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Tony Snow Responds to Diane Sawyer NK General Interview: "What We're Trying To Do is Offer Them a Better Deal"
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ShareOctober 19, 2006 1:00 PM
ABC News' Dan Beckmann Reports: In today's on-camera briefing ABC News's Jessica Yellin asked Tony Snow about Diane Sawyer's interview with General Ri Chan Bok. Here's what Snow had to say:
YELLIN: Tony, Diane Sawyer interviewed North Korea General Ri Chan Bok, and in the interview, the General told Diane Sawyer a couple of things I was wondering if you could react to.
MR. SNOW: Okay.
YELLIN: He told Diane Sawyer that "the U.S. wants us to kneel down before them. We cannot agree with them. If this tension continues war cannot be avoided."
MR. SNOW: Well, several things are going on. It is not unusual for the North Koreans to use strong rhetoric. On the other hand, let me make clear to the people of North Korea and the entire world, not only do we not want North Korea to kneel down before them [sic], what we're trying to do is offer them a better deal -- better economy, more security, better relations with their neighbors, integration into the global community, as opposed to isolation. Pretty good deal.
We right now are focused on using all of our efforts on a diplomatic path to work with the government in North Korea so that they're going to do things that are going to be good for all of them. The President and Secretary Rice appreciate the efforts of the Chinese delegation that's there right now. Secretary Rice has just had some good meetings; she's just arrived in South Korea and she is now working with our allies to figure out the proper ways now to enact U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718.
So at this particular point, again, as to the central charge of trying to humiliate or bring down the -- to make them go to their knees, it's just the opposite. What we want to do is to give North Korea an opportunity to enjoy the same kinds of privileges and prosperity that are available to other nations in the region.
YELLIN: Elsewhere in the interview he complains that President Bush says things along the lines of what you're saying, he makes comments that are humiliating to North Korea, that the President "tells complete lies" -- they ask that he "stop saying lies."
Is there a sense, or any concern on the President's part that his rhetoric is actually making the situation worse?
MR. SNOW: No. Again, what we have tried to do in the case of the government of North Korea is not to engage in personal insults about Kim Jong-il, but to talk directly about what the government has been doing and how we're trying to work with people in the neighborhood to help out North Korea.
And, you know, there are disagreements, but also a lot of times what happens is people engage in some public diplomacy. We know that there are ongoing efforts to talk with the government. It's one of the reasons why we have the Chinese and the Japanese and the Russians and the South Koreans in the process, because they not only have longer and closer ties, they've got greater influence and we're hoping they succeed.
YELLIN: The stakes have seemed to rise in the last few days. The President said to George yesterday there could be dire consequences -- the general is talking about war. Is this the verge of war?
MR. SNOW: No.
October 19, 2006 in White House | Permalink | User Comments (7)
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So Tony Snow doesn't think there's concern that Bush's rhetoric is making the situation worse. I guess being called part of the "Axis of Evil" isn't quite as bad as I thought. I'm sure his repeated statements of state-sponsored terrorism is really helping smooth relations with North Korea.
Leave it to an ex-Fox News reporter to spin this good!
Posted by: pakaal | Oct 19, 2006 3:53:47 PM
Tony Snow has been giving Americans a snow job for months now. And he thinks all this damage control will make a difference in the Nov. election.
That's the ultimate snow job if he thinks the voters can't see thru all the bull he has spoken to protect the image of Pres. Bush.
Americans have a major need to be protected from Pres. Bush and his "Democratic" Dictatorship.
Adam.
Posted by: Adam Young | Oct 19, 2006 7:30:53 PM
I think that bush is out of touch with the American people. When it's time to go after the real enemy N korea, he dosent, but Bush went after Iraq which we know had nothing to do with Al Quada. Get it together Bush, Democrats are kicking the Republicans butt. They get my vote and I am an independent. By the way Bush, I know that you look at the polls. When you won the election you cited that the polls thought that you we're the best man, how ironic cite the polls now. I Didn't think so, Thirty Nine percent approval rating is tuff to brag about.
Posted by: lamontefaison | Oct 19, 2006 8:22:16 PM
You people on the left are still crying and complaining about the 2000 elections. All you can do is call Bush names and cry. Why don't you offer some of those great Clinton ideas like give North Korea more money so they won't hurt us with their big bad bombs, boo hoo!
Posted by: Bob Franklin | Oct 19, 2006 8:50:38 PM
Still crying about 2000? Clinton hasn't been in office for six years! In those six years, we've had your buddy Bush as presidant and for most of those years a majority in the House and Senate. The Clinton administration is the one to blame?
Posted by: espinosa | Oct 21, 2006 2:58:34 AM
Bush hired Tony Snow, so he can keep giving the American people more of a snow job. Who else has been better at it, than the people from Fox News Ch.
Posted by: John Kelly | Oct 23, 2006 6:31:04 PM
its amazing how tony snow comes in and he seems to have all the answers. I've noticed that he uses the word "we" a lot in his response to questions about Iraq, North Korea, the Foley scandel, etc. does he mean "we" as in republicans or 'we" as in americans? last time I checked "we" the american people disagree with whats going on in Iraq. And why are "we" the american tax payers paying for his salary if all we hear from him is what "w" would say anyway...you know, if we eliminate the middle man perhaps we could start cutting into this huge deficit that "we" seem to have gotten ourselves into.
Posted by: robert | Oct 25, 2006 1:06:54 AM
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