I'd guess "sooner" rather than "later:"
"Sooner or later, it will become clear that he's not going to follow through with denuclearization."
Let's face it: The world is paying a lot of attention lately to Kim and North Korea. That's not because Kim has suddenly become a brilliant and fascinating character, or because his country has ceased to be a backward no-count place.
It's because Kim has nukes.
Kim knows that, and he knows he'll quickly end up like Moammar Qaddafi and Saddam Hussein if he ever gives up his nukes. That being so, why in the world would he even think about giving them up?
Actually, I DO think North Korea eventually will give up its nukes, though not for a long time. North Koreans will get used to living the good life, and they'll put pressure on Kim to accept whatever he must accept to let them continue that. Eventually he'll relent, though only in exchange for an ironclad commitment to let him gracefully exit. And that will be a long time coming. In the meantime, he'll keep his nukes and do his best to persuade us that he's given them up.
1
Apparently, half of Americans applaud Donald Trump’s overtures to NK. Slowly, but surely, Trump is winning the world over with his simplistic style. It won’t be long before other world leaders start emulating him as his popularity with the electorate gains steam. People everywhere love simplicity. Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage stole Brexit away from a usually politically complex Britain on a raft of lies and racism.
Tyranny is a simple concept too. Do nothing wrong and the state will leave you alone. We’re already a surveillance society: monster corporations watch our every move and peddle our lives to whoever will pay. Social media is a pervasive platform for foreign intelligence operations which end in embarrassing coups for the perpetrators.
Trump cannot succeed in Korea; he is a domestic, likely international, criminal and this cannot be ignored. Yet, he must succeed or risk war. Kim took advantage of a fool and will score enormously from Trump’s fecklessness. Mueller must expedite his investigation and reach a conclusion before Trump is unassailable. This is a nightmare situation for democracy and those of us who yearn for it.
2
This abysmally ludicrous hand-clasping was profoundly deficient, unproductive, valueless, paltry, inconsequential and purposeless.
2
It is indeed a rare photo opportunity for Trump to be in a photo with a person more odious than himself. The rarity value of these photos is notable.
4
Having achieved no significant accomplishment in his so-called negotiations with Kim, Trump is betting the farm on his "very special relationship" and "special bond" with the dictator. One only has to look back at his previous "special" relationships with Trudeau and Macron to assess the permanence of this one. In fact, virtually every time Trump has met with a foreign leader, he has claimed to have won him over and achieved some kind of BFF status with him. We have all seen how he eventually treats his best friends.
The "summit" accomplished nothing of substance except to enhance Kim's status, give Trump another free campaign publicity tour and, not incidentally, lay the groundwork for a future Trumpworld along the beautiful beaches of North Korea.
2
It is hard to believe that the President of the United States actually said:
“I think, honestly, I think he’s going to do these things,” Mr. Trump said. “I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”
At least for once he is honest about his dishonesty.
2
Having a business meeting is the easiest thing in the world. Donald Trump had a business meeting, and gave Asia to China and Russia.
As with all policies, the devil is in the details, execution, and unanticipated consequences, not the tweets, claims, or contemporaneous punditry.
Perhaps the "success" of this meeting is based not on the fact of Trump's alleged deal-making ability but, rather, that Kim is not the person portrayed all along by our government and media. Perhaps what he appears to be now is precisely who he has been all along. It is extremely unlikely that an essentially absolute ruler who is the incompetent, egomaniacal buffoon portrayed over the years by our government and media would have been able to successfully organize and preside over a nuke and missile program that many countries with greater financial and material resources can only dream about.
Kim's brutal regime exists, and to the extent and way we deal with him it is very helpful to deal with the reality and not a simplistic and unlikely cartoon characterization.
Perhaps we are so surprised because we have been kidding ourselves for years, because our government came to believe its own spin on North Korean reality.
I don't know how this all started, whether successive administrations chose to believe self-serving analyses from an intelligence community that no President has held accountable, or that good intelligence was superseded by political self-delusion, or something else. It is now imperative that out government and media consider the possibility that Kim may have been a very capable and savvy leader all along.
1
It's absolutely nonsensical to imagine that anyone would trust Donald Trump so what is this dog and pony show?
Nothing but elevation on the world stage for Kim, acting like he's in league with the big boys. Only China can solve this problem with Kim and I've always felt that NK is China's offshore nuclear program anyway.
More showboating and grandstanding and pictures of Trump for the history books.
It's show business, pure and simple.
No substance, as usual.
Nothing new here, just a waste of jet fuel.
3
It looks like Trump was snookered by "Little Rocket Man", who made Trump look like an elf. The clear winner was Kim, as Trump scratched for anything that would resemble a "deal". Problem is that Kim will see other ways to exploit the complicated strategic relationship between North and South Korea through negotiation with his new-found buddy. It underscores what an amateur we have as head-of-state, especially in his handling of this issue, not to speak of his behavior at the G-7 Summit, where his only real initiative was to urge the return of Comrade Putin to that gathering.
Trash our allies, gush effusively about the world's most vicious dictatorship, going on its third generation. Imagine if Obama or Clinton put on this dog and pony show and came back with nothing.
5
Kim is one of the big boys now. He's a world leader with nuclear weapons. That's all he wanted. He's not going to risk his kingdom being wiped out by firing off a nuclear rocket toward any nation. Let sleeping dogs sleep....at least for now.
So, let me get this straight. The occupier of the White House has now managed to alienate just about every ally we had, including Canada (!), and is now aligning himself with leaders whom previous presidents wouldn't give the time of day to because of their records on human rights, among other things. Way to legitimize despots, you despot wannabe! Talk about living in Bizarro World.
8
In another tweet, Trump said that North Korea is no longer the United States’ most dangerous problem, as President Barack Obama had characterized it upon leaving office — and he said Americans could “sleep well tonight!”
-- President Donald Trump, following his return from Singapore
"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Go home and get a nice quiet sleep."
-- Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, following his trip to Munich in 1938
5
It is so easy for a con artist showman to fall into a context of which he knows nothing and constantly create "unprecedented" events.
Trump's version of "unprecedented" is destruction for the sake of publicity, monetary gain, cult entertainment and maintenance of his fake power position.
In THIS case, he first churns up anxiety and fear amongst complacent Americans (I.e. antagonize a nuclear power via cowardly Tweets) and then, after creating desired anxiety, jumps in and pretends to be a hero with a photo op and worthless piece of toilet paper. There is nothing here that is different from a pyromaniac who is also a fireman and wants to pretend to be a hero. WE are the burning house and TRUMP is the destructive felon. He cares nothing for the consequences of his actions or the people and relationships that he harms. Meanwhile he distracts by attacking our most loyal allies and gets his minions (see Nunez) to do his bidding, seemingly an independent attack upon truth. He will do the same there.
SAD that people have such short, selective memories!
VOTE!
4
Mr. Trump said on Twitter that there was “no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.” He added, “President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer — sleep well tonight!”
Please get over your insecurity vis-a-vis President Obama. Your acting on this insecurity does not conduce peaceful sleep.
“If I have to say I’m sitting on a stage with Chairman Kim and that gets us to save 30 million lives — it could be more than that — I’m willing to sit on the stage,” Mr. Trump said. “I’m willing to travel to Singapore.”
Golly gee, so nice of you to sit on the stage--your favorite thing. Sadly, it will require more than sitting to accomplish change.
“I think, honestly, I think he’s going to do these things,” Mr. Trump said. “I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”
It must shock even you sometimes what comes out of your mouth! Oops, sorry, the world is in flames. But no problem: I admit that I might have made a mistake.
3
Everything about the way Trump went about this process was wrong. It was rushed, did not have the right kind of people involved, all because our Bloviating President wanted to win a news cycle and have a world wide photo op. All style and no substance. Actually, not that much style either. These guys are a lot alike. They are both liars. They have both broken deals. And they both have ridiculous hair dos.
1
We've come a long way as Americans and I'm sure the Koreans have studied our history to find honorable men who keep their word. One only need refer to the Timesmachine and read (https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1926/06/27/99995457.pdf) and to understand, the "Whiteman" speaks with a "forked tongue"--a reference not to lizards as some belief but to confused thinking. How does the saying go? If you don't learn from history...you'll never learn to rhyme?
'unprecedented', indeed:
Insult Prime Minister of Canada as a backstabber, then immediately go halfway round the world, literally to pat the back of an oppressive, murderous tyrant.
2
The only nuclear threat I am afraid of sits in the oval office. Until we are rid of him, the whole world is not safe.
That nuclear agreement between two known narcissists, one a dictator, the other one a wanna-be dictator, who are loyal to no one, habitual liars, propagandists, that throw tantrums when they don't get their way is not worth the paper it is written on.
1
North Korea left this summit with Trump's wallet, his watch, his pants, and his shoes. Another classic example of "the Art of the Deal." What a joke.
2
Kim is a despot who controls his people by committing hundreds of murders, imprisoning thousands in concentration camps, starving millions, forced abortion and infanticide - and Trump says it's hard in "lots of places"?
He's a sick, sick man. Which one? Both of them are sick, the criminal and the president of his fan club. They're interchangeable.
4
Better than other presidents have done
2
Not at all. NK has always wanted a meeting. This is a calamity.
2
J Starkey from Tucson could not be more correct: stop calling it a Summit.
Call it a Nadir instead. That moniker works for the G-7 meeting too. Praising a murdering despot to the skies, while undercutting and bullying our allies - Trump descended to horrifically new lows this week.
5
Trump reminds me of the great line from the movie "Into the Woods" delivered by Chris Pine, "I was taught to be charming, not sincere".
Kim too, but minus the "charming" part..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SumZmGws8s
1
Trump's NRA and rabid gun rights supporters should reflect on the contradictions here. A tiny country sandwiched between superpowers -- China and US military bases in South Korea and Japan -- is trying to protect itself with the same weapons they have. Trump is telling them "We are coming to take away your nukes. You don't have the right to protect yourself with weapons like we have. If one of us invades you, you will have to defend yourself with (the equivalent of) muskets, arrows and swords. Good luck." Surely American gun nuts can sympathize with North Korea.
3
So, going into any meeting/discussions Kim/DPRK wanted:
1. Assurance he will not be removed from power - check
2. Photo-ops showing him/ DPRK on equal footing with US - check
3. Cessation of joint military "war games" by US and South Korea - check
The US wanted:
1. Verifiable list of DPRK nuclear weapons, material, etc - nope
2. Agreement that DPRK will destroy existing weapons - nope
3. Pledge not to restart nuclear program - nope
4. Plan for verification regime to make sure of follow-through on de-nuclearization - nope.
Trump and the US got played badly. This is not winning.
4
Military exercises with our allies is extremely important!
I was a trauma surgeon with the US Army and US Navy. We no longer use tents to set up forward battlefield hospitals...we use trailers as one sees with tractor-trailers.
We “Marry” them up and remove one side to make one large space. Now we have a floor rather than dust coming up from bare ground. Just learning how to put these units together and put together the incredible number of surgical instruments/dressings/gowns/masks/gloves is an intense exercise in working together.
Just between our OWN services there are massive differences between procedures and equipment. With foreign countries, are chest opening trays(thoracotomy trays) labeled in Korean or English? I worked to put international symbols on so that personnel from ANY country could read it.
Do Korean medics do the same procedure for locating shrapnel in a chest cavity? Do we use the same chest tubes and rib spreaders.
When you are at war, everything has to be smooth with folks working side by side. There can be NO hesitation, NO arguing about what to do with a Marine who stepped on an IED! You have to practice over and over to get it down perfectly or these patients will die!
Who is in charge? A senior officer or an upper rank enlisted NCO? Only with practice will we figure this out? Who heads up triage? Who makes sure that supplies are available and knows where to get more.
After 50 years you know that without training we will kill our troops!
3
“I think, honestly, I think he’s going to do these things,” Mr. Trump said. “I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”
That says it all.
5
WHAT things, exactly, Mister President?
5
The 'agreement' avoided the dreaded JCPOA 'sunset' by never placing any specific restrictions on NK in the first place.
1
I find it somewhat comical that Trump thinks Kim 'wants to do even more than me' since he has underestimated Kim's goals and the fact that he has been manipulating his way into a mature dictatorship. He has been groomed for this whereas Trump thinks more of his abilities than actually has ability.
It is vague for a reason. When a dictator con wants something he knows how to play. When a dictator wannabe con wants something he cannot help his effusiveness.
I'm glad they met and yes, it's a start, but presupposing what Kim really wants would be a mistake.
Trust but verify. Get everything called out in writing. If Trump and his team believe they can seduce Kim into compliance with a fake movie and flattery I fear they are underestimating him.
To use a sports metaphor, celebrating in the end zone on a questionable play before you know it's real can get you a penalty. It's time for the grown-ups to work out a deal. Trump got what he wanted, the optics and the meaningless signing of a nothing 'contract'. He should stop celebrating and seek details.
1
This is about what I expected. We have two vainglorious liars that are only interested in their own self aggrandizement. Neither can be trusted. Now trump has pulled out of the Iran deal which leaves us more vulnerable in that region. Maybe some specifics will be worked out as a first step with NK. At least the Iran deal was a logical and verifiable agreement. This paper the two signed is a piece of nothing. And trump's fawning over the murderous Kim was nauseating.
5
Kim gets to keep his nukes, h-bombs and biological weapons, gets a security promise from us, and suspension of our war games, and as told by the North Korean newscaster lady in pink to NC citizens, sanctions will be lifted, and we get to save some bucks on no more war games, a tower and a beach golf course for Trump in return, and can expect more flicks from that same propaganda company who made the movie for Kim, this time for US citizen, right before the midterm elections, and in 2020.
Kim clearly learned the art of the deal somewhere else than Trump University.
Well played, Mr. honorable, dear leader Kim, Kudos to you.
4
"History is evolving" and they are "remaking history" - from the "slick" video, and from George Orwell's 1984? Trailer for new, dystopian world order.
Step back a moment and consider Trump's bromance with North Korea's abominable dictator in context. It continues a pattern of embracing others like Kim--Putin, Duarte, Erdogan Xi Jinping. What they have in common, in part, is their unchallenged authority, supression of the press and other independent voices in favor of incessant propaganada, total control of their military, sham elections and so on. There is no check on their authority.
It's a bit far-fetched--for now--to imagine Trump amassing that kind of power, but not for lack of trying:
Repeatedly calling the press the enemy of the people and of peddling fake news; using his office to financially attack the parent companies of perceived media enemies CNN and the Washing Post; churning out propaganda daily in stunningly mendacious tweets and at his raucus rallies; supression of likely opposition voters; persistent attempts to bend the justice department to his will, chiefly by directing a massive effort to subvert the special counsel's investigation of his obvious abuse of power and his campaign's conspiracy with Russia to help Trump win election. And that's a very short list.
The point is that, as we continue to connect the dots between Trump and his favorite dictators, what begins to emerge is the face of Steve Bannon, promoter of hard-line nationalism, weakening of Western democracies and an apocalyptic global war.
But all that's pretty far-fetched, right?
3
I have not heard Trump or any of his "best people" mention human rights or democracy once, it is all about nukes. "Do what you want to your people but please take apart the nukes and store them separately".
Only mention about how Kim is running the country I've heard was Trump saying, as an explanation why he thinks Kim is very intelligent, that "he had to take over the country when he was only 25 years old and he run it very tough"
"Though"? Is that what we shall call it now? It's easy to make deals if you avoid half the things that really matter. At least things that used to matter.
1
I'm tired of hearing POTUS at least made an attempt. To me the goals of this poorly planned, off-the-cuff summit (" Do you want to go to the beach? Sure why not) were to
(1) erase the multiple investigations of POTUS, his family, and campaign staff out from the headlines
(2) show that the Republicans did one positive thing in the last year-and-a-half ( as opposed to the many negative things)
(3) take the huge gamble that this will help Republicans in the midterm elections
The major problem I have with all that is: what a horrendous performance at the G7 Summit days before Singapore!
I don't take any comfort now that, according to POTUS, North Korea is no longer a threat and our neighbors to the north and south are our new national security risks.
6
Trump always sounds like the used car salesman. He tells us North Korea is no longer a threat. He is just like they guy who tells you this car was owned by a little old lady who used it to go shopping and church. Maybe Kim and North Korea will come around and rid itself of nuclear weapons, but to tell the world the Danger is over after a two hour meeting is way over the Top.
7
If Trump is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, then surely it will be together with Kim Jong-un. I doubt the prize will mean much to Trump then.
