Nukes proliferation not deterred by U.S. actions.

• Author: Fein, Geoff S.
• Position: Washington Pulse

The decision by countries, such as Iran and North Korea, to pursue nuclear weapons is not heavily influenced by the actions of United States, according to Ambassador Linton Brooks, the lead of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

"Countries do this for their own reasons," Brooks said at a breakfast meeting with reporters. "We encourage or discourage it in subtle ways, and, in my view, we discourage it by making it clear that even if they try to go there, that is not an attractive attitude."

North Korea, he said, is a "wonderful example of where rhetoric has overtaken reality."

"The North Korean rhetoric about why they are pursuing their nuclear program, and how it is all the fault of this [Bush administration, is just nonsense," Brooks said. "That is illustrative of the fact that the Syrias, the Irans, the Iraqs, the North Koreas of the world make decisions for whatever reasons they make them."

These countries, however, should not...