In the space of scarcely a week, Secretary of State John Kerry tried to jump into bed with North Korea and the Arab League. That’s about as fun as it sounds, and twice as foolish.
Touring East Asia last weekend, Kerry offered to pull back US missile defense in the region. In effect, he was telling North Korea that its growing threats of nuclear annihilation are working.
“We’re prepared to reach out, but we need the appropriate moment, appropriate circumstances,” Kerry said.
We’re prepared to reach out. These words may sound innocuous. But we’ve heard them many times before from previous secretaries of state. It is a symptom common to those who occupy the top office at Foggy Bottom: an eagerness to demonstrate America’s good faith to America’s enemies.
From Pyongyang’s view, of course, that’s welcome news. For it signals how little North Korea must do to find itself back in talks with US officials.
In short, what we have here is a recipe for delay and disaster.
Over in the Mideast, meanwhile, Kerry is busy trying to revive the “peace process.” That means embracing a dubious plan cooked up 11 years ago by the Arab League that would force Israel to make numerous concessions in exchange for a meager prize: the recognition of Arab states.
It’s a bad idea. As with Kerry’s engagement with North Korea, this would force the US to embrace peace “partners” who aren’t much interested in peace. In other words, the kleptocrats of Fatah, the terrorists of Hamas and the kings and tyrants who constitute much of the Arab League.
It strikes us that two months into his tenure, Kerry is already looking to a legacy. His idea of success appears to be some peace deal that can be put forth with great fanfare in a Rose Garden ceremony.
Here’s a better idea, Mr. Secretary: Forget the photo ops. And start asking the North Koreans and the Arab League to prove their good faith to the United States — not the other way ’round.