1
Kim Jong un announced in April that North Korea was halting its nuclear testing program. Why? The mountain that NK used to conduct the tests, collapsed.
China told NK / Kim Jong un to cease nuclear testing due to fears of fall out reaching China.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.S43H2968T
This is nothing more than Kim Jong un "re-gifting" something China made them do.
3
"slickly produced video".
Hokey, I think you mean hokey.
6
So it's identical to the Obama/Iran nuclear deal, only this time without the NYT gushing about how Iran is 100% guaranteed to not produce nuclear weapons, because the Master of Hope & Change decreed it to be true. Even though it isn't.
3
Nice try but the Iran deal actually had terms and requirements and consequences for violating the terms. It was specific. There was no such detail in whatever it was these two signed yesterday.
I realized when I was out running this morning that I owe Rudy Giuliani an apology, he was partially right about someone getting down on their hands and knees to beg, only it was Donald Trump; I hope Trump was wearing his gold trimmed bib when he was down there or maybe he let Mike Pence to the honors.
2
I believe we may have just witnessed a small slip of honesty from Trump....
"I may stand before you in six months and say ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”
And there stands this presidency in a nutshell....
8
We should be discussing the relative merits of whether our troops should stay or not.
Japan is freaking out at the thought and our departure would increase the risk of a conventional attack by the north.
Letting Trump make that call would be like throwing a nuclear tipped dart at destiny.
He has stated that the troops should come home.
Russian and Chinese position? A dream come true for them.
3
Trump got played. I bet I can sell Trump the Brooklyn Bridge.
4
I'm so glad Trump has opened up North Korea. Now they can be our true friends. And along with Russia and China we can stand up to nasty Canada and dangerous Mexico, duplicitous France and Germany and their ilk. Yes, the U.S.ofA. is headed in the right direction.
5
"Pyongyang claims Mr. Trump agreed to a “step-by-step” denuclearization process, rather than an immediate dismantling."
Will Trump have some of his minions call Kim a "backstabber" reserved for "a special place in h-ll" for that claim, or is such language reserved for allies?
5
What if this meeting is actually preparation for war? Trump could announce at any time that North Korea is not abiding by the "agreement" (remember how he originally cancelled the meeting on the absurd flimsy grounds that some PRNK official called Pence a dummy). Trump could point to all his "concessions" (meeting F2F with Kim, suspending "war games," etc) as proof of his own good intentions. He could then say, with outrage in his voice, that Kim has left him with no choice but to attack North Korea.
As Churchill said, "Jaw jaw is better than war war." Yeah, yeah.
Once again, when it comes to Trump, I hope I'm wrong.
1
thanks
No Guarantees: "Success", newly defined!
1
They both agreed each other to be great leader of great countries. What more can one ask for?
1
Trump isn't negotiating peace; he's selling time-shares.
10
We have a president that made an unprecedented peace move with N Korea, and in response all these democrats have sent comments to the NYT derogatory of the move.
It was clear that they could not take this action as something positive and they need to attack it.
These guys were wishing that the meeting was a failure even if it was in detriment and danger to the United States.
NAUSEATING!
3
There's only a way of stopping war confrontation both in western and eastern world, and the solution is inside, that is, in people's heart. Only love and mutual cooperation among people can wipe the war and international conflicts out.
Silliest thing I've read today.
So Trump spent millions of taxpayers funds to slap a narration on an old BASF commercial, and treat himself to a trip to Singapore. After all that historic hoopla, he comes home with Kim Jung Un's autograph on an almost blank sheet of paper that amounts to an IOU.
Brilliant! Only a very stable genius could have saved the world from that threat. Feels good to have America back on top! Who's laughing at us now?
Trudeau's Canadia are quaking in their boots, eh?
“Just tell us what Vladimir has on you. Maybe we can help.”
- Guy Verhofstadt, to Trump.
2
If President Trump walked on water the New York Times would run an op-ed criticizing his swimming abilities.
Does any reasonable person think that after a first meeting between the two that a detailed agreement loaded with action items and a timeline on the denuclearization of North Korea would be signed????
President Trump conceded military drills. He can pick up the phone and reinstate the military drills. The Submarines are still sitting off the coast. The US Army is still in South Korea. Pointing to this as Kim having his way with our President is utterly ridiculous. Look at what Kim has conceded!
My friends, just tip your cap. This was a tremendous moment for the world. War was becoming a very real option in North Korea. Our President has done a spectacular job here and deserves the praise that the world, with the exception of the American Main Stream Media, is pouring on him.
1
So tired of the Times analyzing every angle of this summit as though it were real news when the editors must know it's just another reality TV show. This president and the people around him are incapable of negotiating an agreement. And he and Kim are both malignant liars who over and over don't keep their word. This summit was held so the news media would bump the Russia investigation down the news ladder. And it did.
3
In the movie "A Face in the Crowd," demagogue Lonesome Rhodes brags about his ability to bamboozle the American public. "I could throw them dog food and make them think it was steak." Trump apparently believes the same thing. Sooner or later, he might overreach. We might be gullible, but we're not that gullible.
2
If Kim moves forward with destruction of all NK's nuclear weapons what will the reaction of NK's military power be?
Will they assassinate him and replace him with one of their own or will fear of being murdered themselves for treason hold them in check?
1
"He said Mr. Kim volunteered to dismantle a facility that tests engines for ballistic missiles."
In what century did he volunteer to do this?
As an aside: Far too much attention is given to rapidly obsolete ballistic missiles - unguided point-to-point trackable weapons. I see no mention of cheap LACM's (land attack cruise missiles) which can be nuclearized and can evade all tracking systems. With an advanced turbo-fan engine a LACM can travel in excess of 5000km with a 1000kg payload and achieve a CEP (circular error probability) of a meter or less - and cost a mere $1-million apiece. Would someone at DoD inform our so-called president about this please.
1
This is diplomacy "Trump Style" -- lots of flash, braggadocio, little thought or substance. Photo ops, a stint on Fox, and then "Done, let's move on to the next thing!"
3
So Tump hated the Iran deal because it required verifications. Makes sense now.
2
The American people need to ask themselves if they are honoured to be led by a President who declares he is honoured to be with a Tyrant ruling over terrorized impoverished people.
4
Well, what a waste of time this was. I would score the meeting results as Kim 1, Trump 0. We will stop participating in "war games" with the South Koreans and we get what in return? Oh of course, Trump got Putin's approval. And isn't that all that really matters?
1
Kim successfully built their nuclear arsenal to make himself a power on the world scene...it worked and Trump just letigimized it. Now all the small minded dictators see all you need is nukes and you'll be a player on the world stage. Anyone think this will make the world safer?
4
By electing Trump, America trashed itself. This is the consequence, a "summit" which could satisfy no American except perhaps Dennis Rodman. Mr. "Art of the Deal" didn't even get thirty pieces of silver in exchange for the promise he has made to stop military coordination with South Korea and lift sanctions. He got absolutely nothing at all- no promise to dismantle nukes, no movement on human rights in the North Korea slave state, nothing. Just a one-day phony headline. But it is not a surprise that Trump, who doesn't understand America at all, would be willing to betray our allies. The surprise is still those "patriots" in the Republican party who won't speak out against what he is doing and use their Congressional authority to reign him in, because it might muddy the next election cycle.
1
This is trump's Chamberlain moment.
3
Kim has nuclear weapons, ballistic capability and now celebrity.
1
I'm not sure how the paper (or administration) can claim "intense negotiations". I don't think Trump is capable of such a thing. It seems more like a Trump show--in concert with Jong-ill--with nothing to show for it. More red meat for the base, though.
3
It is time for our President to meet with Kim because of N.K. nuclear threat. This is the reason President Trump is meeting with a cruel dictator. President Trump sincerely wants peace.
2
We are told that the South Koreans have turned off the propaganda loud speakers in the DMZ - for a good reason. They were moved to Washington DC.
2
America's diplomacy under Trump: Promote dictators and despots and insult long standing friends. What a strange world!
3
The world's worst dictator and the president of the United States get together to discuss averting nuclear war.
The president shows Kim Jong-il a music video, they shake hands, and president holds a news conference explaining that North Korea has great beaches. If only the stakes weren't real and we could just enjoy the silliness of it.
6
Maybe he was negotiating an exclusive contract to build Trump hotels and holiday complexes on those lovely North Korean beaches.
6
Beginning with not-too-distant history, statements from past leaders including Roosevelt and Churchill, have been broad but not deep: details to be worked out over time.
Winston Churchill said, ‘Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war.’ (Often reported as "It is better to jaw, jaw than to war, war".)
Franklin Roosevelt said, "There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still." The Korean Conflict ended on July 27, 1953; no peace treaty was signed so the Korean War has not officially ended.
Barack Obama said, "The majority of the Iranian people have powerful incentives to urge their government to move in a different, less provocative direction -- incentives that are strengthened by this deal. We should offer them that chance. We should give them that opportunity. It’s not guaranteed to succeed."
Trump and Kim went jaw to jaw. After 65 years of standing still, we are moving towards the end of the Korean war.
The chance, the opportunity, is not guaranteed to succeed.
For those who fear the Trump-Kim Summit will not lead to peace, remember Harry Truman: “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”
Independence Day is 20 days away. As celebrate July 4, let's be grateful this summit took place after 65 years of standing still, and hope the success of the summit gives both Koreas, the region, and the USA peace and prosperity.
3
Trump is only really interested in building condos and a Trump tower in Pyongyang. Nothing else really matters.
8
North Korea will play this as Kim forced Trump to come to Asia and gave up nothing. You can guarantee Kim is not gushing about Trump like Trump is gushing about Kim.
3
Watching the tweet parade from our child-president tells me, as far as he's concerned, mission accomplished.
Yep. Time for non-alcoholic champagne and that pesky peace prize.
A one hour meeting with one of the most ruthless despots in the world and...mission accomplished. Which sets him up nicely when inspections fall apart. Or access to "secret" areas is denied. Or Kim slaughters another million or so of his own people
Or whatever happens that takes everyone back to square one.
Except the king of dealmakers. He's done. Simple clean-up on a little paperwork at this point.
He'll blame his minions and Kim's minions. He's already told us that's what he'll do down the road when he finds he failed hugely.
That'll be his excuse. He got 'em to the goal line and everyone else failed to get it into the end zone.
So disgusting to watch all this play out in front of the rest of the world right after he dumped on the G6+1.
So predictable. Except to him and his base. Sad.
4
North Korea was NEVER a plausible nuclear threat.
That's the joke.
3
Having just seen the Frontline report on Puerto Rico's terrible plight, I propose that we devote the money saved on not having war games with South Korea to rebuilding Puerto Rico.
3
Why call Trump's video 'slick'- unless you meant an oil slick...It was bombastic and laughable. Portraying Trump as a peacemaker [Iran, Jerusalem, Mexico, the G7] made it a joke. It was the most embarrassing piece of puffery I have ever seen.
3
I'm in the business. That hacked-together video was an embarrassment. Editing and soundtrack aside, the message and the terrible stock footage looked like an intern's work. From maybe 20 years ago. And Trump facies himself both a negotiating genius and Hollywood maven. I'm sure it was thrown together over cheeseburgers the night before he left. Everything this administration does is seat-of-the-pants. That works every once in a while. But not every stinking day. That's absolutely not the way to run a sales meeting or a country. No wonder the guy's been BK so many times. Yet another mission not accomplished.
2
The trade war with China and ZTE cop out is not going to keep China on the N Korean sanctions band wagon. S Korea has stated that reduced tensions with the N would enable increased trade. Moon will not mind the loss of military games in the S. Although there are other S Korean politicians who see this as a security threat. In the US with Putin coming out in favor of the US reducing military games with the S could generate opposition in the US. Putin is such a lightening rod of stupid neo con excess that this could hurt Trump's ability to sell any plan. The denuclearization is so vague that both sides have claimed to have claimed success.
1
For Trump the crucial purpose was to appear statesman like to promote favorable results in the November elections. A turnover of even the House to the Democrats would mean enormous problems for he and his administration. He seems little concerned about how subsequent talks develop but not because of confidence of them going a certain way that he can accept but because he’s already got what he wanted. He will care about the talks when circumstances force to pay attention.
People are presuming too much at this point. We are not shooting at each other but the war risks are about the same as they have been on average for decades.
7
I keep reading that people are mad that the statement was vague and had no concrete commitments. But in the 1990s, Bill Clinton's was widely praised for a detailed agreement that had concrete commitments. Problem was, we kept ours, they broke theirs.
So which is better?
2
What is your conclusion? That blather is useful because it offers nothing that requires anyone do something or failing to do something?
1
One was an earnest attempt; the other a shallow publicity stunt. I'll take the earnest attempt.
2
Clinton's agreement was in place for 7 or 8 years and delayed the growth of NK's aresenal. Without it, NK would have more nuclear weapons today. But sure, let's compare actual results with a vague "agreement" that was more photo op than negotiation.
We've been took. Full stop.
The promises on the North Korean side amount to nothing but hand-waving vague promises that they've repeatedly broken in the past. If Trump had the patience and demeanor to study history and the complexities at hand, he might have known this and been prepared. Instead, he went in completely uninformed, trusting that he'll be in able to feel it out in the "first minute." Kim may as well have promised "world peace, prosperity, and unicorns for all." In return, we give up military exercises (a huge concession given how much they rankled the politburo in North Korea), and Kim lands a major PR coup that will no doubt be used relentlessly for propaganda back at home. He is now, after all, the Great Leader of an underdog country that made the mighty United States send their President to Asia and make specific promises for nothing in return. The Art of the Deal indeed.
7
President Trump acknowledges the possibility of his being wrong/fooled about his impression of of the Korean Trump but in the same breath says he wouldn't admit to being wrong but point somewhere else. Clinton? He, of course, either doesn't care to see or sees and can't admit it to himself, that so far all that was accomplished was a softer rehash of his predecessors' agreements, all of which were broken and well criticized by he himself. He's convinced that the fake news organizations and anti-Trump rabble are trying to tarnish what he sees as a great accomplishment. He's comforted by the thought that he has time to develop a response that his loyal followers, who must be getting weary by now, can swallow and spit at his critics. Sad.
3
Someone please tell me how this is better than the Iranian nuclear deal. Kim is now in control. If we do anything he doesn't like he can test his missiles or bombs again which would not be a violation of the deal and if he does anything we don't like, anything we do would be a violation of the deal.
5
Time will tell whether this is better than the Iranian nuclear deal. Iran has already broken that deal - as evidenced by the 5/23/18 NYT article, "Deep in the Desert, Iran Quietly Advances Missile Technology"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/middleeast/iran-missiles.html
As President Obama said when speaking of the deal with Iran, "There are no guarantees".
1
At least we know we didn’t spend $150 billion to sign up for a non binding agreement. Money we know has been poured into terrorist activities.
3
Are you referring to the money we returned to Iran? I never belonged to us. It didn't come from our treasury. Doesn't Fox tell you anything?
1
Is it safe to assume you read the NYT article on Iran continuing to build and test missiles, including what appear to be intercontinental ballistic missiles?
"Deep in the Desert, Iran Quietly Advances Missile Technology
"So, this spring, when a team of California-based weapons researchers reviewed new Iranian state TV programs glorifying the military scientist, they expected a history lesson with, at most, new details on a long-dormant program.
"Instead, they stumbled on a series of clues that led them to a startling conclusion: Shortly before his death, the scientist, Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, oversaw the development of a secret, second facility in the remote Iranian desert that, they say, is operating to this day." https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/middleeast/iran-missiles.html
As President Obama said of the Iran deal, "There are no guarantees".
1
Way to go, keep repeating the trump lies, maybe someone will believe them.
1
Con artistry at its finest, with real estate speculation thrown in for good measure. Our country is once again made to look incredibly ignorant and short sighted.
8
Why was the Iran deal terrible and the North Korea deal so bigly fantastic ?
4
Maybe you should tell us why Iran and Cuba were good ideas and NK is not. Hypocrisy is a two way street - a bigly one.
Cuba does not have hundreds of thousands in Gulags and they have universal health care. Any comparison between NK and Cuba is a classic example of false equivalence. I have been to Cuba and yes there was dissatisfaction with the Castros. But at least they were not scared to express it to me; in NK they are monitored when they speak to visitors- no comparison. Yes there is a considerable amount of penury but there is no legitimate parallel between Cuba and North Korea. You do see happy people in Cuba but any look at the locals' faces in Pyongyang tells you they are miserable. Another false equivalence- favourite tactic of the right.
