Diplomacy and defense are not substitutes for one another. Either alone will fail. - JFK

There is some great news out of North Korea today. The North Korean government has invited outside media to watch them destroy vital parts of their nuclear reactor.

"North Korea is to blow up a key part of its controversial Yongbyon nuclear reactor on Friday.

The destruction of the plant's cooling tower is part of an agreement with the United States aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula in exchange for loosening some restrictions on the highly secretive Communist country.

The North Korean government has invited news organizations, including CNN, to witness the event."

This has only happen in spite of everything President Bush has done. At every turn he has threatened the North Koreans with military action. In fact, President Bush's foolhardy mission into Iraq allowed the North Koreans to build and distribute nuclear bomb technology. Luckily, through hard work by our other allies in the region, the North Koreans are shutting down their nuclear program without any shots being fired.

That is why we at 21st Century Democrats support a foreign policy that uses military force only as a last resort when our nation is attacked and not as the primary tool for resolving international friction.