The Fake President, as widely reported, does not read and refuses to study any standard, in depth briefing materials. At his abbreviated national security briefings Pompeo, et al, have to use simplistic, condensed reports, graphics, etc. specifically tailored for Trump’s short attention span and impatience while cautiously avoiding viewpoints that might be construed by him as challenging his uneducated, fact-free “world view”. He is a walking, talking, thinking, narcissistic disaster totally unprepared to do anything other than serve as the host of his former cheesy t.v. program. That he is in the position he now finds himself is beyond terrifying.
8
How many examples of Trump currying favor with V. Putin do we need?
It should surprise no one that he’ll do anything to diminish the power, integrity and prestige of the west.
After all, he is batting 1,000 at that so far.
He MUST be removed!
4
Once again our “president” displays his ignorance of international, military, diplomatic and security issues. Take all of the above along with his recent rambling about “we have a budget” and his lack of attention to or knowledge of category 5 hurricanes and I really think it is time to dust off Article 23. 2020 may be too far away to avoid another war, or recession, or to save our planet or rescue the shards of our democracy and nation that he has torn asunder.
5
Perhaps Trump is on 2 payrolls, Russia's and North Korea's. One has to wonder, no?
2
@Erika
Yes to the former.
No to the latter.
Putin is in full control.
1
What can be done? None other than Steve Bannon said two years ago that there was no military solution to the North Korean situation. He's right. Any attempt at a military solution means the destruction of Seoul. The vibrant capital megacity of a remarkable, very successful multi-party democratic country can't be destroyed for the sake of regime change in Pyongyang.
This leaves me very conflicted about Donald Trump's approach. George W. Bush set the bar so unbelievably low for Republican presidents, due to the fact that he launched a virtually unilateral war of aggression and regime change under false pretenses against Iraq in March 2003. To make it worse, Bush was a "chickenhawk" during the Vietnam War era. At least Donald Trump was simply indifferent to the war in Vietnam, not caring if Saigon or Hanoi prevailed. That was, on the balance, better than hawkishly supporting the anti-communists but looking for ways to avoid combat (as Bush did, by using family connections to enlist in the Air National Guard).
So all this makes Donald Trump look better by comparison. Think about all the terrible mistakes Bush 43 and his people had made by early September 2003, nearly two and one half year's into Bush 43's first term (aka where Trump is now in terms of days in office).
The preferred path of action by John Bolton (yet another Vietnam-era chickenhawk) MUST BE REJECTED, no matter what. If Bolton is marginalized, as appears to be the case, that is actually a good sign.
1
Trump has never lied to you before , other than the 12,000+ lies he has uttered in the past 3 yrs , so no worry. He and Kim are working on the Nobel Peace Prize for Trump , that's all.
3
For fun.....and getting past feelings about the President's skills....could it be that the USA is glad to have the tests go forward so we can quietly be gathering all sorts of information on how to correctly respond to any advances North Korea is making and can deter when we must?
2
Please keep in mind that these tests are not just "standard," they are "very standard."
2
Trump ignores provocation by North Korea because he has no diplomatic skills at all--and he's still expecting a big deal that will make him a hero. That deal is unlikely to happen, but meanwhile, Kim Jong-Un continues to pump up his own reputation for standing up to the "United States."
3
These missel tests are "small".
Quite simply, Trump was and is being played by Kim Jong-un.
10
The thing is, if these missiles really are a threat to us on the mainland, there's not much we can do about it. If they aren't, there's not much we would want to do about it.
This all seems to be part of a war game - of posturing and threats and counter-threats - that goes nowhere and that doesn't even seem to have a possibility of going anywhere.
Are we really concerned there's an imminent or even eventual threat of North Korea trying to take over the world? That seems unlikely. I'm not sure I get the point of all this. What are we doing here?
1
@Paul O I agree with your sentiment that this all seems to be part of a posturing game and you may be correct to say that North Korea's threats will go unfulfilled.
That said, the main thing I took away from this article is that a sitting US President shouldn't be blatantly dismissive towards even short-range missile tests by North Korea. These weapons as described could still reach countries allied with the US including tens of thousands of US military personnel and their families.
8
What can be done, other than a military invasion or pre-emptive missile strike, which would set off WW III? Sanctions don't appear to help. Those in other rogue countries ignore sanctions, apparently, especially when it comes to weapons/technology.
"very standard"
"likes testing missiles"
turn away from your screen for five minutes and think about the consequences for a u.s. field commander publicly making such remarks, and then consider that they come from the commander-in-chief.
