We are drifting toward war with North Korea. That is the message of former defense secretary William Perry, as reported in today’s Washington Post. I think Perry is right. In fact, I said as much some time ago in, “The Other Imminent Danger,” “It’s All About North Korea,” and “An Ominous Cloud.” Former Secretary Perry appears to believe that the Bush administration ought to be negotiating with Kim Jong Il, offering him economic aid and a non-aggression pact. I think that is folly. The administration is divided and, to a degree, paralyzed by disagreement between accommodationists and hard-liners. The punditariat has been relatively silent on Korea, chiefly because there is no good answer to the dilemma. Personally, I have been frustrated by the need to attend to the Title VI and gay marriage issues. I want to be writing more about Iraq, about our too-small military, and above all, about Korea. But lately it’s been impossible to find the time.