It is interesting that Trump really likes dictators, autocrats and brutal leaders. So he snubs and insults America's friends at the G-7 (not his friends) and takes the photo op with Kim. He is jazzed by the idea of a Nobel nomination and hopes for a win! (another Obama'esque moment for him). Other than the worldwide attention on him and kudos for getting Kim to show up for this meeting, Trump does not care about anything else. He would sell America's vital interests if he can win the Nobel! Thats the kind of character we have in the WH!
7
Maybe he will get the Nobel for literature in an acknowledgment of the new literature format of Twitter. They do try to keep up. Not sure if they will look past the groping in an era of Me Too though.
1
We may never know what the North Koreans think of Mr. Trump. We do know what this administration thinks of North Korea, however, if this propaganda film is any guide. Our arrogant conceit that everyone in the world wants all the trappings of capitalist neo-liberalism, with its big skyscrapers, impossible wealth, and clean living, is positively Orwellian.
5
June 11, 2018 -- N. Korea a threat with nukes
June 12, 2018 -- After 40 minute meeting . N. Korea is no longer a nuke threat ( as per Trump)
Trump understands that 60% of people are stupid, gullible ,and uninformed. As he told Billy Bush " Just tell hem and they'll believe it. I don't know why they just do".
10
DJT:
Iran: "we need it to be verifiable."
NK: "I trust him."
Meanwhile... Note to other authoritarians: Get a nuke and DJT will suddenly negotiate with you and will give you concessions while receiving none back in return. DJT; "Your gonna be sick of winning." YUP.
7
Response to Trump trip from America: Yawn!
7
Theatrics. Go look at the Fox News headlines, you’d think Trump just solved world hunger by cozying up with a criminal.
8
Had Barack Obama signed a document like this, there is no doubt in my mind that Congressional Republicans would be shouting "treason" and demanding impeachment. This is particularly true of the Tea Party extremists like Pence and Pompeo.
10
This couldn't be more true, and needs to be said loud and clear everyday.
3
This isn't normal. Don't let this fool you into normalizing deviance. He's still an incompetent two-bit crook, a nefarious miscreant, and he's transparently and intentionally destroying our country.
Yes, meeting with Kim is a good idea. It was good when Obama discussed it. It's just not good when this clown Russia elected is our representation at that discussion.
C'mon, people. Don't even act like this is normal.
10
Thank you Mr. President Donald! Now I can almost sleep easy. Won't you please consider meeting with the Presidents of Iran, Syria, the PLO and Israel, and maybe Cuba while you are at it. When the Great Dealmaker solves those problems as easily as he solved those with North Korea, surely there will be world peace - and a Nobel prize to boot!
4
Trump manufactured the rise in tensions with N. Korea so that when he reduced them with his summit and absurd change in tone, he could appear to be a "hero." This behavior in conjunction with giving him the opportunity to fulfill the strategic aims of both Russia and China explains our horrifying week. We gave credibility and advantage to three of our enemies and gained absolutely nothing in exchange. This was a giveaway not a deal. I have a son in the military, and I am completely opposed to Trump's making on the spot policy without consulting appropriate parties. This is a democracy, not, like Kim's government, one by fiat.
8
"....manufactured the rise in tensions"???
Perhaps you missed the missile launches N. Korea conducted, and missed the reactions of S. Korea and Japan.......not to mention the reactions of Hawaii and our West Coast states??
1
The news media - and Hollywood - gushed when President Obama met with Raul Castro and normalized relations with Cuba. Same with President Clinton and his dealings with Vietnam. Not so with Trump and North Korea. Why? Double standard? Yes, absolutely.
3
You do remember all the press coverage W. got for his Mission Accomplished stunt, don't you?
Neither of those countries has nuclear weapons....
2
Come on, Cuba and Vietnam are not the same as North Korea. This was about de-nuclearization. Trump violated the Iran agreement claiming it was a bad deal so he is rightfully being called out for his hypocrisy today.
1
Iran does not possess a single nuclear weapon and the deal reached with them by the previous administration, which involved intrusive inspections of their nuclear sites on short notice was termed a bad deal by Trump, but somehow, this very vague agreement with Kim, who does have nuclear weapons, makes the world safer? Give me a break!
9
But Iran continues to work on missiles, underground and at night on at least one site that was said to be closed down. There has been continued building at that so-called closed down site, with trials of long-range missiles. If inspections are done on known sites, but no inspections on the sites that were "closed down", what do we know about what Iran is doing?
Reported by NYTimes on May 23, 2018:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/middleeast/iran-missiles.html
1
The Iran nuclear agreement doesn't cover missiles.
My reactions to Trump have basically converged on something that perhaps Ta Na-hesi Coates might observe: this is what white supremacy looks like. The sheer incompetence which our media, elites, etc. search to find rational explanations for. There is not one Trump outrage that isn't analyzed with the search for its strategic purpose. Compare that with Obama: where not one action he took wasn't analyzed for its nefarious, nation-destroying potential. That, to me, is the face of American white nationalism and supremacy. The idea that no one, not the media, not his party, not really even Democrats, will call Trump the imbecile that he is. Sure, some of it is strategic, a "what's the point of it, he's President" scenario. But more and more, I just see the through-line between radical Evangelicals, right-wing Republicans, credulous "liberal" (ha!) corporate media as being an axis of open American white supremacy at all costs.
6
First Trump ratcheted up tensions with is "rocket Man" tweets and threats of annihilation; second accept invite for a meeting; third threaten to withdraw (empty threat it turns out as the plans for a meeting continued); and third give away the farm and declare victory. I fear Trump or whoever is pulling his strings planned each of these steps.
9
After the G-7 -minus 1 fiasco, I think Trump made up his mind he would do WHATEVER it takes to make the Summit with N. Korea look like a success for HIM - including selling the farm.
4
Kim faced down a weak and overeager U.S. President, won several concessions while handing us nothing in return. He's now safe to slide back into North Korea and continue his stall game with sanctions already loosening from China.
Not sure what Trump is bragging about, he was played and walked away babbling about the "honorable" murderer and monster dictator from North Korea.
10
Don't be so critical. Donnie has hung out with guys like this all his life. He understands and is comfortable with Mafia-types.
At first I thought he was the P.T. Barnum of presidents, but now I'm thinkin, Barney Fife. For all you comrades out there, check The Andy Griffith Show.
3
How did this summit come about? Donald Trump wanted to change the news-cycle. All this drivel about give credit were credit is do is, idiotic. Ask our allies in South Korea and Japan how do they feel the same. Mr. Trump doesn't have a plan, he's simply winging it. Mr. Kim and China are well aware of this, a fool and a narcissist can easily be played.
Chinese and Kim also knows United States word is worthless. As I've mention here before, most American's think history is something that happened two weeks ago on a reality show. The Chinese and Mr. Kim remember, the killing of Muammar Gaddafi with the assistance of the U.S. government after Gaddafi denuclearized. Just as China and Mr. Kim remember the U.S. reneging on Iran nuclear deal / treaty, in which the U.S. were lead negotiators.
We should have an understanding how Kim was able to build centrifuges under the U.S. nose.
https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/qvxwqp/how-kim-jong-un-could-hide-no...
We don't have a clue about this nation, yet this store has been simplified by this administration... President Trump will succeed because he's a deal maker. Its more complicated than that. but understanding complicated things has never been this nation strong suite.
6
Maybe we should have sent James Franco and Seth Rogan. Honestly, the whole scene - from the WH-produced faux movie to Trump talking about the possibilities of condos and hotels on the beaches, to Kim Jong Un visiting a night club - was weirdly similar to "The Interview" movie.
6
If it wasn't so dangerous, it would be comical. But these people are playing with matches next to an open can of gasoline.
4
This was all about a photo-op for both sides and it worked. Trump and his base are claiming he solved the NK nuke issue and will receive the Nobel asap. In reality, this him campaigning for the midterms and Kim will never give up his only source of power, his nukes!
4
"I, Donald, here do swear to stop calling you, Kim, 'little rocket man' if you swear to lay off with the 'dotard' stuff."
There. There's the agreement complete with details.
GAO, tally up the costs of this obscenely extravagant "nothing burger" and send the bill to the U.S. taxpayers.
Next?
3
Hah, the liberals are so envious of Trump that you can see the steam coming out of their ears. If Hillary had won the election, do you think she or any other women would have met with Kim, NO, no way, this is a man's game, you got to look them in the eye in person and read their intentions, that's the way it really works. #ItsTrumptime.
1
Seriously, artfuldodger? “This is a man’s game?” Time to go back to your cave. The world would be a better place if it wasn’t pickled in quite so much testosterone.
1
This should have been nothing more than a desperate effort to change to focus from the Russia investigation, but Trump managed, in the process, to give up our ability to prepare for North Korean aggression by promising no further joint military training with South Korea.
He even went so far as to call OUR OWN training operations "provocative." He graduated from criticizing law enforcement (although I don't expect that to stop) to criticizing our military operations.
Russia is probably happy though--Russia always hated those operations.
3
Wait a minute, doesn't all this remind you of something?
A huckster lures somebody with limited financial resources to a “Free 2-Day Vacation At A Luxury Resort” in exchange for sitting through a sales presentation for an afternoon. There’s lots of flattery, talk of “achieving the beautiful lifestyle you deserve”, and a glossy video to boot.
That’s right! Kim Jong-un got snookered into showing up to what was really a TIME SHARE SALES PITCH!!! Just goes to show you can take the boy out of the real estate sales office, but you can’t take the real estate sales office out of the boy.
Gotta wonder who is the designated Closer on this one…will Kim get passed to Kushner (Regional Vice President, Middle East) or Pompeo (Managing Director, Account Management) for the final hard sell?
8
Nailed it!
Anyone would have met with Kim, shake hands, have lunch and sign a meaningless agreement. Trump demonstrated how unprepared he was. With a handsahke, Trump declared NK is free of nuclear threat and he is planning condominium in NK, not to mentione that Trump now think Kim Jong Un is a great guy.
4
Love all the armchair international nuclear experts. If your sons and daughters were walking alongside the demilitarized zone any chance of of a lessened threat from North Korea would be unimaginable good news. Amazing how this can be turned negative by so many commenters. Shame on you.
2
Nothing has happened to lower the threat from NK vs 2 years ago. Perhaps it has been lowered from 6 months ago, but that was because of Trump's amateurish "tough talk." I don't give him credit for defusing a situation of his own making.
5
Trump's bizarre remarks at the post meeting press conference have made it frighteningly clear that he is detached from reality. Trump sees the world in terms of his fantasies and his sense of persecution and paranoia. He is a threat to our national security and he should be removed from office immediately.
11
So did Trump run that video by Bolton?
Or is a Bolton-Pompeo production still in the offing (after they bring the Pentagon and South Korean government up to speed)?
Those of us who...aren't lemmings who gleefully clap their hands together whenever Trump sends one of his comforting tweets...are a bit less sanguine about things.
Stock-footage videos, and stock-language in diplomatic agreements, seem a little shy of an actual accomplishment.
1
All sound and fury, signifying nothing. ~Shakespeare.
2
Although I agree with you, note that Shakespeare did not say " it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
One of his characters did- Macbeth. Macbeth was a murderer... but hey that's medieval kings for you- and modern dictators.
Lead on McTrump. Ironically Donald is half Scot himself.
Lifting all the world from deep despair
Donald and Kim made a pinky swear
Although not specific
it sounded terrific
And the Chinese picked up Kim’s airfare
3
I think that for the NYT to editorialize this historic meeting is really a journalistic disgrace. Can you please just stick to reporting what happened? It is a fact that South Korea has been anxious for a meeting to happen, for some dialogue that ends the Korean war! And of great import for our planet is an end to the war games in the Korean Peninsula. If Donald Trump can reduce the nuclear threat from North Korea, if he can significantly scale back the state of endless war, the environmental devastation of passive war state, I'm sorry people he'll have accomplished way more than the Noble democrats and republicans before him, all of whom have done nothing to scale back the encroachment of banking and high finance controlling our economy and the ever enlargement of the military industrial complex. and if the Press and the neoliberals don't stop this petty nitpicking and trump manages to succeed...folks you will have trumps, and much worse versions of him for the rest of your days. The voters are not as stupid as you would like to report.
3
You don't get credit for solving a crises you created. Trump brought us to the brink of war with NK, then, oh wait, lemme show you this slick video I made, and ....problem solved. Sorry, not all of us can be fooled.
1
Spot the difference:
6/13/2018: “President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer — sleep well tonight!”. Our so called President.
9/30/1938: My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds. Neville Chamberlain.
6
NYT headline blares "but no guarantees"! Once again, the Times demonstrates that it's unable to control its anti-Trump bias. As a great American once wryly noted the only certainties are "death and taxes" (B. Franklin c1789). Why should Trump be held to a higher standard?
3
Because Trump is taking credit for denuclearization being a done deal when it clearly is not.
5
I think "unprecedented" sounds pretty congratulatory, actually.
When's the last time Trump has been held to any standard? He's openly lusted after his own daughter, said on tape what he thinks of women and his own power, incited violence from coast to coast, obstructed justice before a national TV audience, openly bragged about being able to shoot anyone, including the former head of the FBI, cozied up with dictators, broken foundational relationships that we've always enjoyed, sold our landmarks, broken up families...
I KNOW I'm missing things...
This guy has no depth he won't visit... stop acting like anyone's held him to any standard.
3
"President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem. No longer - sleep well tonight!”
Those words should horrify us, but they will terrify our European NATO partners, especially The Netherlands.
Why? Because to this day, the phrase "Gaat u maar rustig slapen." (Just go to sleep peacefully), although misattributed in time to the eve of the German Invasion of Holland (it was said earlier), is still an admonition every Dutchman is aware of. Not only that, it's often a phrase used in the Dutch armed forces to remind everyone not to be complacent about defense.
So, when the same sentiments are expressed 78 years later, his idiocy will be immediately apparent to all the Dutch, and sadly, his idiocy will become apparent to all his worshippers at some point, with a great price in blood.
7
Wonder what the parents of Otto Warmbier thought of this latest trumpian spectacle, especially when trump said Kim was honorable. It was just a few months ago, when Pence exhibited them at the opening of the Olympics. I imagine they now realize they've been had; just another prop in trump's show of shows.
It seems that his supporters either have brief attention spans or do not watch the news, or just dont care, as long as trump is getting rid of Mexicans and Muslms.
6
More baloney.
2
Snookered again.
2
In the photograph accompanying this article of the two men with their back to the camera, the only thing missing is the knife in Kim Jong-un's hand.
1
Trump is an intuitive man, far wiser and deeper than he lets on.
All those G-7 leaders meeting in Canada a day earlier learned quickly and decisively who’s boss.
Trump is nobody’s Obama. Obama travelled the world as a beggar. The Left loved that about him and thought how cool it was when he bowed to his knees for the King of Saudi Arabia.
Quite the opposite with Trump. No apologies from him. From him it’s gung-ho American pride and zestful presidential leadership. They hate that about him.
They hate everything about him, first because Clinton lost, second because he won, and not for a moment will they forgive or forget. The taunting, the sniping, the jeering, the nitpicking is without end and if it’s Trump versus Kim Jong Un, they’ll root for Kim, Trump versus Merkel, they’ll take Merkel and Trump versus the lovely Justin Trudeau, they’ll cheer Trudeau. And if it comes down to Trump versus Satan, they'll cheer Satan.
A very sick bunch of people.
Actually it's Trump’s clash with Canada which isolates Trudeau. If the media can’t be truthful, they can at least be accurate.
2
Wow. To address only one of your misperceptions, the only rooting for "great guy" Kim Jong Un I have seen is coming from Trump.
3
If Trump is intuitive, wise, and deep, he should show those qualities and stop playing the buffoon.
2
Trump won * *=with the help of Russia
And "they" have long since gotten "over" it. We would like to not be in violation of human rights on the border, involved in tensions with people who share our values and cozying up to authoritarians who murder their citizens. Trump is isolating America.
1
In 2007 Kim Jong-un's father, Kim Jong Il sent emissaries to Germany to try to acquire several special rabbits bred there. Roughly 2 million North Koreans had died of famine in the mid-90's. The German rabbits were special because they were literally the size of dogs. One rabbit might yield 17 lbs. of meat. And breeding rabbits being rabbits, if managed properly they might solve the North Korean famine problem, the emissaries and German breeder finally agreed. And that was a condition for parting with his extraordinary rabbits: this German would supervise, oversee and otherwise instruct the Pyongyang breeding program. So, at long last, the emissaries flew home with the rabbits. And given the state of things in North Korea, they arrived home not a moment too soon.
