Days of Thunder

The bellicose proclamations ricocheting from the United States to Iran and North Korea threaten to drown out common sense. The bottom line is that the U.S. should proceed at top speed to see what it will take to stop Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Hard-liners thunder against “bribery” or “appeasement.” But negotiations are better called “diplomacy” or “compromise.” The alternative of waiting for a regime change, let alone two, is unacceptable; there’s no indication of that anytime soon.

It has been clear for nearly two years that the U.S. invaded the only member of the three-nation “axis of evil” that did not have nuclear weapons or an active program to develop them.

While the U.S. has been tied down in Iraq, Iran is thought to have been making progress in developing nuclear weapons and North Korea to have been adding to the one or two it is believed to possess. Last week, Pyongyang claimed for the first time it had the weapons; it also refused to resume six-party negotiations with the U.S., Russia, South Korea, Japan and China. Pyongyang said it needs the weapons to defend against “the Bush administration’s ever more undisguised policy to isolate and stifle” North Korea.

Actually, the administration had been relatively restrained in recent weeks in its references to North Korea, except when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described it during her confirmation hearings as one of six “outposts of tyranny” -- a remark cited by Pyongyang. Iran has faced tougher rhetoric from Bush and Rice. During her recent tour of Europe, Rice castigated the “unelected few” running Iran for their terrible record on human rights. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami responded that the country was united against threats, and any invaders would be buried in “a burning hell.”

Much of the verbiage could be mere posturing. The U.S. has long said it would not invade North Korea; Pyongyang might just be upset that Iran is getting more U.S. attention. Iran could be increasing the volume preparatory to more negotiations with Britain, France and Germany over its nuclear program. Tehran and Pyongyang might be seeking greater rewards for future yielding on weapons.

The way to find out is for the Bush administration to push harder. It has been too passive with Iran and North Korea. Washington should help the three European nations offer Iran extra trade benefits if it limits its nuclear program to producing energy. The U.S. should tell North Korea it is ready with money and food if it rejoins the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and readmits nuclear inspectors. Waiting for North Korea to give up weapons before being rewarded has not worked, and there’s no evidence it will. Claiming to support Europe’s negotiations with Iran but denouncing the mullahs in Tehran -- Bush did both in his State of the Union speech -- sends a mixed message and keeps the U.S., the nation of most concern to Iran, on the sidelines.

Iran sponsors the terrorist group Hezbollah; North Korea, paranoid and secretive, might be willing to sell arms to whatever nation or group will pay. With nuclear weapons in either country, there are greater odds for a deadly incident, accidental or otherwise, and higher risks of destabilizing the Mideast or East Asia.

There’s no good alternative to trying to deal with Tehran and Pyongyang. Both capitals may refuse meaningful negotiations, but Washington must try.