PARTNERING IN EVIL

(New York Post)

December 2, 2001 -- News of a secret missile deal raises serious concerns for stability in two of the globe's most volatile regions.

Congress summoned administration officials to testify Friday at a hearing on reports that North Korea has agreed to sell Egypt two dozen Rodong long-range missiles and related technology.

The Rodong's 620-mile range is more than triple that of Egypt's current missile arsenal, composed of Russian-made Scuds. For the first time, it puts Israel within easy reach.

Moreover, the deal comes on the heels of news that Washington has agreed to sell Egypt 53 Harpoon Block II satellite-guided surface-to-surface anti-ship missiles.

Here's the first question that should be asked: Why does Egypt need such long-range weaponry?

And why is this ostensible American ally (a huge recipient of U.S. foreign aid) doing business behind closed doors with a rogue nation like North Korea?

The greatest threat Egypt faces is domestic - destabilization by Islamic fundamentalists.

Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, who inspired the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was based in Egypt. And the merger with Egyptian Islamic Jihad greatly increased the reach and sophistication of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terror network.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government has spent a great deal of time and effort over the years cracking down on extremists. But that doesn't require satellite-guided missiles with a range of hundreds of miles.

Indeed, Egypt - unlike Israel - faces no external threat to justify such sophisticated hardware, either from the United States or from North Korea.

Especially from North Korea - which, contrary to its public promises, is obviously still very much in the weapons-proliferation business. If it intends to remain an international troublemaker, that has serious implications for security and U.S. interests in the Far East.

President Bush, recall, promised last summer that his agenda included "verifiable constraints on North Korea's missile program and a ban on its missiles exports, and a less-threatening conventional military posture." Indeed, he said that lifting U.S. sanctions against North Korea was entirely dependent on that nation's taking "appropriate action" regarding its weapons program.

As recently as last Tuesday, Bush publicly warned North Korea of possible consequences if, like Iraq, it refuses to allow international inspectors to verify that it is not pursuing weapons of mass destruction.

Unfortunately, Pyongyang strongman Kim Jong Il appears to be deaf to Bush's words. On Thursday, his government actually threatened to take "countermeasures" of its own unless Washington changes its "hostile" policy.

The Egyptian deal proves that not only has he not let up on developing long-range missiles, but he has no intention of honoring his promised moratorium on profileration through 2003.

North Korea, in short, remains a rogue nation as far as weapons development is concerned. We hope the administration holds fast to its implied threat that such violations are a substantial roadblock to Pyongyang's hoped-for reconciliation with the West.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher held talks in Washington last week with members of Congress, as well as Secretary of State Colin Powell.

We hope someone had the good sense to demand some honest answers about why Cairo is conducting secret business with North Korea - and precisely what Egypt intends to do with all that long-range hardware.

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