Can you guess what Kim served himself and guests for his 2007 birthday celebration?
3
Buffoonery thinly disguised as diplomacy.
4
Okay....no nuclear threat from N Korea. However, the threat comes from the next crazy dictator who sees that nukes are the way to go to hold the world hostage.
2
I don't think the threat from North Korea is gone, but you make a good point about this being a blueprint for anyone that wants to extort concessions from us.
3
Just a cheap publicity stunt, like Mr. Trump!
1
At last some words of candor from the president:
“I think, honestly, I think he’s going to do these things,” Mr. Trump said. “I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”
Perhaps the late hour (US east coast time) and the monumental events of the day finally brought about a moment of introspection, even in Donald Trump.
2
So how would Donald Trump say to Kim Jong-un “You’re fired!” when the time comes, and it will.
1
Trump: " Look, I got Kim to sign. He signed. You all saw it. He signed for complete denuclearization. We have his signature as proof. What more do you want? There is no more threat. Mission accomplished. It's done."
1
This latest Trumpian effort to achieve an accord with North Korea confirms what most Americans know: the president is delusional and his comments about his meeting with Kim Jong Un prove this. The U.S. got little from it besides a few nods from the dictator. Trump is the only one who made any concessions. Kim Jong Un came out the winner here. The statements released by North Korea conflict with those the president has made.
2
Simply put: where's the beef?
1
Actors on the world's stage in a play scripted by Ionesco. Or perhaps the resurrection of Barnum and Bailey w/ the clowns as stars.
2
Another win for Trump. Peace through strength. NYT get used to it.
2
what did he win?
3
Wow, wonder what you would be saying if Obama pulled this stunt.
I am enjoying all the people who have bought into the GOP talking point about how "Kim may have been misjudged" and "talking to him" is a breakthrough.
I will accept it as soon as they apologize to President Obama for all the insults they lobbed when he suggested a meeting with Kim.
2
Yet more smoke and mirrors..........from a glib, yammering, unprepared President.
I don't know what is more shocking, that trump (Stupidly) called off the US / South Korea war games at Kim's insistence or his yammering about how those beaches would make 'great development property....'
3
We all know how such an agreement would have to structured. It would have to look much like the Accord with Iran; the one that President Obama made and President Trump has rejected.
3
Seriously, why did he came back?
Didn't Kim offer him a gig to redevelop his coastline?
Maybe now he will send Ivanka. She will have a special edition of Make Korea Great Again hates produced in her name in a sweatshop in Vietnam. Ivanka will have a link on White House website-in Korean-with direction of where to buy.
4
As a great lawn mower operator, in fact, the greatest lawn mower operator in history, I can declare my lawn to be free of dandelions. Obama couldn’t get rid of them, but the lawn is a safer place now since the day I took office... I mean, moved in to my house. These pesky weeds are gone forever, or will be as soon as the wife (my Secretary of State, if you will) has finished negotiating with Mother Nature to dismantle this particular species. She seemed impressed with my blockbuster video presentation showing how great we are together... Mother Nature, not my wife, of course, who is actually not speaking to me. Not sure why... I shook her hand (Mother Nature, that is) yapped for forty minutes, showed her the inside of my wheels, and ended the scourge of dandelions forever. Maybe, just maybe, we solved the other perennial issue of world peace too. Now, if we can just deal with the mushrooms that are clouding around my Japanese zen garden.
Anyway, it was a long trip, yawn. At least, we can all sleep safer tonight.
2
MAGA -- Make Appeasement Great Again!
3
No further provacations. Progress for sure.
If Kim is not forthcoming on denuclearization he will
regret it deeply.
And what are we going to do? Nuke NK? You might as well nuke SK and Japan too, because that is surely what Kim will do in retaliation. That's a lot of dead people. Least they're not Merikans, I guess.
The summit was indeed unprecedented by virtue of it's having accomplished NOTHING.
A photo-op between the US President and the dictator of NK doesn't change very much on it's own.
As we should now come to expect, Trump's idea of a deal is a photograph of two people shaking hands and nothing more.
2
Thanks to Trump, Kim has gone from a nothing burger to a quarter-pounder with cheese. Trump loves him. Can't wait to tell Jared, Donald Jr. and Ivanka to start building condos and hotels on those fabulous North Korean beaches.
1
Trump got played and his supporters are trying to put his loss in a good light. This deal is worse than the Iran deal. Trump said he could do better, but as usual he lied.
5
Trump's fawning over a brutal dictator versus his treatment of American allies sickens me.
All I know and care is that he's demeaned Prime Minister Trudeau, imposed steel and aluminium tariffs, is now threatening the Canadian auto industry with tariffs and that we, as individual Canadian citizens, are outraged, insulted, and seriously warming up for #Boycott America.
Take that Trumpy!
3
As a reminder for any Republicans reading this article: the reason this meeting was unprecedented was that the US refused to meet with the DPRK (that's North Korea) without concessions. Trump, however, was fine with giving them what they wanted in return for some magic beans.
4
If a goal of getting to an initial meeting was De-Escalation through diplomacy then it was tremendous success in that regard. Not long ago missiles were being tested flying over/near allies.
I believe I got the Idea that the purpose of getting to an initial meeting may have been de-escalation through diplomacy from my understanding of yesterday's "The Dana Show", a radio talk show. It makes tremendous sense that deescalation was the immediate priority and we seemed to have achieved that.
I hope America is able to help N. Korea reform including adopting Western Market economics where business is privately run and government collects revenue through taxes. In that model, government benefits from business success rather than impeding it through central control which can not work. What will happen to N. Koreans motivation to absorb S. Korea of Nuke the U. S. if we move toward being economic partners offering security only as long as a good relationship exists?
It was more than de-escalation. Trump announced that they were no longer a nuclear threat. Ah, of course until Kim fails to get the sanctions relief that N. Korea says that Trump promised them. The rhetoric will escalate and the confrontation will continue and we will be told that N. Korea and nukes are again a problem. Aspiring dictators are unusually efficient in that regard.
1
Trump has no understanding of the purpose of those "war games". They are not for fun, or to demonstrate power to the enemy -- although the latter is probably a beneficial side-effect. They are to maintain readiness, and are essential to an effective military.
I'm recalling "Seven Days in May." I would trust a military junta to do right for our country far more than I do Trump.
3
The North Koreans have gained what they wanted, legitimacy and being treated as an equal, and the US very little. "Working towards denuclearization" means little without targets and verification, all of which the Iran deal offered. Lower level talks may clarify but seems unlikely, and only complements from Trump for a regime that represses its people and keeps 100,000 dissidents in jail. Withdrawing from the Iran deal proved to America's enemies it can not rely on his word, and at G7 to allies that they can't either.
4
I had expected negotiations to fail, as Kim is unlikely to give up his weapons. Now, I expect to see an agreement to 'denuclearize', where Trump can declare success, but Kim retains nuclear weapons. Both of their pasts indicate this is a possible if not likely outcome.
Trump values perceptions of victory, not victory in a traditional sense. Something he can tweet about, particularly in this case as it would 'prove' him superior to his predecessors. Given that, both Trump and Kim would be against thorough inspections and verifications, so I'd expect any inspections to be as lightweight as possible, and anyone who points this out to be 'a warmonger'. After all, Trump trusts him.. the setup is starting.
Will the Senate invertibrates demand the highly intrusive inspections needed, against Trumps wishes? I hope so, but I don't expect that.
4
Trump even walked in lockstep with Kim the few times I had the courage to watch him on the news. Now we not only have a Putin Puppet, but an amazing KimXiPutin Puppet!
Unprecedented:
1. In the lack of preparation by an American president;
2. In the lack of comprehension by an American president that Kim doesn't really want condos on the beach or a capitalist system.
3. Unprecedented in its confirmation and support of a brutal tyrant and of the horrific authoritarianism he visits on his country;
4. Unprecedented in its failure to mention even the vaguest details of how "denuclearization" might proceed or be enforced, or, for that matter, what the term means;
5. Unprecedented in its failure to gain any concessions, while giving a good deal;
6. Unprecedented in its disgustingly fulsome rhetoric by a American president.
The Chinese and their North Korean allies have it just right: Trump is a paper tiger, or what we would call a stuffed shirt. All bluster and demagoguery, no substance. What a sad, sorry reality show Trump produced.
8
As a Canadian, I look forward to Trump treating Canada and particularly our Prime Minister with the same respect and admiration Trump has shown the world he is willing to give to a ruthless Dictator.
Perhaps its time Canada reacquired the nuclear weapons it voluntarily got rid of for ethical reasons...but what am I thinking, ethics are no longer important in Trump's America.
Next time America needs a friend and ally why not try calling on Kim...and let us know how that goes.
21
Unlikely as M. Trudeau, Ms. May, Ms. Merkel are way too seasoned in diplomacy than this child. He can't play in the same arena so he has to play in the sandpit with the other little kids.
Let's make sure Trump gets the Nobel Peace Price.
While we're at it, let's make him World Series MVP, People's Sexiest Man Alive, Triple Crown Winner, Best Actress in a Musical & Motor Trend Car of the Year!
19
A commenter writes:
"This is a weak effort by Trump. He does not seem to understand how to handle foreign policy that is as complex as is involved in this region."
Long way to go, and Trump may never get there, but he's at least cleared the very low bar set by his predecessors.
True enough, he's dealing with a murderous tyrant (the focus du jour of many comments), but so did Bill Clinton.
1
Now it will be interesting to see how long it takes before Donald turns on and starts insulting the South Korean leadership like he does anyone else (especially allies) who dares question his supreme mastery of a situation. That agreement is about as useful as a degree from Trump University.
6
Compare the "brilliant deal maker's" (Trumps') agreement with North Korea with the "worst agreement ever" - the Iran deal President Obama struck along with the EU and Russia to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Kim made the same promises his father and grandfather have made and broken for decades. He made unverifiable claims to close a nuclear testing and a missile-testing site. In return he: is keeping his nuclear weapons and missiles; has gained world-wide recognition; broken the economic sanctions that took years to create and were finally biting; and got the U.S. to stop military exercises with our South Korean allies. In the Iran deal, Iran: decommissioned thousands of centrifuges used to enrich fissionable materials that could be used for a nuclear bomb; agreed to not proceed with creating a bomb for at least a decade; accepted international observers and monitoring equipment to VERIFY that it was complying with the deal; and sent highly enriched uranium out of the country. Inspectors have consistently found Iran in full compliance. In return the U.S. and Europeans were to lift sanctions [which would have benefitted all participants' economies] and return Iranian funds that had been frozen to Iran. The U.S. did not fully lift sanctions and withdrew from the deal and is trying to re-impose sanctions even after bashing our European allies. Iran no longer is obligated to not develop nuclear weapons. Great wins by Trump.
4
He failed to warn the Japanese and the South Koreans of his intention to cancel joint maneuvers which he justifies based on cost.
In the space of seven days he has done is best to destroy every alliance the US has formed since the second world war, and prefers that we reach out to Russia instead.
It is time for Republicans to speak up. Those Koch campaign contributions won't save your souls.
10
Trump threatened N. Korea even in his UN speech. Yet, Kim was able to get him to the negotiation table and convince him to give up US military exercise in the region.
Negotiation was a success. Kim deserves a Nobel peace prize.
3
The following tweet came from Tweety Bird yesterday:
"Just landed - a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea."
I truly hope he doesn't believe that, because if he does, we are in grave, grave danger. He doesn't honestly believe that with a 40-minute meeting and a meaningless Declaration of Nothingness, that the threat from North Korea is over, does he?
This guy is completely delusional.
12
It's obvious that North Korea could never use its nukes, because to do so would be suicidal. This is clearly a Catch-22: the Kims starved and impoverished their people over decades to pay for these weapons for these simple, paranoid reasons: to prevent an invasion by the US and gain international respect.
Now, this Kim has achieved that objective, thanks to Donald Trump's naivete, but he's still caught in a bind. He can't give up the nukes, nor could he ever use them. Sooner or later, it will become clear that he's not going to follow through with denuclearization.
3
Trump served-up the Singapore Nothing Burger: A bun with a Promise of Meat on the side.
5
We will not likely hear any more dangerous nuclear rhetoric or war planning. Our future relationship with North Korea is just beginning to unfold. Who knows?
The signed agreement, a first, “... was as skimpy as the summit meeting was extravagant. It called for the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula...”
You are trying too hard. Complete de-nuclearization is skimpy because Trump did not also defend transgender rights?
It’s interesting how the media finds it necessary to shade every single article about Trump as negative.
Let’s see if the Democrats can successfully be against peace.
Betting that Americans would rather stay in Korea practicing war games than allow Trump a victory is probably not your winning strategy.
3
I believe the agreement said " work towards denuclearization " , and did not specify timetables or how the term is defined. In other words, it said nothing.
Trump has told us clearly what he wants from this initiative --- to build Trump hotels in North Korea.
4
For Trump, the King of Repub. party, this is better agreement than Iran agreement.His base will still support him as long he keeps invoking "Obama" name for any issue. Note that it started with birther issue which was key to his base. . Republican president made from Russia with love
5
This seems to be happening:
"In any case, it is imperative that out government and media consider the possibility that, like it or not, Kim may have been a very capable and savvy leader all along."
Like it or not, Kim has been elevated lately from:
1. Brutal tin-horn dictator of a no-count country.
TO
2. Savvy leader who's probably duped the President of the United States.
I don't dispute the many comments that stress "Kim is a murderous tyrant, and so we shouldn't be talking to him." But his grandfather was too, and obviously that didn't stop Bill Clinton from talking with him. That deal didn't work out so well, but the point is that Bill Clinton didn't hesitate to talk with a well-known murderous tyrant.
2
Ok already. Enough talk about Trump's new campaign to hoodwink voters with a non agreement that is so much less than Obama's Iran deal which he achieved while working together with others.
The real news today is about the increase in the inflation and interest rates which will nullify the tepid increase of wages for all of us and Trump supporters. Another day older and deeper in debt while the rich just seem to get richer. So much winning.
3
I am thankful sanctions were kept intact until things are farther along. Temporarily suspending military exercises costs the US nothing in reality.
Will be optimistic that we could be entering a new era on the Korean peninsula. Everyone is correct to say wait for the proof in the end - however this is a very good start.
1
It would be rather difficult to verify North Korea denuclearization without first having met the North Korea leadership.
Any reasonable person wishes for President Trump's contact with the hermit kingdom to be successful.
Yes, President Trump suspended conventional weapons war games. Considering the destruction would be with nuclear weapons, conventional weapons military exercises are reduced to bonding experiences between the U.S. and the South Korea military.
Let's hope and pray for President's Trump vindication, the world will be safer. The people of North, South Korea, Japan however expect more than the vindication of a man. They expect success from these negotiations.
1
Conventional military exercises are much more than bonding experiences. The entire point of them is to teach unit commanders, in this case from platoon leaders up to divisional and corps commanders to how to deal with various threats and unexpected situations. Not doing this on a regular basis means that your leaders will valuable experience if and when war comes, and they will make more mistakes than if properly trained, and these mistakes will cost lives. Think about that.
5
I had intended to write "your leaders will LACK valuable experience if and when war comes,"
"On Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump said on Twitter that there was no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”
That is a big accomplishment, let us give him credit for that. Now the South Koreans can sleep peacefully. Is it not important for Americans? No more military drills between the South Koreans and Americans, that is a big thing for Kim Jong Un. Denuclearization and the human rights issue were not seriously brought up with Kim during the summit and he does not care. I am happy for the South Koreans, they don't have to worry about the nukes falling in their cities.
1
North Korea did not give up a single nuclear weapon nor pull back a single one of the thousands of artillery pieces and rocket / missile launchers pointed at Seoul. How exactly is anyone safer?
2
And, you bought all that? My oh my, I do have some stuff I’d love to sell ya’!
2
This, folks, is a step in the right direction. And I have to say, if this happened under the Obama administration, we'd be seeing a significantly less amount of skepticism from the central left/left media. This, regardless of if you like the president, is a step in the right direction for peace at the Korean peninsula, which is in everyone's best interest. Just the fact that a dialogue has been opened is incredible, especially looking back on the aggressive rhetoric used in the past when dealing with the North. Also, great point by Steve Fankuchen in regards to Kim's portrayal as "evil" in the media over the past several decades was unwarranted. But I digress. Overall, this is good for the world.
