Undiplomatic diplomacy
By Donald KirkA young ensign is reputed to have told Admiral Bill “Bull” Halsey, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific in World War II, “Your every wish is my command,” to which Halsey replied, “You're damn right it is.”Another former commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, Harry Harris, now ambassador to South Korea, clearly feels the same way. He's reported to have advised Korea leaders to act “in consultation with the United States” in dealings with North Korea. Otherwise, he said meaningfully, there could be “misunderstandings.”Harris, who retired from the Navy as a four-star admiral before coming to Seoul, conveys the sense that his remarks comprise more than a wish list. He talks with authority, as if he's issuing decrees, maybe orders, albeit couched in polite language for the benefit of an opaque audience that might otherwise not know how to behave. When he observes that “South Korea is a sovereign country and will do what it sees as best for its national interest,” he gives the impression of a condesc
