Should South Koreans forgive Lee Myung-bak?

Lee Myung-bak has apologised at least two times to the South Koreans for his decision to allow the reintroduction of US beef to his country. His people remain unmoved; his bowing has not stopped daily protests, nor quieted calls for his resignation. South Koreans are not in a forgiving mood these days. Lee forgot the sacramental symbol of beef in his own country, and therefore committed a heretical act, it seems. Even though he dispatched his ministerr of trade Kim Jong hoon to Washington to renogciate the agreement on American beef, Herr Bush's minions are not moved. Hardly had Kim begun discussions, the meeting was adjourned. Sensing another faux pas in a long list of diplomatic ineptitude, Washington came back to the table. You'd think Herr Bush would try to rescue Lee, the first president in Seoul's Blue House who wanted good ties with Washington; well, Herr Bush as we all know is tone deaf, so the talks will go on and on until the US wrings out other concessions from klewless Lee's minister. As a result, even if Kim brings back glad tidings to Lee, Herr Bush will have further weakened Lee who is holed up in the Blue House, behind a wall of shipping containers to keep away protesters. Thus, Lee is triply isolated: from Washington, from his people, and from himself. Not a good formula to rule over the world's 12 largest economy! What is clear: Lee has a short life as president. He has proven amateurish at best, inept and unfit for the South Korean presidency. His party has an able successor waiting in the wings since the Grand National Party [GNP] doesn't need to call elections as it holds a majority in parliament. In brief, Lee blew it.