5
Dictatorship by definition is evil. Anyone who thinks they deserve to rule for their entire life without representation just because their father was the previous ruler is evil.
it's surprisingly funny that South Korean/Japanese conservatives and American liberals are going together over the North Korea issue.
exactly a year ago, when Trump had boasted a 'fire and fury' and the stuff, NYT required the diplomatic engagement, negotiation, and talks. now, they seem to have discarded all of them.
what happened?
I really want to know whether the paper has any other alternative other than war and 'Trumpiest' summit. dismissing all of Kim Jong-un's intentions, demanding virtually surrender (so-called 'CVID' is exactly what it is) which North Korea will never accept, I find nothing but nihilism.
it's quite different in South Korea. most of South Koreans are hopeful that the US and North finally made a new chapter in history. they (including me) are fed up with confrontations. they also well know that the process will not be easy.
but, we, as a nation that can understand Kim Jong-un's words without translator, got to have more progressed vision to the point of that Samsung has released a new report on 'CVIP', complete and visible and irreversible prosperity.
3
Oh, we're all in favor of negotiations: what happened in Singapore is another thing entirely. But good luck; I think you're going to need it.
2
Trump: “Getting a good picture, everybody?
So we look nice and handsome and thin? Perfect.”
Summit "Statement" vague? Who cares.
It's all about a good photo opp for Trump.
8
What Donald Trump did in this lovefest with Kim Jong Un is give North Korea, China and Russia everything they were hoping for, concessions from the United States without any cost to them.
Trump's exorbitant praise of Kim Jong Un is bizarre and disgusting.
The United States suspending their defensive military joint exercises with South Korea was crucial for readiness, and something that both Russia and China was critical of for years, and Trump suspends them using Kim Jong Un own words by calling them provocative, HUH?
Trump is acting like he's been brainwashed by Vladimir Putin and is his world representative, this is scary and screwed up, and the Republican Party is complicit in this traitors behavior.
Donald Trump is the Great Appeaser for this modern era.
5
Kim Jong Un sat down and treated Trump like an equal.
All that Trump ever wanted.
10
It's eerie how much Trump stepping off that plane reminds me of Neville Chamberlain, the Nazi threat had been abated, that's exactly what Chamberlain thought he had with Hitler in 1938, it's called appeasement.
What I find most telling is that when the Republican's were so critical of President Obama and the Iranian Nuclear deal that was much more detailed, stringent on Iran and verifiable, they are applauding this dope that has given Jong Un the platform and concessions that he wanted from the United States without any cost to him.
Donald Trump is The Great Appeaser of the Modern Era.
17
It's actually worse than appeasement. Appeasement was a real policy... widely (and wrong heatedly) supported by a vast majority of the British.... except for one old cantankerous gentleman, of course. But, say what you will about Chamberlain's naivety, he at least had support for it. I don't for one moment believe this policy is supported by a majority of our country, not even close.
Kim minus Nukes = Irrelevancy
Never going to happen.
5
In some ways Trump was brilliant, but he has also shown how dangerous he is becoming. This meeting with Kim Jung Un really accomplished a great deal. Trump got an agreement that allows Kim to keep his bombs and missiles, and we will keep ours, but we both agree not to use them. Fantastic! And Trump can do this because he never cares about the truth of what he says, only the marketing of the message.
What is much more worrisome is how many steps Trump has taken to establish a fascist government here in America. He has spurned our democratic allies such as Europe, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Japan, and embraced every dictator he can, with high praise. Canceling military maneuvers pleases Russia and China much more than South Korea. He is getting away with Nazi-like policies of taking children from their families. He attacks his enemies, not only with Tweets, but with government policies. He fires anyone in his administration who seems to have any ethics, and favors the likes of Pruitt and DeVos. He now has an illegally obtained Supreme Court majority that agrees with him.
We still have a democracy here in America, but we may not after the next election, unless the voters reject his message. We shall see if people are paying attention, and if they care.
8
Imagine… the irony of it all, only in America; can members of a coup détat burden the government they’re attempting to overthrow with lawsuits! Talk about hypocrisy; in the typical putsch you had ‘The Night of the Long Knives’, in a third world purge members of the coup détat are unceremoniously escorted to their demise.
Imagine… the ironies, while President Trump goes about the business or waning a Korean cult leader away from his communist ways, we have political and bureaucratic cult members involved in a ‘deep state’ coup. Only in America can ‘deep state’ wastrels like Andrew McCabe attempt to cover-up their treacherous ways with a lawsuit.
Imagine… talk about treacherous ways, it probably won’t be long before we see similar lawsuits filed by the likes of James Comey, James Clapper and John Brennan in their efforts to save themselves and use the same US Constitutional protections they tried to destroy. HAS ANYONE GIVEN ANY THOUGHT REGARDS TERM LIMITS!
I'd be fascinated to know how you figure anybody works this "deep state," jazz, when they're not actually in the government anymore. Is it just that stuff like competence, intelligence, knowledge, a respect for law and the Constitution, love of this country, means you're cheating?
But yes, it is easier to be Kim. You can just deal with troublemakers with an anti-aircraft cannon or nerve gas, then throw their relatives in the Gulags.
2
The Kim Con. And the marks are HIS base, just in time for the Midterms.
Seriously.
10
This comical farce reminds me of Neville Chamberlain returning from Munich, waving a piece of paper, and nattering on and on about "peace in our time".
24
" nattering on and on about "peace in our time"."
He did not say that. He said "peace for our time".
This was the summit of two desperate leaders, both needing what appears to be a win. Kim came out the real winner, he got recognition (unprecedented face to face with an American President), the end of joint military exercises. Trump got an empty promise from a regime whose word isn't worth the paper it is written on. But the consequences to this summit are terrifying. What other message does this send to Iran but get the nuclear bomb, as that will be the only way to be dealt with as an equal. That Americas security guarantees aren't worth a damn . That America does not stand with the democratic world as it rather cozy up to authoritarian regimes. Remember our President tore up an Iran deal, where there was real inspections and signed this pre-accord with North Korea where there are none. This was just a show, designed to make Trump look good, but at what real cost?
4
Even before Trump took office, foreign policy experts, diplomats and political leaders were justifiably worried about what would happen with North Korea. They thought in terms of terrible options. most of which were essentially impossible or infeasible - overwhelming first strike, limited first strike, targeted assassinations, and acceptance of NK as an nuclear weapon ICBM state. Bill Clinton called the DMZ the scariest place on earth. All of that definitely scared the hell out of me.
Trump has found a way to defuse the situation, at least for now. Communication lines are open. We're not looking in the near future at increasingly provocative and troubling missile and warhead tests. You can criticize the video, the pomp, and the lack of substance, but that's missing the forest for the trees. The NK situation has turned 180 degrees under Trump in a matter of a few weeks. We have to give Trump credit for taking us off the brink of disaster.
2
"Peace in our time," claimed British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain after negotiating the Munich Pact with Adolf Hitler over Czechoslovakia in 1938.
It's possible that the Singapore Summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un will be a replay of the 1994 Framework Agreement and 2005 agreement between Presidents Clinton and Bush and Kim's grandfather and father respectively. We've been there, done that before.
9
Chamberlain did not say that. He said "Peace for our time".
A little learning is a dangerous thing. Bet you think I'm misquoting.
This "summit" was a fiasco and yet another embarrassment for the US. The video was ludicrous and when watching it I was expecting a link to The Onion or one of the late-night talk shows. A 1/12 page statement that contained recycled language "negotiated from the North over the last two decades?" Clearly, NK was in control of this meeting and Trump, with his also-called negotiating skills and artless deal, fell for it. What is most appalling is that the president of the US dismissed the work of our armed forces stationed in South Korea as playing "war games." Insulting to them, to South Korea, and to our country. When will this end, Congress? Anyone?
2
Spin it negatively, as is you're wont to do. You honestly believe North Korea would have surrendered their nukes immediately, overnight? That no concessions by the USA would be made? Really? Seriously?
A year ago you were declaring that Trump endangered us all by not negotiating with Kim. Now he does negotiate, and he's an incompetent leader. Huh?
What's wrong with you people? This is a good development.
5
In describing North Korea, Mr. Trump said, “It is a rough situation over there, It’s rough in a lot of places.” This is startlingly similar to the words he uttered when speaking about the participants at the demonstrations in Charlottesville last year, giving a free pass to thuggish behavior. Kim Jung Un is a thug, as were the white supremacists in Charlottesville. Thuggish behavior is not excusable, no matter who makes an effort to do so. Violence, torture and murder cannot be dismissed because someone has an agenda of appeasement at any cost.
1
Americans killed in action will be returned to the United States and missiles flying over Japan and Japanese not having to seek shelter is a real step forward
1
Never mind . its a stage to give away consessions to Korea to behave till 2020 nov.
1
It's too predictable that every headline that just might credit Trump with something - anything - contains the word but....
A bit like praise from a judgemental mother in law "Great dinner, but the food was awful.
Well, you know, if Bill Clinton hadn't sent North Korea the technology and supplies, we wouldn't be talking about any of this.
If Hillary had been elected, what would she have done? Asked for it all back?
2
Get a clue. NK bought the expertise and equipment from Pakistan, our so-called ally, several decades ago. We knew exactly what Pak was doing. And, given the millions in aid we were giving them, you could say that US taxpayers bought NK's nukes for them.
1
Kim must be over the Moon (pun intended). I knew the exercises were dropped before Moon Jae-in did or at least simultaneously.
So Moon is just the latest casualty among America's allies to be betrayed by the serial adulterer. Do Trumpists realise that if it were convenient to the commander (?) in chief to throw them under the bus he would not hesitate. Displaying the US flag beside the flags of the murderous regime that posts videos depicting American cities being nuked is not exactly patriotic. I feel like going down on two knees to pray for the poor people being tortured today in gulags. But at least Kim keeps the whole family together- 3 generations of them at a time.
2
Brought to you by Trump & Associates, building a better way to make money. Emperor Trump is apparently considering purchasing and developing water front hotels in North Korea...
5
Trump is not our King. This one-on-one meetings are very dangerous. (I am sure Singapore Govt. had rigged the room and knows more than what we know!). Next Trump will do the same with leaders of Russia & China, and this must not be allowed. Does our Judicial System has a clout to stop this nonsense?
5
Kim saw Trump coming and buttered him up enough to get a handshake. So Trump now loves North Korea and Canada and most democracies are our enemies. The biggest winner here is Russia and China.
3
"Intense Negotiation?"
What intense negotiations were those? What was on the table? What were the quid pro quo considered...time, space, inspections, economic resources? The NYT could be more forthcoming with its headlines.
Face it...DJT is a failed presidency. It never had any legitimacy since he was levered into place by collusion with Russians, sealed with an electoral college failure to exercise its Constitutional mandate. There are literally no cabinet members qualified to fill their posts. DJT has no legislative accomplishments benefiting the country and enjoyed a SCOTUS appointee only through the machinations of a corrupt senate boss. He has taken an ax to international agreements with an aplomb that makes the USA untrustworthy for decades to come.
DJT is a loser...and he's making the USA a loser as he careens his way from domestic debacle to intentional train wrecks across the globe.
Let's save the "Intense negotiations" for a time when it's justified.
11
I can’t wait to buy a condo in a Trump-branded building located on the Beach of No Return in tourist-friendly North Korea.
3
Any hope I had of this being anything but a show, went away when our illustrious president started talking about the fabulous beaches in North Korea. You remember? The ones we see when they fire the missiles our way?
5
I don't know about others, but I don't like having anyone in the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government who flies by the seat of his pants and under influence of a foreign country like Russia. Why doesn't someone tell Trump and his sycophants to cut it out? This is exhausting.
9
"There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea." Trump must be the only person on earth to not realize that a) there was no substance to the statement, b) Trump's own staff is saying it's only the start of a long process, or c) Kim has proven unreliable in past agreements that had some substance & detail.
It's fair to say that an initial meeting like this was not expected to produce detailed plans or timeline, and unfair to expect much more from a meet-and-greet.
But its also fair to observe that Trump has a long track record of vague policies & statements, without much substance (the wall, replacing Obamacare, immigration reform, tax reform - nearly everything), and that he doesn't circle back later to fill in the details.
At this point Kim is winning on all fronts; PR, international image, joint military exercises w S Korea suspended, to be invited to the WH. If Trump doesn't get Kim to agree to specifics fairly soon, then it's just been a big show for both of them but no substantive success. This is particularly a concern with a president who flips his attention to a new issue every few days and usually doesn't follow up on the old ones.
The success of this meeting can only be judged in the future.
3
Trump's worldview is that of a conman. Every time he makes a deal, there must be a winner and a loser. True, he is the first sitting president to meet with the supreme leader of North Korea, but this is something that they've wanted ever since their rogue nation was first founded. Additionally, canceling the joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan, calling them provocative, is a clear concession. There's no inspections, no timetable for "denuclearization;" there isn't even a clear definition of what "denuclearization even is to both sides. Trump completely folded and gave Kim exactly what he wanted. Trump doesn't see it that way, though. In this instance, the summit, he truly believes he came out the winner because of airtime, photos, and ratings. In the end, it's all about Trump.
1
That film was pitiful...
2
More than a nuclear disarmament summit, as promised, it looked like a real estate development pitch. And do we really want an unprepared, temperamental ‘chief executive president’ to be negotiating with North Korea alone?
5
The North Korean leader got three major concessions, whereas President Trump can not point to a single one: (1) Legitimacy- North Korean dictator achieved what his father and grandfather craved but could not achieve- build a huge nuclear weapons apparatus, and yet engage as a peer with the leader of the free world. Consequently, it will become very hard for the US to get countries, including China, to go along with toughening economic sanctions, if progress is not achieved, against a leader who has committed unspeakable crimes against his people, someone that Mr. Trump, by extension the US, now calls ‘very honorable man’; (2) Kim Jung Un ultimate goal has been to drive a wedge between South Korea and the US, Unfortunately, Trump’s decision to discontinue joint military exercises not only weakens deterrence, it will draw a wedge between US, South Korea and even with Japan. (3) There is nothing in the joint communique about the worrisome nuclear missiles, a time frame and the process, or about the reactors and dismantling of the nuclear sites, or covering chemical and germ warfare capabilities, or North Korea committing nuclear proliferation, etc. etc. Instead we got vague language. The Clinton’s Agreed Framework of 1994 and 1995 supplement had a much tougher language than this.
Had Obama unilaterally ceased joint exercises with South Korea with nothing to show for the Republican will calling for Obama’s impeachment based on ‘dereliction of duty’ as commander in chief.
2
I'm running out of adjectives to describe Mr. Trump. Foolish, overplayed, misguided, underprepared, and egotistical all seem to apply. He also double-crossed the South Koreans. It's at least a positive that he Kim got together.
I am withholding judgment about this meeting for now. Maybe there will be a second meeting. Maybe something good will happen. The Trumpian line "we'll see" applies here.
2
The summit was a reality TV show presenting Kabuki political theater, aggrandizing Trump and Kim. In the long run the insubstantial agreement is likely to founder seriously, as all previous (and far more carefully considered) agreements have.
But for MAGA-heads, the spectacle was just as meaningful as a night with the Kardashians, and their ilk--all razzle-dazzle and no substance.
And it may be a good rally cry to tout Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, but this will never happen. Never. Trump will complain, of course, because he thinks the Nobel Prize is like an Emmy. His boorish complaint about not receiving that prize for The Apprentice tells one everything.
4
Only the potential real estate prospects attracted Trump's attention. The rest was blather, especially the childish video and press conference.
The repeated defense is that Trump didn't give anything up except military exercises with SK, the sanctions are still in place, so who cares that he got nothing in return? We can just reinstate military exercises and have a do-over in six months. Putting aside that the defense of the summit is "not too much worse than when we went in", the fact is that we won't get a do-over.
Trump's effusive praise of Kim's good faith and heartfelt desire to denuclearize will be cited by China and Russia as a reason to relax their sanctions on NK. If Kim is a good egg and a responsible, not aggressive actor who is going to get rid of his nuclear capability, then there's no reason to keep maximum pressure on. Moreover, Trump's position is that Kim should get rewards first as a sign of the US's good faith desire for peace.
Here we are in the US, meanwhile, hoping that NK's two largest trading partners are going to continue the maximum pressure until Trump is emotionally and politically ready to concede that he should of gotten something concrete from Kim after all.
