This is so blindingly obvious that I can’t believe no one else has pointed it out. (I’m holding off reading Scrappleface until I finish this post.)
We need to immediately appoint former President Jimmy Carter as minister plenipotentiary to North Korea. The arguments are compelling:
- He was a buddy of Kim Jong Il’s dad: “So far as I know then and now, he was completely truthful with me.”
- He has already successfully negotiated an end to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions: “the promises that Kim Il Sung had made — the most important one was to let the inspectors come back in and to stop the plutonium processing opportunities”
- He has won a Nobel Peace Prize based on his earlier “success” in North Korea and his severe criticisms of his own country.
- Anything Carter agrees to we can ignore, if for no other reason than that of “turnabout is fair play.”
- He has speeches, and a sweater, he can reuse to address the North Korean people about energy shortages.
- Since he is still playing the same tune as he was when he was duped in 1994, Carter is at least as certifiably looney as Comrade Il.
- It could keep Carter out of the United States for years.
- It will keep his nose out of any recounts in the Mexican election, unlike the duty he performed for his buddy Hugo Chavez, who is co-incidentally negotiating with Kim Jong Il for weapons.
- For bonus points, maybe he can get Comrade Il to establish a Palestinian homeland in North Korea – or at least fire a missile at Israel.
Mr. President, if Karl Rove has not already suggested this it is time you look for a new advisor.
Update: 8:17 – Added Chavez reference. H/T Dust my Broom