The Economist wonders in the article, Emperor, shedding clothes? if the Bush administration's diplomacy is doomed, due to its inconsistent and erratic policy with regards to Iraq and North Korea:
After saying for weeks that America would not negotiate with North Korea because to do so would mean giving in to blackmail, on January 14th Mr Bush said he would consider food aid and energy shipments — even diplomatic relations and security arrangements…How bad is this? The offer of negotiations certainly casts an unflattering light on the inconsistency of Mr Bush's North Korea policy for the past two years — sometimes proposing talks, more often issuing general criticisms. The offer also contradicts the aggressive Bush doctrine towards the "axis of evil".