I know Trump expects other heads of state to help him out with domestic politics. He said as much to the President of Mexico, asking him to say Mexico might pay for the wall so Trump didn't look like a fool. He expects the G7 nations to hand him victories on trade or they are bad. Kim was willing to let Trump declare victory to the world, and so is China and Russia, as long as it's not the truth of the matter.
At some point, someone has to ask the question: Who is Trump really working for? Have you EVER heard him defend democratic values at any time, anywhere? With enablers, sycophants, and the now far right Republican party, we have shifted to tyrants and dictators and away from western democracies. Is this everything that Putin could have ever hoped for? He does not have to do the heavy lifting himself, because his buddy Trump is doing it for him. All as the United States congress refuses to act. Meanwhile, the judicial branch has been stacked with far right conservative leaning judges. We have no checks, therefore we have no balances. I hope Justin Trudeau is ready to accept refugees.
12
Absolutely. He clearly doesn't understand the words of your title and has never defended decency or democracy. He's un-American.
1
To think that Trump would butter up a heartless cruel dictator but defame an honorable leader of our good neighbor Canada is incomprehensible and despicable and beneath any president.
In terms of diplomacy Trump’s nasty inappropriate tongue has turned the majority of Americans away from him. If the man spoke with even a modicum
dignity he might seem presidential. But his filthy mouth, erratic behavior and lies have alienated even Republican voters. And his behavior at the G7 was ugly and deplorable making we Americans feel ashamed.
1
When I was learning the business of sales, one lesson was, with a new customer, get a signed order. There's no signed order--Kim gets recognition and no war-games and the US gets???? We haven't even signed off on what "denuclearization" means, nothing about missiles...and Trump says the problem is solved? Dear Lord..Donald, get the order signed!
1
"Historic Day"? - No
"Bleakly Historic"? - Yes
Regarding human-rights, Trump has some nerve to say that "It's rough in a lot of places" when he himself is initiator of inhumane ICE raids and separating children from parents trying to seek asylum in the US.
Media, democrats and law makers have to stop cautionary tales of looming Trumpian autocracy ... we are already there.
8
Only vague thing is White House's politics, because all the presidents are wasting time with North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. But, the main issue is that US becomes a real threat for EU and Middle East countries, right?
Well, Trump is correct on one point. I feel a little safer now. Not because of anything he negotiated with N. Korea. And not because I think Kim is enthralled with Trump. In fact, I never felt worried that N. Korea was going to shoot a nuclear weapon at the US at all. That threat has never made any sense. No... I feel a tiny bit safer because Trump now seems to be riding a happy train. He got to rub elbows with a dictator so he now feels like he's a member of the club. And now Trump's less likely to play with his own nuclear button. I feel safer because my president is less likely to cause a conflict. Why doesn't that make me feel any better?
1
A photo op. No more, no less. Two petulant children driven by ego and narcissism. The only thing missing was a sandbox. Yes, better to talk than fight. But don't treat the world as a fool, willing to consume show over substance. As for the embarrassing Trump-Kim short film? Cringe worthy!
1
The mainstream media can't stand the notion that Trump had some success at the summit.
1
So this is what a masterfully negotiated settlement looks like. No inspectors, no removal of fissile material, no timeline,..... So much better than the Iran deal. What was Obama thinking? He should have gone with the video. What did Tillerson call Trump??
9
As much as I intensely dislike much of his behaviour, I have to admit to a sneaking respect for Mr Trump with regard to his Kim encounter. He is willing to try things others wouldn't dare, he recognises that in the real world it isn't possible to nail everything down, negotiations are an ongoing process. I don't doubt that in a few months the two leaders will be back to exchanging insults and threats, but nevertheless a beginning has been made and that is a huge advance for the U.S., North Korea, and the rest of the world. That it will upset many in the military, and those who would like life and the world to be a tidy, fixed and rigid thing, goes without saying, but the fact is life is a dynamic process. We grow and advance through change, not through stagnation and adherence to rigid ideas and ideals. Much has been said about Kim Jong-Un's human rights abuses but much could be said about the U.S. and many other countries too. At some point we have to allow people - and countries - to put their past behind them.
2
I am really, really disappointed that the partisan rancor against Trump is so great that the overwhelming majority of those in the other political camp are blasting this summit (Bernie Sanders is a notable exception).
No, there was no final agreement, as with Iran (for whatever that agreement was worth). But North Korea has now been brought into the world community of nations, and the danger of nuclear war with that country, terrifyingly real only a few months ago, has now almost disappeared. I would never vote for Trump, but he and South Korean President Moon Jae-in deserve great credit for these accomplishments.
1
I'm sorry, but I refuse to give Trump credit for a non-solution photo-op and a supposed de-escalation of tensions that were almost entirely of his own making. Just because Trump is a master of controlling the narrative doesn't mean we can't call him on his nonsense
1
The summit was a giant handshakeburger with melted fake American cheese and a Grand Old Propaganda Film For Dummies.
There was a kernel of truth, though; Donald Trump was able to publicly concede that he's incapable of admitting error and that he manages all things by shifting responsibility and blame for a living.
“I think, honestly, I think he’s going to do these things. I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”
So Presidential.
76
Not only the 90-minuite quick fix summit between the two temperamental leaders claims to have solved the 70-year old Korean crisis but bestows the much sought legitimacy on the North Korean autocrat Kim Jong-un while boosting the false image of Trump as the deal maker. The summit is high on optics full of theatrics and short on substance and details, likely to come unstuck any moment.
9
Role Reversal
In the East, *everything* revolves around appearances and gaining or loosing "face". Gestures can be very subtle, but are all-important. Watching of the official videos and news coverage, one sees endless repetition of process. Supposedly, the head of the most powerful nation in the world, visiting the despotic ruler of a weaker, albeit weaponized country.
One would expect the less powerful man to grovel before, flatter, and cater to this most powerful leader. Instead, the roles were reversed! It was Trump that never stopped vocalizing platitudes to Kim, patting him on the shoulder, shaking his hand. Kim on the other hand, simply sat back, looked pleasantly disinterested, and never, flattered his counterpart. Kim, keeping his distance, appeared all-powerful. Trump looked needy, searching for reassurance. Kim made no concessions except for platitudes that North Korea offered since the 1990s. Trump, on the other hand, gave away vital concessions, or as much as he could at this "historic" meeting. It seems that Trump's dream would involve being able, like Kim, to have someone executed on a whim. Even his reality TV show revolved around the phrase "You're Fired!", a euphemism for execution. Trump has mentioned that he is considering becoming President For Life. This is what he envies in this young dictator, and is Trump's potential ideal.
The visuals from this summit will be replayed endlessly throughout the East, where appearances are everything.
18
The timing of the summit is bad politically for Democrats as they ramp up for the midterms. This explains the desperate attempts to dismiss the summit and to describe it as a nothing event. However it will probably win Trump the Nobel Peace Prize, and the kicker is that he will have earned it far more than the last President who won one.
You don't get a Nobel Prize for threatening nuclear war and then walking back the rhetoric
3
Did it make up for either Trump’s or Kim’s past transgressions? Of course not. But anyone who can’t recognize the significance of the two leaders meeting face-to-face, of breaking bread (or cucumber rolls) together, is incapable of recognizing the potential of a first step toward peace - one sorely lacking from at least three prior administrations.
The summit in Singapore achieved both everything it needed to achieve and everything it possibly could - thus, those finding fault with Trump’s performance might see someone in the mirror incapable of rising above personal animosity to give credit where credit is due - of going high, when they go low.
3
How ironic that our own snake oil salesman-in-chief bought some of Kim's own elixir, a potion that has been proven to cause past maladies.
5
the film was anything but slick. it was a low tech sucker's pitch to a fool by a real estate con man. nothing gained by the u.s. and window dressing for nk.
12
Trump is all about the presentation and keeping his accolades coming in to bolster his childish ego. Once all the praises for this achievement settle out, there will be something else....a tweet, a childish statement degrading someone or who knows what? The new trump world likes to keep us engaged with the twists and turns, the fake news, the lies, the absurdities of this media man. It gets tiring for me, but I started to understand his reasoning long ago. He is doing damage to the American image, but if his base and the republicans can live with the fallout, then all I can do is continue to vote for some counterbalance in the next election. I continue to hope there are more Americans like me than not like me.
3
I do not believe Donald Trump was joking when he said he could envision condos on the beaches of North Korea. His family has raked in zillions during his presidency; the conflicts of interest are obscene - as is the disregard of Republican leaders about this incredibly damaging situation. If someone from the Trump organization has not already started to explore commercial development opportunities in North Korea, with the idea of getting in on the ground floor, I'd be amazed. It's sickening, it's disturbing and it's downright terrifying.
14
He wasn't joking either about the president for life idea. If you think it is preposterous, try and think about the last thing Trump has done that was NOT preposterous.
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, H. W. Bush, Clinton, W. Bush, and Obama.
All Presidents of the United States. Also all the leaders who failed to so much as have a simple summit with North Korea.
Shame on all of you who hope this falls apart and who continue to nitpick just because you don’t like the particular person who was the first to break the taboo.
4
The Democratic Party and the liberal media are coming across as silly in their expectation that a one day meeting should yield substantive, detailed agreements. If Obama had initiated this diplomacy, they would be cheering - but he didn't.
Obamaphiles: as you rush to Obama's defense, please include a link that shows Obama tried to initiate diplomatic efforts.
4
Ed Watters
Trump is POTUS now, not Obama. Plus Trump claims to be smarter. wealthier, and more accomplished than Obama. After all, Trump has sex with porn stars.
Trump is a pathetic person and an even worse deal maker.
2
The summit is a fraud staged to win votes for Trumpites. Neither Kim nor Trump are trustworthy diplomats. Both can and will change their minds since both are mentally deranged
14
Count on the Times to criticize Trump as a war monger that threatens nuclear war. But when those very threats force the dictator to the table, count on the Times to criticize Trump for not securing immediate commitments in 4 hours while the countries are still at war.
2
If Trump was an orator-par-excellence like his predecessor, I wonder what the reaction to all this would be. Trump got in the room with the guy. He has shown time and again he re-negs on negotiations and I am sure he would on this one, too, slim it may be. If the NK dictator doesn't comply, the Americans still have the advantage. My money is actually on Trump on this one.
1
I'm sure Kim is every much as trustworthy as when Putin told 45 that Russia didn't meddle in the election.
What did Kim actually say? It's been all 45, all the time. I have not read or heard a specific quote from their Dear Leader, it's all been our Dear Leader. Did I miss something somewhere?
1
The only verified parties to have meddled in the 2016 election are democrats.
1
Kind of like drawing a meaningless line in the sand or paying $150 billion for a meaningless peace deal.
Is the NYT trying to say Trump is becoming a democrat? The only difference is Obama was praised for these actions. Even given am undeserved Nobel Peace Prize.
1
Meaningless line in the sand - blame the Republicans. They did not want to get involved in Syria. Obama needed Congressional approval.
$150 billion - it was Iran's money frozen by the U.S. and then released after Iran signed off on the nuclear deal.
Facts matter to some of us. Trump cultists do not care about facts.
3
Susan. Yes facts do matter. The Iranians were still given $150 billion that was confiscated for a worthless deal. Funds the used to kill Americans. Secondly congressional approval never stopped Obama. Libya is an example.
Had President Obama managed to secure a summit with Kim Jong-un this newspaper, and all the other liberal gatekeepers, would be hailing this as the historic breakthrough it was. The possibility of incrementally turning a rogue nuclear power into a more normal state would be an enormous achievement in terms of ruling out global catastrophe -- but since this was Trump's remarkable coup it is dismissed. Particularly nasty -- also amusing -- is the repeated theme that Trump practices reality TV and not diplomacy. My God. Given the "accomplishments" of a buttoned-up diplomat like John Kerry with his chief, Barack Obama, in patching together the foolish, naïve and dangerous deal with Iran, it seems to me it is Trump who comes off looking more like a Talleyrand or Bismarck than Kerry and his boss, who look like cartoon characters in comparison. Enough with the nasty partisanship. Give the President his due when he deserves it.
4
The difference is Obama would not be trumpeting to the world that he had accomplished total North Korean denuclearization, he wouldn’t have been building hype and bragging about how much was going to be accomplished in the months ahead of the meeting, and he would never say that other people are talking about how he deserves a Nobel Peace prize. Nor would he have called the meeting off and then back on.
If the president wants credit for his accomplishments, then he needs to be realistic and honest about what he actually accomplished.
3
Until we see actual results all we have seen is a photo shoot with Kim Jong Un. We've all seen pictures of him before so how is this a break through of any kind?
1
Two big fat nothing burgers, Kim got his coveted recognition by an American president and Trump looked at potential beach front hotel locations.
Trumps only real success is destroying immigrant families, ruining long time friendships with allies, and most important having his base still believe Mexico will pay for a wall, most impressive.
Trump tries to play the strong man, but a paper strong man is all he is.
2
But Kim didn't get a pallet of cash.
Kim is playing Trump. Kim may be young and a sociopath, but he sure knows how to get the best of DJT, as does Putin. But Kim may be even better than Putin since he doesn't have any real leverage on Trump like Putin does.
2
Anyone can sign a general statement of vague 'intentions'.
But it was intentionally non-defined: Trump wanted a 'victory' to continue his Reality-Show run. While he paints all his allies and trade partners with the same brush; as victimizing the US, and conversely, trashes the Iran deal, allowing them to pursue Nuclear weapons. Its all for the purpose of 'one-upping' Obama.
Its impossible to assess this President as mentally fit.
18
The NYT video is a classic already. Just remember, no matter how much the press refers to the trumpeter as a smart entrepreneur or successful deal-maker, in reality he was a failure with multiple bankruptcies. Not only that but he has to be the only known owner who failed to make a profit from his casino when all the machines in the house are programmed to make the house win, all the time.
11
This wasn't high-level diplomacy--it was low-level showmanship. And now I'm sure Trump has a shot at the Nobel Peace Prize. The world is upside down.
4
Obama got one for just being elected.
This was a photo op, propaganda movie debut of a hostile foreign Country, North Korea, produced by our own White House through the National Security Council (did this violate Federal laws and or risk US National Security?) to show what future potential "business deals" that Trump wants to promote?
And NO GUARANTEES of any sort that total de-nuclearization would be the end result! This "show" has now elevated North Korea where they have wanted to be for decades, to the detriment of not only the United States but other countries as well.
You know where the next Trump property is headed...North Korea! You could tell by the "giddy" way Trump described the Hotel/Condo deals when he talked about NK's beaches!!!
Financial crimes against America everyday by Trump!
2
I suppose we could say "Mission Accomplished" again (ala George W. Bush).
2
The President has negotiated a deal that is entirely smoke and mirrors. That suits both parties. Trump wants it in order to strengthen to GOP position going into the mid-terms. He will brook no naysayers. And Kim wants it because China wants it. But there is one particular person who is an extremely belligerent hawk who will see this illusion of a deal for what it is and he will not be able to keep his mouth shut. That person is John Bolton. I think the only thing this "deal" is likely to accomplish is the firing of John Bolton. We can only hope.
2
Who says that they are ''intense'', and furthermore who says they are ''negotiations'' ? How do we know since they are secret, much like the tax returns for the President ?
They could be carving up the South China sea, while making more back room deals to enrich the President and his family, and we would not know.
There is no transparency.
4
Yeah, like the transparent Iran Deal, after the fact. But, this time we didn't send a pallet of cash.
@Mike
Aye, like the Iran Deal that was negotiated out in the open for 2 years and was a deal that had verifiable components by a third party. There were no ''pallets of cash'' but rather a releasing of Iran's OWN money that had been frozen for many years.
You may try again.
Washington (CNN)The Obama administration secretly arranged a plane delivery of $400 million in cash on the same day Iran released four American prisoners and formally implemented the nuclear deal, US officials confirmed Wednesday.
So many Americans soldiers died on the battlefield in Korea so that this pathetic example of a leader can now say that this dictator is an honorable man? Maybe, it's because his judgement of people with honor is the way HE is, totally dishonest. In his twisted world, honor is being dishonest, a liar, a fraudster, and a con man who would besmirch the memory of our war dead for an opportunity of any sort, whether to feed his demented ego or to benefit himself financially. How any veteran can feel comfortable with this is beyond comprehension, especially when he attacks our allies who shed blood on the battlefield with us, against those that he praises who in fact caused our soldiers blood to be shed. This man is a traitor to America, to our way of life, and to our democracy. He would and has sold a country to our enemies.