3
I suppose if you believe you are an agent of God, you determine you can make decisions most others find reckless, confirmed by a feeling of omnipotence. Is that what Trump is doing as he encourages North Korea to ready itself for war with South Korea, and possibly attack Japan. I have used every negative word to describe Trump. Today I add tyrannical. Trump is unreasonable- mindless. He is a man- just a man- who God did not choose, the unmindful people of the USA did. He is manipulative and uses unreasonable power and control. I see a man who would relish a reign of terror, and revel in destruction. When Trump said he was “ the chosen one”, no one asked chosen by whom. It could be the devil. I expect the South Koreans and Japanese, among others, would agree.
4
@Wanda If God chose him, then we are truly lost.
1
Elections have consequences. When an insecure, narcissistic , reality show liar is elected president of the most powerful country on earth you have to expect problems. Trump is a leader who because of his insecurities will broach no criticism, and take no advice . All the adults have quit or have been relieved. Trump is in charge of everything. (let that sink in) The only things that Trump responds to are flattery and boot-licking. What can go wrong?
8
45 & his base don't care. His homes in on the east coast & the west coast is democratic. If you're a republican on west coast too bad!
2
So, what is Mr. Trump supposed to do about these missile launches? Should he order a strike on one of Kim's missile launchers when it is actually launching a missile and there is no room for target error? That would demonstrate to the world, but especially to Kim, that Mr. Trump is serious about North Korean missile testing. It might also lead to other reactions from other states as well. It's negotiate or strike. Which would be more effective in your opinion? It's easy to criticize. What's your recommendation to Mr. Trump?
Not being in complete denial would be a start. Repairing our relations with the rest of the world to achieve some unity would help, too, along with not alienating China.
7
@Eric Schneide What does repairing our relations with the rest of the world have to do with Kim's missile launches/testing? We are on good terms with the major players, The Republic of Korea and Japan being the closest to the action. Since it's apparently unacceptable to the players, what we need is a way to convince Kim to STOP! What other ideas do you have that might work since talking just isn't getting the job done.
Trump has no idea how to handle Kim. To the extent he’s in the same boat as previous administrations, there's no shame, but Trump brings a new level of incompetence and vulnerability. Other administrations at least tried diplomacy without risking armageddon.
Trump’s understanding of foreign policy barely reaches the comic book level. And he also has a strange affinity for murderous dictators like Kim, plus a strange allegiance to Vladimir Putin. Add in Trump’s desire for the appearance of wins, no matter the cost, and he’s ripe for the picking.
Witness Kim's wins: he has achieved a hydrogen bomb and demonstrated an ICBM capability, the latter similar to Ukrainian cold war missile designs. And now Kim has expanded his short and intermediate range missile capabilities, with one system strikingly similar to a Russian design. They've added solid rocket fuel, mega multiple launchers, and low, evasive flight paths, all limiting the effectiveness of American missile defense systems.
Kim remains a clever sociopath and shakedown artist. He faces an incurious, narcissistic, failed businessman. By the end of Trump’s first and hopefully only term, Kim can dramatically escalate his demands for good behavior.
And if the US leaves the western Pacific in Trump’s second term, Kim, with China’s backing, can easily dominate the South. China can then roll up the remaining US Asian allies, dominating Taiwan, Japan, and the rest of southeast Asia. Trump may yet set all those dominoes falling.
10
@Michael Tyndall Are you serious? 'Trump has no idea how to handle Kim.' Really?
Trump has at least MET with Kim on three occasions, in person, which is far more than his predecessors who refused to do anything to advance the ball and try to get some sort of deal with the North Koreans.
And who said anything about the U.S. leaving the Western Pacific in Trump's second term -- or ever? No one. In fact, the Trump administration has been working to *strengthen* our Asian alliances.
You don't like President Trump. Fine. You're entitled to your opinion. But you're not entitled to your own set of facts.
2
@The Commoner
“Trump has at least MET with Kim on three occasions”
What were those meetings other then photo ops with Trump swooning Kim? They produced nothing but trump kowtowing to a ruthless dictator.
14
@Canewielder
What did these meetings produce? Other than foto-ops, nothing.
5
Isn't Iran and Russia supplying the technology and natural resources to NK? What is the UN doing?
1
His incompetence is unparalleled. He knows nothing, cares about nothing at all except for that which will enrich himself. That he was allowed to do this in business was criminal. That he's running the largest, most powerful country in the world is unthinkable.
13
His incompetence is unparalleled. He knows nothing, cares about nothing at all except for that which will enrich himself. That he was allowed to do this in business was criminal. That he's running the largest, most powerful country in the world is unthinkable.
1
“In at least one case, Mr. Kim appears to have built upon a well-tested Russian design — though it is unclear how he obtained it.”
