North Korea from continuing to develop its nuclear capabilities beyond simply claiming possession of a few nukes as a negotiating tactic. The United States needs to loosen its stance of refusing to sit down at the negotiating table unless North Korea abandons all nuclear development. Pushing the country into a corner will have adverse effects. The United States needs to exhibit flexibility to establish an environment that would smooth the way toward North Korea accepting a compromise. “If North Korea really already possesses nuclear weapons, we cannot let it produce more, and any existing ones must be destroyed. Needless to say, we have to make sure it will never use weapons of mass destruction. Any attempt at a military solution would devastate South Korea and also have an enormous impact on Japan. It is not an option. The only realistic course is to maintain the present defensive military deterrent and extract a compromise from North Korea through negotiations.

“North Korea’s stance will fuel discussions at the United Nations about possible sanctions. Nuclear development leads to national self-destruction rather than revitalization.

“Initially it was a shock to hear North Korea has nuclear weapons. However, we should not let that cloud our judgment. Japan possesses the diplomatic carrot of economic aid. Japan should continue to attempt to convince North Korea that the only route toward normalization of relations is through abandoning nuclear programs.Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo

On the U.S. military presence in Iraq:

Convincing Iraqis that U.S. soldiers are there to help them will be all the more difficult after the shocking events in Falluja, west of Baghdad. Preventing already widespread popular opposition to the American military presence turning into concerted armed resistance will also be increasingly problematic unless the U.S. army can explain why it was justified in opening fire on a crowd comprising a large number of children and teenagers, killing at least 13 and wounding 75. …

Even though the war is over, U.S. soldiers continue to kill Iraqi civilians almost every day, for a variety of reasons. But Falluja’s tragedy is of a different order of magnitude. To prevent more such disastrous incidents and stop the security situation deteriorating further, an inquiry must be urgently held, preferably with U.N. oversight and with reference to the Geneva conventions governing the conduct of occupying forces. For reasons of law, morality and self-interest, our relentlessly self-righteous government has a clear obligation to demand that its ally comply. Meanwhile, 82nd Airborne units should be withdrawn from Falluja. If necessary, they could be replaced by better-disciplined British troops.

On Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s political future:

The political life of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has often resembled that of the proverbial cat – with all its famed nine lives. But even she … will know that she has plumbed to new depths of infamy with her recent troubles.

Madikizela-Mandela was convicted and sentenced last Friday to five years in prison for fraud and theft after she … submitted fraudulent loan applications to Saambou Bank on behalf of supposed African National Congress Women’s League employees. She is out on bail pending the outcome of her appeal against both her conviction and sentence. But is the “mother of the nation” finally out for the count?

… Even assuming that her appeal succeeds and she escapes serving jail time, she would still face financial ruin as she has now quit her 300,000 rand a year (US$ 42,000) parliamentary seat and all her other positions in the ANC.

Notwithstanding her contribution to SA’s liberation … to afford her a presidential pardon … as some people are suggesting, would negate South Africa’s claims to the moral high ground on a continent battling to overcome its image of being fatally riddled with corruption and poor governance.Business Day, Johannesburg, South Africa,

On the SARS virus:

Italy must not underestimate the importance of containing and preventing the spread of SARS. Airports must be rigorously checked and people should be encouraged to take a number of precautionary measures. But doesn’t the image of our Health Minister on the scene at Milan’s Malpensa airport give rise to the siege syndrome, spreading a sense of threat and panic?

One can understand the careful calculations of authorities to prevent the eventual accusations of complacency. Italy, unlike China, isn’t an authoritarian country that hides impending dangers from its people. Quite the contrary, the first epidemic we face is social above all: terror in general, the fear of anything “Chinese,” the nervousness of the siege.

It is essential to adopt intelligent and persuasive measures that take into account the actual statistics of the epidemic, which has seen only a few cases in this country. The same effective precautions as those taken by European governments against “mad cow disease” are a good example Past experience has shown that reasonable precautionary measures, which encourage a sense of perspective, are essential in confronting the worst of epidemics.