[ OUR OPINION ]
Start N. Korea talks
to end nuke threatTHE United States is "in touch with the North Koreans through a variety of channels," according to Secretary of State Colin Powell, but that doesn't seem to have slowed the escalating threats of war. North Korea insists on bilateral negotiations with the United States, while the Bush administration prefers multilateral talks. That difference should not be allowed to prolong this perilous situation.
THE ISSUE The United States and North Korea appear to be in a stalemate about ground rules for negotiations to end nuclear danger.
Negotiations that include South Korea, Japan, China and Russia unquestionably would be appropriate in restoring stability to the region. However, the 1994 agreement that brought North Korea's nuclear program to a halt -- and which it now has violated -- was with the United States, and Pyongyang's demand for talks directly with the U.S. has some logic. Of paramount importance is that talks begin, however many countries sit at the table initially.
"Even now the Bush administration claims the ball is in North Korea's court," says Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del. "North Korea says it is in our court. From where I sit, the ball is stuck in the net and somebody better go get it."
Meanwhile, North Korea's invective becomes more heated as it resumes it nuclear program. It is believed to have one or two nuclear bombs, has missiles that can reach Japan, is developing others that could reach Hawaii and has nearly a million troops poised at the demilitarized zone that divides the Korean peninsula.
The White House has said "robust plans for any contingencies," including military ones, are being considered. In response, North Korea has warned of "total war" in the event of a U.S. attack, and has put forth the possibility of a pre-emptive strike in anticipation of such an attack. However, Kim Jong-il, the "Dear Leader" of North Korea, is known for spewing diatribes that are abandoned later.
What Kim's desperately impoverished country wants is food and oil. Under the 1994 agreement, a cork was put on North Korea's nuclear bottle in exchange for such aid. The Bush administration has said that restoring that aid in return for replacing the cork and halting another nuclear power plant that was secretly constructed would be capitulating to blackmail.
"This time," says Powell, "when we get the corks back in the bottles, the bottles have to be removed as well."
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Continue special-ed
spending probeTHE state's $1 million settlement with a company over claims of abuse and fraud in its providing of special-education services should bring some measure of satisfaction to taxpayers as well as lawmakers investigating the matter. Moreover, it justifies continued review of whether others may have taken advantage of what the state auditor has described as a gold mine of funds as Hawaii rushed to comply with requirements of the Felix consent decree.
THE ISSUE The state has reached a settlement with a company that was contracted to provide services to special-needs children.
Hawaii Pacific Health will pay the state $500,000 and agrees to cooperate with the Attorney General's Office in its investigation. The other $500,000 will be waived if the company abides by the agreement. In exchange, the state will not pursue criminal charges against the company.
The company, formerly known as Kapiolani HealthHawaii, was paid $18 million to oversee Felix services delivered by several contractors to 1,500 special-needs children on the Big Island from 1996 to 1998. Audits found a lack of accountability and fiscal controls, and questioned about $1.2 million for services for which there was no documentation. A legislative committee raised further questions about whether the money spent to comply with federal requirements actually resulted in children receiving health and educational aid. There also was uncertainty about whether individuals involved with special-education programs may have used their positions to augment their private businesses.
The state will use half of the settlement money to advance its investigation and the other to test children covered by Felix. The sum isn't a lot when compared to the more than $1 billion spent thus far on special education compliance, which the state is close to achieving. However, the review will go a long way in assuring taxpayers and parents of special-needs children that the funds are used properly.
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Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
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Lucy Young-Oda, Assistant Editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.comMary Poole, Editorial Page Editor, 529-4748; mpoole@starbulletin.com
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