Please. Tongue in cheek, right? Kim visited Vladivostok in April of this year for a summit with Putin. To quote Kim from a NYT article published at that time, “I hope that during talks with esteemed President Putin I will have a detailed discussion of the settlement process on the Korean Peninsula and the development of our relations.”
Needless to say, the talks were fruitful.
12
Two years of whirlwind photo ops. A lot of dress up with dignitaries and royalty. And don't forget the golfing. What does he have to show for it? Absolutely nothing. He inherited a good economy and it just keeps moving along of its own accord. Have tons of manufacturers moved jobs back to the US? No. Do we have a fantastic infrastructure/jobs bill? No. Ha the immigration crisis been addressed humanely? No. Do we have the best health insurance in the world (that one is a joke)? No. What has he accomplished? Nothing.
19
The only sensible response is for S. Korea to match N. Korea in weapons capacity of every kind. They have the ability. There should be no need for a US miliitary presence in S. Korea.
2
Recently, President Trump said that his father was born in Germany (except he was born in NYC), then he said Kim Jong Un's short range missile tests don't worry him because they can't threaten the US, but they can threaten 10,000s of US Troops in Japan and S. Korea who still happen to be two of our best allies. Finally he is warning Alabama about Hurricane Dorian which is about 500 miles from the cone of probability.
Maybe all his apparent insanity just reflects that he was a poor student of geography.
7
It would be interesting as well as frightening to say the least if our government had no checks and balances and Trump had free reign to do whatever he wanted. It would be doubtful in my mind that I could even write such a letter voicing a criticism of Trump and if the NYT would be able to print anything of any substance. Another reason to vote in 14 months and right this ship back to the intention that our founding fathers had conceived.
2
I am old enough to remember when a certain spray tanned C list celebrity said North Korea was an EASY foreign policy issue. How he would have them denuclearized in no time and it would all be part of a new golden era of US hegemony and we would enjoy so much respect, the best, believe me.
But for a piece of birthday cake, the promise of a building a motel in North Korea, and some "beautiful letters" all that happy talk is long forgotten and the Democratic administration in 2021 can add North Korea to the laundry list of things to fix to make America great again.
11
South Korea president Moon has not commented at all regarding this hostile and dangerous threat to Kore and its allies. Even the ruling party and Defense minister said it did not violate UN sanctions, which are totally not true. Considering these, it goes without saying that Moon and its party are spokesman of North Korea or working for the best interest of North Korea. It is a disaster for South Korea!!
1
@CH
Moon's strategy seems to be to nudge Kim towards a peaceful reconciliation when things are going well and to avoid commenting when they are not. Evidently, things are not going well. In addition, the split with Japan probably weakens South Korea's security.
Meanwhile, Trump ahs also neglected to rein in escalating disputes between South Korea and Japan and their corrosive impact undermining America's security alliance with both of them to contain North Korea's nuclear threat and stop it from triggering widespread nuclear proliferation throughout Asia.
Evidently, Trump and his entourage of yes men/women value photo ops with Lil Kim in the intervals between ongoing NK ballistic missile tests more than America's most important national security alliance in Asia.
9
If an NK missile with a nuclear warhead landed on Seattle, Trump would say that he didn't believe Seattle was part of the USA. After all, the State of Washington wasn't in his Electoral College win column. It's all about him, not us. That's what happens when someone who represents a minority of Americans gets elected! The nuclear missile would have to land on the White House lawn, while he was in the Oval Office in conference with Pence, for him to tell the truth. Then it would be too late for him, but perfect for Americans.
3
This is the consequence of America First. When you measure everything — defense, the economy, business, your election — by that narrow ruler, allies like South Korea and Japan in this theater and Europe in another are expendable. However much damage Trump can do to our democratic culture, I worry most about his feckless foreign policy and his cavalier attitude toward climate change. Those are existential threats.
2
Mexico will pay for the wall. Tariffs will be paid by China. The North Korean nuclear threat is over. Anybody see a pattern here?
10
@Tom Yes. Someone who has lied all his life cannot tell when he is being lied to.
2
@Tom Trump - the so-called very successful businessman and great negotiator - said all of the above are so easy to win and get done. He was the only one who could do it.
Yeah, right. Trump couldn't negotiate himself out-of-a paper bag, and even if the bag was clear he can't even see and comprehend what lies ahead. Completely myopic, with a very bad case of tunnel-vision. Trump cannot think strategically. Just one dimensional thinking - if you even call it thinking.
1
Trump foreign policy summary;
China in Hong Kong?
No problem. Not our worry.
