Clever Turtles

I'm a little confused about this new peace accord with North Korea.

The North Korea agreement, announced in Beijing on Wednesday, sets out the first specific timetable for the North to disclose all its nuclear programs and disable all facilities in return for 950,000 metric tons of fuel oil or its equivalent in economic aid.

Isn't this pretty much the same as the old Carter agreement? The one that Congress smothered? The one that made Bush and Co. rant away about appeasement?

Am I missing something?

North Korea has agreed to disable all of its nuclear facilities by the end of the year, in a move that the Bush administration hailed as a diplomatic victory that could serve as a model for how to deal with Iran, which has defied American efforts to rein in its nuclear ambitions.

Go Uncle George! Show how forward-thinking you are by doing exactly what Clinton did!

OK, I know things are different. Bush might have enough sway with Congress to make sure the shipments are actually sent. And the stakes are a bit higher for everyone involved.

But, still . . . someone, explain to me why things are different. Was Carter on the right track all along?