05-24-2018, 12:36 PM
Well, no big shocker that the North Korean denuclearization summit has been cancelled.
First, National Security Advisor Bolton either unknowingly or passive-aggressively threatened Kim by invoking the "Libya model" in a televised interview.
Then, after Trump walked back Bolton's comment, publicly stated that he was open to phased instead of "immediate and total" denuclearization, cancelled a military exercise in the peninsula to appease Kim, and again profusely praised Kim..............VP Pence directly threatened Kim by invoking the "Libya model" in a televised interview.
Inconsistent messaging and idiotic threats, assuming this was ever anything more than the latest for-show installment of The Real Whitehouse of DC.
President Trump's rationale for the cancellation is that North Korean leadership responded to Pence's threat by publicly calling Pence "a stupid, ignorant political dummy" and essentially accepted Pence's invitation to a nuclear war if North Korea didn't capitulate to the U.S. That's pretty weak supposed rationale, considering the constant name calling from our President and the fact that Kim and Trump have publicly insulted each other worse.
It's clear to me the U.S. did not have a solid strategy, negotiating points, definition of 'denuclearization', or groundwork laid for a June summit of this magnitude to result in a 'win'. That's more likely the reason for the summit cancellation.
So, to date....Kim's managed to get praise, concessions, and legitimization from the U.S. In turn, the U.S. got three hostages released from North Korea.
In Trump's cancellation letter to Kim, he left the door open for future talks. That's good.
South Korean President Moon was elected on a platform of re-unification; this derailment has gotta be a big setback for him. But, hopefully he and Kim will continue to make progress among themselves.
First, National Security Advisor Bolton either unknowingly or passive-aggressively threatened Kim by invoking the "Libya model" in a televised interview.
Then, after Trump walked back Bolton's comment, publicly stated that he was open to phased instead of "immediate and total" denuclearization, cancelled a military exercise in the peninsula to appease Kim, and again profusely praised Kim..............VP Pence directly threatened Kim by invoking the "Libya model" in a televised interview.
Inconsistent messaging and idiotic threats, assuming this was ever anything more than the latest for-show installment of The Real Whitehouse of DC.
President Trump's rationale for the cancellation is that North Korean leadership responded to Pence's threat by publicly calling Pence "a stupid, ignorant political dummy" and essentially accepted Pence's invitation to a nuclear war if North Korea didn't capitulate to the U.S. That's pretty weak supposed rationale, considering the constant name calling from our President and the fact that Kim and Trump have publicly insulted each other worse.
It's clear to me the U.S. did not have a solid strategy, negotiating points, definition of 'denuclearization', or groundwork laid for a June summit of this magnitude to result in a 'win'. That's more likely the reason for the summit cancellation.
So, to date....Kim's managed to get praise, concessions, and legitimization from the U.S. In turn, the U.S. got three hostages released from North Korea.
In Trump's cancellation letter to Kim, he left the door open for future talks. That's good.
South Korean President Moon was elected on a platform of re-unification; this derailment has gotta be a big setback for him. But, hopefully he and Kim will continue to make progress among themselves.