30
Not as honorable as Castro.
4 cases point to China, not Russia calling the Summit shots! Trump's trade pivot away from to Canada/Europe; the cessation of joint military training, weakening readiness; North Korea is a China proxy; Trump's rush to rescue China consumer spy firm XTE. Why? $500 million, cross-channeled upfront, that provided an international upgrade for Trump's Malaysian resort. Every decision, from jobs to trade to military presence, pivoted to service China's interests!
NPR reports: "All of the concessions KCNA claims Trump made are also things China has said publicly it wants."
20
I think you are on to something; I can't figure out what or why the President has taken on this North Korea project. But now, if you follow the money, it would be the Chinese that stand to gain the most. But I suppose Vladivostock would also stand to gain. Maybe that is the place to buy a condo.
“In 2001, President George W. Bush famously looked Russian President Vladimir Putin in the eye and peered into his soul.” (Washington Post)
A common theme of idiocy here instead of the hard work and, frankly, cunning of real diplomats? ‘Dealmaker’ conned.
Empire in decline.
43
Kim promised to be good.Trump has the feel or is it touch.
2
I do not know if Trump is an idiot or genius, what his motivation or goals is. But what other US President has sat face to face with a North Korean leader? Got to be worth something.
5
Why? It's definitely worth something to Kim, not the US.
Uh, no really. It was a badly conceived lunch date that has legitimized a rogue regime and criminal. We didn't even get a peck on the cheek.
2
Yes, it'w worth something to Kim. No other president wanted to give him that legitimacy.
2
And now Trump wants Kim to come to the White House. The world court should arrest him for crimes against humanity as soon as he steps off the plane. Nuts.
72
True, Kim is a despot and the optics of him coming to the White House are horrible. But if this is what it takes for some peace and less nukes in his hands, I am for it. And by the way, these optics are no less stomach churning then the plane loads of $1.3 billion cash Obama sent to Iran. I prefer the former strategy.
1
So nothing happened, and Trump is claiming credit for having saved the world. And he is STILL trying to to gt people to invest in high end condos that will never be built ... In NORTH KOREA, no less. This would be funny if the U.S. hadn't just agreed to allow N. Korea to make more money which it will use to oppress it's people, hack our governmental and businesses computers, and kill anyone it perceives to be a threat.
19
Just another day in his fantasy world where he makes deals. I can't wait until NK find out that he's ripped them off. That will warrant a very large bag of popcorn and very comfy chair.
The usual almost rabid anti-Trump comments, save a few. You have to wonder if they realize that Obama completely failed with Noko, he failed with Syria, empowering Assad when he was weak, blew it with Isis (how many lives lost from those two), helped destroy Libya, left office with Russia doing what it wanted in Syria and Ukraine, China unopposed, disappointed or angered many allies (that's largely forgotten in the Trump hysteria), gave away the store to Iran, leaving them more powerful, even if the deal worked and his NSA spied on us. He got a Nobel Prize for showing up, really for his ethnicity. I like Obama personally and at least he had the decency to admit he didn't deserve it. If Obama got even this far with Kim, they'd have built a monument to him in D.C. and he'd have his second Nobel and probably and Oscar.
Never been a Trump supporter and didn't vote for him. But, I admire what he's accomplished against the hysteria facing him including many Republicans. He deserves to be disliked, but to be treated with more respect and get credit when due. But, as one commenter once wrote, "No credit for Trump ever," or something like that. That's pathetic and part of the reason we get the presidents we do. Rabid partisanship.
Is he not being honest? Maybe it will not work out. And, yes, "we'll see." Despite the unfair hysteria against him, I wouldn't vote for him for many reasons. But, I feel like the media keeps pushing people that way, certainly not intentionally.
6
I voted for Obama but was no fan of his foreign policy. That said, Trump's foreign policy is FAR worse and FAR more dangerous.
Look at the precedent that has now been set.
All any foreign entity seeking concessions from the US has to do is build a nuclear arsenal and point ICBMs at the US.
Not to mention alienating every ally we have while inviting Russia, RUSSIA, to the table.
Trump has accomplished exactly ZERO, so I don't know what accomplishments you are admiring. The fact that he had lunch with a dictator who "loves his people" so much that he starves them?
54
So Trump just invents a success in denuking NK, and nobody can defend this obvious abdication of the responsibility to keep us safe, this pathetic attempt to lie to us, this obsequious praise of Kim’s qualities that NK’s state media would consider just about right.
That means it’s time to change the subject to Whatabout Obama?!!! From yet another person saying he’s not a Trump fan but Look over There!
With a laundry list of the usual, meaning false accusations of Obama doing what we just saw Trump do.
19
You are expecting Democrats and others not to show any bias when evaluating the actions of President Trump. That would be to take one of actions out of the context of his many previous actions. Yes, if he were not Donald J. Trump, what he does and says about North Korea and Kim could be a hopeful sign and a step forward. But this is why character counts. It is why building trust matters.
9
Sen. Schumer's statement, in the presence of several other prominent Democratic senators, strongly resembled the views of numerous Republican senators who denounced the JCPOA with Iran. Schumer demands from North Korea the same list of non-negotiables his caucus rejected with respect to the JCPOA: irreversibility, Complete dismantling of all the infrastructure for nuclear warhead production, complete and immediate removal of all warheads, etc. The probability of instant gratification of the Democrat demands anent North Korea seems about the same as the probability seemed pertaining to Iran. The O-Ring chose a step-by-step process with Iran; the Dems cheered and the GOPs wailed. Now Team-Trump chooses a phased approach with North Korea; the GOPs cheer and the Dems wail. Interesting.
1
Ok, so there's not a lot of meat, but at least it's dialog. It's a start.
The Times seems to be in the mood to pick apart diplomatic agreements, so maybe focus on why Trump did the right thing and pulled out of that stinker of a deal Obama struck with Iran.
The Times needs to cover all of the facts, not just the ones that fit their narrative. Let Fox News do that.
3
One person's "pick apart diplomatic agreements" is another person's "analyze diplomatic agreements".
3
Trump is optimistic. On the first date, he obviously got to the touch and feel stage. So much so he is considering a second date. Hope Kim likes Shark Week.
5
Let us put this in context : Trump picked up needless fights with our allies in the G-7 and decided to cozy up to a lunatic dictator.
Everything else this man does is noise. He is a man without a plan.
67
How long until everyone from the NRA to the KKK brings a flattering video to each presidential meeting? How long until the daily intelligence brief is delivered by a password-protected youtube video with cute hand puppets briefing the President?
24
Condos on a NK Beach. The NEXT scam on Radio and FOX news.
Seriously.
6
China comes up all roses after this one. What's new?
2
"few details"...what a sad joke. Kim played Trump like a $5 banjo because just by having the meeting he's now a player on the world stage. Republicans and "Trump base" demeaned the Iran Deal only because a black Democrat successfully made the deal and brought Russia, China and others along and it had teeth, required on the ground investigation. This deal is garbage and they're parading around like clowns. The lack of reality from Republicans and the president is a danger to democracy. to say nothing of slapping our allies in the face...Canadians, British, etc. have spilled blood in many wars along side the US.
110
It was "demeaned" for Obama financing Iran's nuclear program.
This entire photo-op debacle could have been done via Skype. Millions were spent on transporting planes, cars, equipment and people to Singapore, all for a photo-op to impress a vicious dictator. No wonder Kim said it was like a sci-fi movie. Vote out the GOP!!
65
The same could be said for Cuba.
An honorable way out for Trump: Nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, thank him for his service, convince him to resign the Presidency in glory, and send him off to Mar-a-Lago for his victory lap. Then we can get on with the governance of the nation using the traditional norms and precedents, ending the threat to our democratic institutions created by the Trump presidency.
3
The "Summit" ended up being little more than a preliminary real estate closing featuring a video presentation that was similar to what college basketball coaches use for recruiting.
7
I can guarantee one thing, no matter what the subject: Anything Trump says is untrue. (I'm being polite.)
19
"it was a video"
"keep your doctor"
"lower premiums'
" heard about it on the news"
"jv team"
"Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance"
"we'll make sure that our disabled vets receive the benefits they deserve"
What did Cuba give up when Obama removed sanctions from them?
2
Cuba had no nuclear weapons, and had stopped exporting revolution. It had never engaged in the kidnapping of foreign nationals, and the assassinations, that North Korea has.
25
How about they didn't develop nukes to attack the US. Also you are factually wrong. The US embargo against Cuba that began in the 1960's including its related sanctions were not lifted by Obama since they were enacted by the congress and so can only be reversed by them. Obama only established greater diplomatic relations with and travel to Cuba that was allowed under the embargo.
5
You are comparing apples to oranges.The two countries are totally different and BTW Trump wants to repeal Obama's efforts in Cuba, unless he gets some beach front property for a Trump hotel.
3
Did you say a slick video? I watched it. At first I thought it looked like high school students put it together the morning their project was due. Then I realized I was being unfair to high school students. They would have put out a video way more sophisticated than Trump's.
20
Ah, Condos on North Korean beaches. We were all waiting for that.
17
Trump is positively giddy that he was able to play grown-up diplomacy games with Kim Jong-Un — just like the real presidents used to do — complete with a sophomoric little video and promises galore. When the dust settles from the secret meeting we'll probably find out that he lifted all sanctions, gave Kim California and Rhode Island, a snazzy condo at 666 Fifth Avenue, and bestowed Kim's wife Ivanka high heels for life. And we got... Nada! That's great deal-making!
25
Pure theater, and blame others for the hangover. That's Trump.
15
Trump got played. Kim Jong-un has defanged Trump. From this point forward, if Trump criticizes Kim Jong-un, or calls for harsher sanctions against North Korea that would be an admission that this summit was a failure. And Trump will never let that happen. In fact, here's a direct quote from Trump: "I may be wrong, I mean I may stand before you in six months and say, hey, I was wrong — I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of an excuse."
127
Jaw-dropping, stunning comment by a U.S. president. How did we get here??!!
1
Here is the excuse: The Democrats did it and Hillary helped them while Obama held the flashlight.
Nothing was delivered. Kim received unprecedented elevation from the Baby King, who is all hat and no cattle. Kim is legitimized with nary a mild rebuke for his human rights abuses and atrocities. trump cares not for human rights. This photo-op may play with the base, many of whom apparently favor show biz over substance, but the US won nothing whatsoever. Who knew diplomacy requires reading, learning, listening and the capacity for nuanced thinking? trump once again reveals that he is well past his depth. The "summit" should never have occurred until major concessions were won by the US.
Winners: North Korea, China and Russia.
Losers: US, South Korea and Japan.
71
What would be the point of a "summit" after the US won major concessions like complete and permanent denuclearization of North Korea, decommissioning its enormous arsenal of weaponry aimed at the South, and trail, conviction and execution of sentence of all "human rights" NK violators by an international tribunal? How are major concessions supposed to be won? By selective nuking?
It is a disappointing result for South Korea and most of countries except China and North korea. Trump gave tangible presents in return for non bidding and difficult-to-verifiable action, denuclization which has been unanimously agreed among three allies, South Korea, Japan, and US although naive Moon Jaein praised the meeting statement. The statements even tarnished people's efforts toward liberty from dictatorship and evil regimes. Look back horrible and terrible regime has doen to innocent people. It cannot be just washed off just like in a reality show. More than a few million people were dead during Korean war, so many people kidnapped to North korea, American tourist dead,,,countless,,,, which all resulted from only one aim, for Kim's continuous dictatorship.
I do hope any next step in the negotiation contribute to the better historical development, which means allowing north korean people to have more freedom, ridding of family dictatorship, and punishments for Kim's wrongdoing.
2
From the article:
"President Trump used flattery, cajolery and a slick film"
Yes, just like any other successful business man would have done.
It's time to stop underestimating Trump - doing so is not helpful. He is becoming more powerful and more ruthless every day.
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He may be becoming more ruthless, but more powerful? Sorry, no. trump is not powerful. Putin is powerful. trump is his monkey.
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Chamber,
A massive effort has been made to prove the Putin puppet theory, and nothing of value has been found.
Sorry, but the reality is, we are all Trumps monkeys. We watch, as he abuses peoples rights, rips off the environment, and enriches cronies.
Monkey see, Monkey do nothing.
2020 is the only possible fix.
This was a photo op - a show for self congratulatory propaganda. It is disappointing that the NYT has seemingly bought into this stunt.
Trump got nothing but his photo op and a vague promise from and unreliable dictator known for breaking promises.
It is good to see that the "ice has been broken" with NK and I hope that it leads to actual action, but what did transpire isn't very significant.
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Wow! The last Trump quote in the article says it all. This whole tough guy then nice guy summit thing is all a big show with nothing to show for it but an empty worded statement signed by a ruthless dictator. Trump is trying to get all the PR mileage from it he can. He thinks Kim will give up his nukes but in 6 months he could be wrong but he'll never admit it and come up with another excuse. Our president Pass the Buck Trump....
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It's not reasonable to call this much ado about nothing. But, until there are concrete plans agreed to by both N.Korea and the U.S. this is still just theater. The publicity has been positive; better good attitude to begin negotiations rather than what we saw a few mints ago. But there is no "Deal" here, just grandiose proposals. Let's see what happens.
Trump-Kim Summit Score:
Trump 90
Kim 100
America 10
North Korea 100
We got almost nothing, North Korea got more than every thing.
Empty vessel sounds much.
7
Can we apply the 25th amendment now? Obviously unfit.
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Thinking of North Korea as a treat, when Mr. Kim cannot get on his own plane that can fly to Singapore, is like making a mountain out of a molehill. Mr. Kim, in poker terms, won this hand and had nothing to play with.
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The Trump -Kim Summit is guaranteed to make China and Russia great again. Along with improving the profitable position of the House of Trump along with the Trump Organization by hiding President of the United States Donald John Trump's personal and family income tax returns and business records from the American people.
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Trump created this march to war and all the pundits fell in line. Their Goldwater-like response buttressed Trump’s seemingly “off the hinge” statements. This of course set-up all the “at least...” rhetoric from all sides the past two days. His con continues. Trump actually got the world to think he would start a nuclear war.
Seriously? Or did they even really think war would happen anyway? The great dictator establishes an aura of fear and proclaims that only he alone can fix things and the culture grants Trump this power. He doesn’t have to release his taxes, the White House doesn’t have to make a visit list part of the public record, he never reports his meetings with Russia, he doesn’t read or prepare for meetings/summits and everyone allows to do these things. Is it really out of fear on the part of Congress and the Senate or is it something else?
The reason for the summit was made clear by the Bannon-like scripted video that was shown to KJI and the press by Trump himself. Trump admitted to it. The comments from the press conference about the great real estate and beaches for condos and hotels!
The worst part may be all the liberal pundits and experts’ response. The general response has been that KJI is not interested in owning condos so Trump is foolish to think so. The praise for Putin? Trump Moscow; remember?
Bash allies and heap praise on Russia, Turkey, North Korea and the Philippines. He is selling dictators like his steaks, but will non Republicans buy them?
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People are "heaving a sigh of relief" that nuclear war has been averted. While the reality was never as grim as Trump and Kim threatened, Trump's way of dealing with it is pretty simple. He just handed North Korea and China the keys to the East and walked away. Kim has made no promise to denuclearize North Korea, only the whole peninsula. Trump will soon make the South Korea part of that come true, while taking no action to make North Korea comply. Trump has already started our betrayal of South Korea by stopping "war games" and boasting about how much money he will save by abandoning our military commitments to South Korea. In the face of this incredible abandonment, China and Russia are already ramping up their business dealings with North Korea. Our "sanctions" are meaningless as China and Russia open the floodgates. And since they're not part of this "agreement," they have no reason to hold back. So we abandon South Korea and Japan, and empower China and Russia. He is worse than clueless, he is selling us out at every opportunity. And boasting about condominiums on the North Korean beaches. IMHO he is a traitor.
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Disappointed by the democrats and the political games being played. In the 90's we stopped military exercises as a means to get the North to the table. It didn't work and they were restarted. What's wrong with trying that again? The next scheduled major exercises are the spring of 2019. Plenty of time to restart things if the North doesn't start to move on their commitments. What makes what happened so important...never before has a US president had to deal with the North as a nuclear state. They have weapons, and the means to deliver them. This dynamic changes everything. We've got to think outside the box or we may end up fighting WWIII. For more than 30 years we've done nothing but fail. If Trump is attempting some new approaches...all I can say is I pray they work. We know what we've tried in the past has failed.
