North Korea just got cut from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. By presenting the isolated regime with the carrot of taking it off the bad-guy list, some in the Bush Administration hope Pyongyang will honor its promise to end its nuke program.

A few days ago North Korea banned inspectors, raising concerns that the deal, only a few months old, would collapse. But after he determined the country had cooperated with verification requirements of the agreement, Bush made the decision to take North Korea off the list.

Before Sarah Palin called Bush's move "wise," John McCain indicated that it was a mistake to take North Korea off the list, unless it clearly showed its commitment to stop pursuing nuclear weapons. If the US wants countries to start acting friendly, must the US treat them like friends first; or, is removal from the terror list something that must be earned unequivocally?

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