Former ambassador addresses U.S. relations

Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg offered insight to U.S. relations with North Korea over the past decade and expressed his discontent with the current Bush administration in a speech delivered to the Bloomington community Wednesday.\nGregg, also the former national security adviser to then-Vice President George H. W. Bush from 1982 to 1989, delivered his speech to a packed audience at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Wednesday evening. The event was co-presented by the IU East Asian Studies Center.\nGregg retired from a 42-year career in government, including service in the CIA, in 1993. That year he was awarded the CIA's highest possible recognition -- the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. He served as South Korean Ambassador from 1989 to 1993. \n"I saw (George H.W.) Bush deal with everyone from Margaret Thatcher to the emperor of Japan," Gregg said. \nAlthough he expressed his abiding loyalty to the elder Bush, he did not mince words when it came to the younger. Gregg's displeasure with the current administration was evident from the beginning of the lecture. \n"I'm not sure who I'll vote for in the coming elections," he said, "but I hope it's someone that'll do a better job with North Korea than our current president."\nGregg said he felt the Clinton administration made more progress, though limited, with North Korea. He said once during the Clinton administration, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang and had a "very long and constructive talk with him."\nHe said Kim Jong Il even invited Clinton to visit North Korea after the meeting, though Clinton didn't take up the offer. He said the door was still open to Bush when he took office in 2001. But Bush was completely opposed, he said.\n"When (George W.) Bush came into office, he had a five-man hate list," Gregg said. "These were men he wanted nothing to do with, men he would rather blow out of the water than negotiate with."\nIncluded on the list were ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Kim Jong Il, among others. \nBush and his advisers were more interested in preempting against these men and their countries than negotiating with them, Gregg said.\nIn retirement, Gregg is still involved with foreign affairs. He serves as chairman of the Korea Society in New York and visited a North Korean general in Pyongyang after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to discuss U.S. relations with the country. \nHe described the Korean military officials as warm and receptive. Gregg said he disagrees with the negative perceptions Americans have of the North Korean leader. \n"Vladimir Putin called Kim Jong Il a very modern person," Gregg said. "George Bush called him a pygmy."\nHe claimed North Koreans were simply reacting to American hostility because they were shocked at Bush's criticisms of their leader, he said.\n"The problem is that North Korea feels vitally threatened by the U.S.," Gregg said. "They're afraid we want to blow them out of the water."\nPete Lenzen, an audience member who served with the United Nations in North Korea from 1982-1986 said he was impressed with Gregg. \n"His speech was incredibly insightful, although I thought his personal dislike for Bush distracted from the larger view," Lenzen said. "I definitely agree we should be more pragmatic."\nSophomore Charlie Denison said he also enjoyed the event. \n"The ambassador spoke not only about what could be but what is," Denison said. "His experience made his words seem more reliable." \nGregg said the event was a success.\n"The whole day has been terrific, the audience has been great," he said.\nDespite past frustrations, he said he has not yet given up hope for reconciliation between the United States and North Korea.\n"Problems (with North Korea) could be worked out within two years," he said, "if the U.S. administration is willing to negotiate"