The New Republic has a thoughtful and important editorial http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030324&s=editorial032403 this week arguing against a preemptive military strike on North Korea. TNR makes about as good a case for bilateral negotiations as one can. Unfortunately, the hang up with this plan (and any other) is inspections. TNR calls for a treaty that, in contrast to the failed “agreed framework,” includes complete and rapid destruction of the North’s nuclear program. And in contrast to the “agreed framework,” TNR says that a new settlement should permit unrestricted inspections at any site that America might consider suspect. Again, in contrast to the “agreed framework,” TNR maintains that a new agreement should help the North Koreans develop power sources, but not nuclear power sources.