Lynn C. Woolsey: “the Bush's administration national security priorities are so out of balance that it is hard to know where to begin.…”

“the Bush's administration national security priorities are so out of balance that it is hard to know where to begin. Between the debacle in Iraq, the failure to address America's true homeland security needs and funding for research on new nuclear weapons, there are plenty of options to choose from. Last October during the final Presidential debate before the November election, President Bush claimed that the gravest threat America faces is the threat of nuclear attack. Unfortunately, the President has done very little to address this threat. One of the primary nuclear threats America faces is the development of such hostile weapons by countries like Iran and North Korea. That is why we need to engage these nations in aggressive diplomacy, not aggressive saber rattling. Earlier this week, North Korea indicated that it wishes to hold bilateral talks with the United States, presumably to receive financial assistance in exchange for dismantling its nuclear weapons program. Iran, on the other hand, feels threatened by recent whispers that the Bush administration might attempt a military assault on their nuclear weapons facilities. We absolutely must negotiate with both countries. After using the U.S. military to take down Saddam Hussein, this President probably thinks that negotiations are beneath him; but I have got news for the Bush administration. Negotiations work and foreign assistance works.…”