Cha's Wish List
Only little kids have Christmas wish lists; adults just hope nothing bad happens.
Nonetheless, Cha's advice for ROK President-Elect Lee Myung-bak is certainly humble, if still wrong.
As a businessman, Lee will hopefully revise, discard, or adopt these and other new projects based on what makes economic sense. If there are any political criteria for the projects, it should not be an ideological addiction to sunshine policy, but rather true progress in the Six Party talks.
OK...and progress is related to denuclearization (patience on that)...So, in the meantime...
...without the personal connection at the top, these efforts do not register to Korea's advantage as they have to other allies in the U.S.-British, U.S.-Japan, or U.S.-Australia relationships. The potential is certainly there for the two conservative businessmen-turned politicians to hit it off. Lee's personal rags-to-riches story resonates with Americans as a Korean version of the pursuit of the American dream. Lee's remarks during the campaign about how his hard work and perseverance substitute for his lack of a pretty voice or pretty face hints at a humility and good humor that is endearing to Americans.Beyond this, the Lee government should make clear its position on three national security issues: counter-terrorism, missile defense, and the proliferation security initiative.
Visiting Ground Zero in NYC is a primo touch move, but why bother with GWB? He's 30% and sinking in the polls, and no smart pol would want to get stuck with a bad photo-op in his portfolio. I'd do the rounds of the presidential candidates, or just talk to Condi.
Finally, there's the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and FTA. PSI is small potatoes, although a good move. But, FTA is dead in any Democratic future. It's nothing lost.
No, Lee, concentrate on Japan. That's the way to do the US an honor.
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