The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today held a hearing used to determine the status of the Six Party Talks being used to try and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Chaired by Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the Committee interrogated Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, praising him for the work he has done to ensure North Korea follows through on its commitment to “provide complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs, including weapons.”

Hill and the Committee were in agreement that progress has been made in the discussions held so far. Considering the fact that the Bush Administration was late to address the issue of eliminating Korean nuclear arms, Senator Kerry (D-MA) noted that Hill’s success has been particularly impressive,.

Talks also focused on other benefits associated with denuclearization. Biden reminded the Committee that the primary objective behind the Six Party Talks was not only to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, but also to provide their people with energy assistance, sanctions relief, and the creation of a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. With success in these talks, America could gain security in a peaceful, effective manner.

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee John Kerry (D-MA) kicked off a hearing today to discuss strategies aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan. He began by reemphasizing the threats posed by al-Qaida and the Taleban in Afghanistan and warned that they are still planning attacks around the world including in the U.S. and in Europe. He cited studies showing that suicide attacks, poppy production, and insurgency have risen sharply in the last 3 years. Kerry also made reference to Vietnam saying that it proved that the U.S. can win every battle in Afghanistan but still lose the war.

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