ONE SMALL STEP FOR THE U.S., ONE GIANT LEAP FOR NORTH KOREA - AT 12:14 P.M. ET:  The United States has made still one more concession in its foreign policy, giving North Korea what North Korea wanted.  From Jake Tapper at ABC News:

The US shifted its policy today, saying it is now willing to meet one on one with North Korea if that is helpful to bring Pyongyang back to the nuclear negotiations.

US envoy Stephen Bosworth got the green light from the other members of the 6-party talks, negotiations to rid Pyongyang of its nuclear program, during meetings in the region in recent days.

North Korea has extended an invitation for Bosworth to visit Pyongyang, but officials say it’s unclear where or when a meeting could take place.

“It's designed to convince North Korea to come back to the six- party process and to take affirmative steps towards denuclearization,” State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said of the decision to meet.

COMMENT:  This comes right after we caved in to Iran, agreeing to meet the Iranians even though they'd taken their nuclear program off the table.  Discussing that program had been the main reason we offered to meet with them in the first place.

It's been concession after concession ever since Obama took office.  The North Koreans wanted one-on-one with the U.S. to boost their prestige and give the appearance of power.  We should have gotten something in return for our agreement, but we apparently did not - in either Iran's case or North Korea's.

Neville Chamberlain must be smiling down there.  Umbrellas are back in style.

September 12, 2009