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Failed? In what way? For 70 years we have been successful in defending Japan and South Korea via international diplomacy. The failure is in trump elevating Kim's international standing while stiffing our allies in the region.
Joint field exercises (war games) with our South Korean partners has been a key element of holding the North at bay and should be continued fully until the North complies with international norms.
trump is countering these effort with his bumbling and blundering.
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It played like a realty show. Like the Bachelorette where a red rose is handed out. America is going to be in bad shape by the time Trump moves on.
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“Look, I got us back to status quo ante. Can I get a medal now?”
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Vague ??? P.T. Barnum meets the Wizard of Oz, all spectacle.
Where's the BEEF ????? Seriously.
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The Trump-made film - that he is enormously proud of - is possibly the most despicable act of his presidency. Trump not only whitewashed Kim's atrocities with his propaganda video, he gold-washed them with the fake Trump gold of his bankrupt casinos and gave Kim his highest praise.
320 dead under Kim, thousands imprisoned in concentration camps, widespread forced abortions and infanticide, intentional starvation to control his people.
THAT'S the evil underneath Trump's fake gold.
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I would not go anywhere near so far as calling that film "possibly the most despicable act of his presidency."
His cabinet appointments, firing James Comey, his lying about every major campaign promise, and his sheer contempt for the constitution ... any of these are considerably worse.
But this video sure is obvious a really bad real-estate promo -- the kind of thing you'd expect for a really bad time-share promotion.
Lee, I hear you - honestly, so much of it is rotten, no one could really pick what's the worst. I look at it like he's painting his vision for our future - democracy in tatters, a despot ruling over people commanded to stand when our leader speaks or an anthem is played, agree with our leader at all costs (State of the Union), or face confiscation of freedoms and income (similar to Trump striking out the property and mortgage deductions in blue states). Trump's video takes it to the point where he excuses mass murder and starvation, as long as the beloved leader makes money from his real estate deals.
Here's a suggestion, how about you lose that ridiculous word "summit?"
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Thank you.
Just like anything associated with Trump, all gold and shiny, but broken by tomorrow.
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Fools' gold. Only fools rush in.
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Again, Kim sees nukes while the Donald sees condos. Unbelievable.
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I think Kim is seeing condos too.
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Trump sees what he understands, where his presumed strengths are. Other than that, there is nothing.
Denuclearization? First things first. A cessation of the threats to use the weapons is a beginning, and a welcome change.
President Trump can guarantee only so much; obviously, his word is being taken as given. However, the same Western interests that have precipitated the threats, must also cease. Therein, one can not be as guaranteed; the leverages being used to thwart China's economic expansion, and or impose social philosophy upon its culture, will remain dormant. In a perverse truth, this relaxation of hostilities could be misinterpreted by the twisted minds (Neocons, Progressives, frustrated-Warshington) as an opportunity to double down on their efforts. Whereas, they appear to their legions to be advancing; while simultaneously -- with same effort, derailing President Trump's initiatives.
Trump, America -- and consequently the world's greatest obstacle in this mater, is those that fanatically believe in their own myths.
The only thing that's going to get Kim to give up his nuclear weapons is if he believes that no one is going to invade his country. If it accomplishes that, the meeting might have been a success. Think of it more as a memorandum of understanding than a contract. They still have to work out the details, but they did step back from the line and stop their bellicose rhetoric.
NK has a history of cheating on these deals. Trump has a history of cheating at everything. This is a step forward, not a done deal. Much can still go wrong.
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The summit went pretty much as expected. While talking is better than threatening, Trump gained nothing for the U.S. Personally, he has planted the suggestion that North Korea could use some condos and fancy hotels (all built by Trump). North Korea got the U.S. to stop military drills on the peninsula - I guess South Korean troops could join U.S. military someplace out of the area. Trump has not yet agreed to withdraw U.S. forces from the area. Putin would approve of these first steps since Russia supports North Korea. Our more knowledgeable Congressmen, Senators and military leaders, not so much. Trump continued to be effusive and praise Kim's leadership qualities, which would be much weaker if he didn't have the ability to kill people or send them to concentration camps. While I would like the coming November election to be a statement of voter opposition to these staged political shows, I don't think it will happen. We're all too stupefied.
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What happens if North Korea simply decides that they no longer want to adhere to this agreement?
What will our president do?
Tweet at their nuclear weapons?
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"Guarantees" are worthless. Nothing is guaranteed in this time and age. What is important is that a civil dialogue has begun, and the advent of a type of peace is possible. World is safer today than yesterday.
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Two dictators in love. Brilliant movie. Not a "noble" peace award. Both only interested in furthering family fortune. Also, thank you for the NYT "I escaped North Korea" realism video.
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A budding new bromance almost worthy of making Vlad jealous.
MSNBC unequivocally calls the summit a fraud. What’s new. There’s just no saving people from themselves when they don’t want to be. It would hurt their pride to, so why bother?
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When North Korea actually denuclearizes and this is verified by inspections -- then Mr. Trump will be vindicated.
Until then, frankly this looks like a farce.
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Trump hated the Iran deal -- which allowed international verification that Iran was actually giving up his weapons.
Now Trump loves the North Korean deal -- which says North Korea promises really, really sincerely to give up their weapons, but will provide no verification.
You really don't understand why people are skeptical?
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No, not a fraud, but why would you trust a dictator who is well known for breaking previous agreements with honoring this one?
it's not Munich, but what is the mechanism to enforce it?
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The promotional video was not slick, it was laughably amateurish as was Trump's babble about building condos on the coast where Kim shoots his "cannons," without getting even a promise to remove the cannons trained on Seoul. In the words of the Economist, Trump "comes cheap and can be played, and he was played like a harp by a murderous thug less than half his age.
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Note to all those would-be pundits and self-proclaimed foreign policy experts, I thought you of all people would understand that this was first meeting, no details settled, lots more to discuss over time.
The main point is that President Trump has brought a rogue nation to the table, and seems to be on the road to denuclearizing N. Korea. No, of course the deal is not final, but no one who knows the least bit about foreign relations remotely expected a final deal to come out of the first meeting. (Well, maybe a freshman or two in poli sci might have thought so, and thereby deservedly earned an F for the semester.)
There are lots of reasons to disagree with President Trump, but he really should be given credit for pulling off this meeting.
We Democrats--and our mouthpiece, the NYT--need to spend less time bashing President Trump and more time getting our ducks in a row for the 2018 and 2020 elections. If we want to win these elections we need to identify and put forward strong candidates and come up with powerful messages for all those people in fly-over country who Hillary chose to ignore.
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That "babble" about condos was likely the be-all and end-all of "Trump's" interest. As he said 'between China and South Korea", so sure, he's very likely working an entire real estate portfolio deal with Kim, where Kim moves into the big leagues of global wealth despotism, Ivanka gets her cut, probably the Kushners and other players in the "Trump" global cartel of robber-baron billionaires. So, as is completely evident in that video, the idea seems to be to transform North Korea into a playground for the rich with an embedded underclass of North Koreans - slaves, essentially, providing all the necessary extremely cheap labor to construct and service. As repulsive as the whole thing sounds, it's a prefect "Trumpian" exploit.
3
Well, in response to Donald’s tweet assuring us that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, Washington Post can track another falsehood. As for the rest of us, well, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride and probably sweep the Triple Crown according to Donald.
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Mission Accomplished!
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Yes, for Vlad, Kim and any other hack dictator
5
A photo op of two authoritarian dictators ... the real thing on the left and the wannabe on the right.
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Right! A big W (Dubya)!
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Nothing more, nothing less than a publicity stunt. That's all Trump knows and does. Anything that comes of it, good and bad, will be an accident. Trump will risk anyone's capital to agrandize himself. For the Trump, it's virtually risk free. For the rest of us...?
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An accident? If it was Hillary, you would be calling it an epic masterpiece of leadership.
To be fair, I think Trump sees business potential if he can build condos there. It's not just publicity for Trump; it's publicity plus the possibility to make a buck.
Oddly enough, I found it almost cute that Trump was telling Kim, "Hey, buddy, instead of running this violent, closed-off regime, what if you open it up a bit, so you can make a bunch of money through condos on the beach and corrupt backdoor deals, like I do?" The funny part is that Trump may actually be able to get through to Kim better than Obama might have -- because Trump and Kim are so much alike. Neither of them has any human decency, both of them have delicate egos and crave power, and both of them were handed the role by their father.
Maybe Kim will see the allure of making a buck while being dictator, and the first steps of opening up North Korea's economy will begin -- leading eventually to a democratic revolution. If so, that would be maybe the most hilarious thing that our current sad, corrupt government has done.
Now that we have a third-world dictator in charge, we may finally have a guy who knows how to talk to third-world dictators.
3
Note to all those would-be pundits and self-proclaimed foreign policy experts, I thought you of all people would understand that this was a first meeting, no details settled, lots more to discuss over time.
The main point is that President Trump has brought a rogue nation to the table, and seems to be on the road to denuclearizing N. Korea. No, of course the deal is not final, but no one who understands the least bit about foreign relations remotely expected a final deal to come out of the first meeting. (Well, maybe a freshman or two in poli sci might have thought so, and thereby deservedly earned an F for the semester.)
There are lots of reasons to disagree with President Trump, but he really should be given credit for pulling off this meeting.
We Democrats--and our mouthpiece, the NYT--need to spend less time bashing President Trump and more time getting our ducks in a row for the 2018 and 2020 elections. If we want to win these elections we need to identify and put forward strong candidates and come up with powerful messages for all those people in fly-over country who Hillary chose to ignore.
I'm no fan of Trump, but I'm willing to withhold judgement to see what the end result is. Trump did the job of breaking the ice, but it's time for him to step aside and let the more competent people work out the real details.
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And I don't know for sure there isn't a pig out there that can fly, so I'm withholding judgement on the whole pig flying thing....
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Trouble is 1) his administration has a notable dearth of competent people, and 2) he generally doesn’t listen to the few competent people he has nor let them do their jobs.
1
Does Trump even realize that the statement coming out of his summit is a warmed over hodgepodge of past sentiments?
I give Trump his due for trying something new here - going leader to leader early on being the only truly different element. Then I bristle when he and his supporters try to cast the event as 100 times more than it really is. Why does everything Trump does have to be called "the greatest", "the first", "the best", etc., even if trivial or even untrue? If he had gotten anything more than he did, I would be highly suspicious of it. It just isn't possible to have gotten more so quickly.
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Not to mention "unprecedented" ... of course there were no precedents, but did we really need to track "precedents" given that nothing substantial was accomplished?
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It needs to be called the "greatest" etc., because Trump has realized that the more times he says things like this the more his supporters buy it ..... sadly...
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Regarding “the greatest,” etc., it’s called narcissism. Though I’m not a professional, everything I’ve read and observed indicates that Trump is a textbook case. M. Scott Peck’s book “People of the Lie” is several decades old but still a relevant and eye-opening primer.
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Just ask yourself the following question: If you had a weapon that could save your life, and someone like Donald Trump asked you to hand it over saying he wouldn't harm you and even make a "deal" to help you, would you? This why this whole talk, and no action, about disarming and dismantling North Korea's nuclear program is a pipe dream. Once a member of the nuclear club; always a member [Remember: Libya and Iran were never real members and you know how that worked out]. And, when you're dealing with a volatile and untrustworthy man who just arrived from tweet-trashing his closest neighbor and ally in the back just after stiffing the other major world powers who'd signed the Iran Nuclear Accord, you'd be insane to do so. So, as his father and grandfather before him, Kim Jong-un will never denuclearize for Donald Trump or probably for anyone else either.
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+a million. Amazingly no one in the elite media will make this point. North Korea will never ever give up its nuclear weapons. In fact, more likely, North Korea's pivot to economic development is a long-play to build up resources to enhance that nuclear program even more. North Korea wants the ability - however small - to strike any US target it wishes within 30-40 minutes. That will give it so much power that it will make the regime indestructible. Or maybe Chairman Kim really means it this time!
As with all policies, the devil is in the details, execution, and unanticipated consequences, not the tweets, pronouncements, or contemporaneous punditry.
Perhaps the "success" of this meeting is based not on the fact of Trump's alleged deal-making ability but, rather, that Kim is not the person portrayed for many years to the American people by our government and media. Perhaps what he appears to be now is precisely who he has been all along. It is extremely unlikely that an essentially absolute ruler who is the incompetent, egomaniacal buffoon portrayed over the years by our government and media would have been able to successfully organize and preside over a nuke and missile program that many countries with greater financial and material resources can only dream about.
Perhaps we are so surprised because we have been kidding ourselves for many years. Perhaps we may be where we are today precisely because our government came to believe its own spin on North Korean reality. Self-delusion rarely works out well.
I do not know how this all started, whether successive administrations chose to believe self-serving analyses from an intelligence community that no President has chosen to hold accountable, or that good intelligence was superseded by political myopia and self-delusion, or something else. In any case, it is imperative that out government and media consider the possibility that, like it or not, Kim may have been a very capable and savvy leader all along.
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Sure, Kim has not murdered his way to the top despite the facts that show he did. He does not assassinate his own family members either. Nor did he have a American citizen murders for taking a political poster. Get real. Kim played Trump like a violin. There is not meaningful agreement. This was just a photo op which, makes Kim look great and Trump a fool.
1
If the Devil is in the details, then Trump is absolutely the very worst person on planet Earth to handle the job.
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Absolutely, the only side making real concessions is the United States if Trump's ill thought plans of reducing war exercises and reducing troops in Korea does come to fruition. In reality, nothing has changed except that Kim got what he wanted- a world stage and an irascible supporter in Trump
I do respect Trump’s willingness to meet in person with Kim Jong un but his celebratory tweets are the stuff of fairy tales.
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Obama was planning to meet with Kim Jong Un but Republicans criticized him.
2
When Obama showed willingness to talk to Kim, the Republicans endlessly screamed that he was a traitor for suggesting this.
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Trump was meeting him for the photo op. Nothing of value was achieved.
1
Let us take a simple example.
Say, you want to kiss and make-up with your former enemy. Would you, in your first meeting, want (a) all the concrete details on moving forward or (b) broad abstracts on the future.
President Trump, for once (maybe by mistake), dumped the mindset of cold warriors and took the correct path. This needs to be applauded.
A Great Leader once said, “... the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them — which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of (the American) administration — is ridiculous.".
This is what Trump is doing. He has set broad abstracts: (a) “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula”; (b) “lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula” and (c) “commit to recovering POW/MIA remains”. [The last one is quite concrete]
Trump, knowingly or unknowingly, is following this great leaders footsteps. Let him go!
11
With all due respect, you're giving Trump too much credit. While your conception of the meeting is that this was a good first step, Trump is touting it as a guarantee of peace on the peninsula. The meeting was the end in itself; Trump merely wanted to have a "great statesman" moment.
5
Other leaders have had talks occur at a lower level, say between actual diplomats with experience in the region where the difficulty exist. They know the players and the culture. While I agree that non-engagement is futile - as we saw with North Korea - a seasoned diplomat might have accomplished more in this case.
2
Trump, for whatever reason, made a major concession, seemingly on the fly and without a heads up to other stakeholders, and at the outset. As far as I can tell, nothing in return. Was this concession to divert attention to his cloddish performance at the G7 Summit, where his policy concerns were presented in a way that is least likely to result in any movement?
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Important to clarify that the only reason this summit was historically "unprecedented" was because no president before Trump was willing to meet, thus elevating a despot like Kim to the world stage and turning a blind eye to criminal actions against his own people. Trump sees no harm in that.
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Hey! He got attention! The world press was there and his face is on the news. What's wrong with that? Maybe he made a deal with Kim to build a hotel on the beach? Big things could come of it. Ivanka might be able to peddle her brand in that country as well as China.
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C.
" Trump sees no harm in that"? Trump sees much more harm with military action as do most folks. Remember that dark option may yet become a necessity.
Oddly Trump and Rodman could have a better grip of diplomatic understanding and paths to peace than most.
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That is what his cult does not understand. The repercussions of his impulsiveness, and ignorance will be felt throughout our upcoming history. Well that is if, we survive this insanity.
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If you hold your baby out the second story window, then bring her back inside the house, are you a good parent?
Why praise Trump for creating substantial trouble, then doing the bare minimum to rectify the situation?
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