Kim testing missiles that can hit our Asian allies and bases?
All copacetic.
Russia in Ukraine?
Fine. Fine!
Cancelled INF?
The world is safer.
Cancelled TPP?
Didn't need those countries to effectively counter China.
So, what about China vs Taiwan?
It's between China and Taiwan.
So what if China decides SE Asia belongs to them again?
MEH.
So what if Russia wants the Baltic states again?
All good. It's Russia's sphere.
So what if Kim and Xi team up on S. Korea?
Who cares.
Important allies SK and Japan at each others throats?
Who needs em.
Brexit?
Great idea.
??
9
Why shouldnt DPRK have the ability to overwhelm US fortces that are attacking them? Just because we live in the US doesnt mean that we have to be Homers who view the world through the red white and blue coke bottle glasses offered to us by our govt and war supporting media. The threat to the world is not the DPRK.
@S Nillissen... No, the DPRK is not a direct threat to the world. However, the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea - DPR, now there is a real oxymoron - is a direct threat to the people of Korea on both sides of the DMZ.
1
And you thought a guy who bankrupted three casinos was bright?
Let’s face it, folks, Rex Tillerson was spot-on in his assessment of trump.
10
If Americans view their national security in terms of the contiguous borders of the 50 states of America, there are actually far and few threats.
If Americans believe the whole planet belongs to them, then yes there are emerging threats every second of every day.
1
@John Doe The US currently has strategic interests in dozens of countries around the world. Frankly, would could not survive for a year if we abandoned our allies (and our enemies), circled the wagons, and shutdown immigration. Our weakened country would be an easy target. National security is a far deeper issue than our actual geographic borders.
3
@John Doe...In the 1930s, Americans did view their national security primarily through the prism of direct threats to the contiguous 48 states. Sure, the US had an international military presence, but isolationism was the preferred approach to the rest of the world. It took overt provocation by the German and Japanese militarists to engage America. Fifty million murders later, America emerged as the titular protector of global freedom. Many countries expected and demanded that America stand between them and tyranny - think NATO and the defunct SEATO. The results have been a mixed bag. But, ask yourself, would you rather be governed by the Third Reich, the Rising Sun, the CCCR - or, the current arrangements?
@Albert Edmud
I'd rather have my freedom, self-respeect, and independence. Rather than being told "you are being protected and fed so shut up". Funny, you just sound like how the communists in China justify their regime.
My thought has always been that States with weapons are not a menace. They will not use them in an unprovoked scenario.
They have infrastructure, an economy, a society. Too much at stake to lose. Whereas a Stateless organization has nothing to lose. I would hope North Korea behaves like a state.
1
@sues What if one side or the other decides a shot across the bow will improve their position, and that is interpreted as the beginning of a full-scale attack?
I remember when I had just entered the "teens"and ,at the same time, had just started high school. One of the first things we had to do on a regular basis was to leave our classroom and kneel down in the halls with our hands over our heads in case we were attacked by the Soviet Union. There were only two countries with atomic bombs at that time. Now there are more than twelve, each with a total of ten or more. North Korea is at the bottom of the barrel, but it has atomic bombs, so it could kill millions of innocent people.
We need to do all we can to see to it that all nations are part of peaceful organizations such as the UN, or our world will be in danger. Our children deserve a safe and peaceful world, and we adults must due our best to make our world a safe place to live, or there will be no place to live.
1
Trump's arrogance and incompetence are putting the entire world at risk. And the republicans hide under their desks and hope for more judges before it all goes bad. The republican party no longer be trusted to protect the U.S.
8
Trump made a 180 turn on North Korea. From threatening the Dictator to loving him. From saying that NK was an existential threat to downplaying the risks associated with the development of missile technology in the hands of a murderous tyrant who has threatened South Korea, Japan and the US.
Why is that? Did Putin tell Trump to be quiet and give North Korea a free hand to develop missile technology to complement their nuclear capabilities, a technology that Russia seems to be providing? Or is it the Korean leader himself who has acquired personal power over Trump? After all the country has demonstrated its hacking abilities.
Is Trump simply too unintelligent and uninformed not to grasp the situation or is it something worse?
8
Kim’s political shrewdness is ... not in a good sense ... impressive. Of course, with the Trump’s desperate personal need for flattery, Kim is spared much effort to this end. There may be a way out of this highly dangerous situation with North Korea, but clearly not with Trump as president. We need a leader who can and will actually lead in order to serve (as opposed to self-serve). In this regard, Trump may still be seeking the Peace Prize in interactions with Kim ... not for the sake of peace but rather, out of deep jealousy, because President Obama was awarded this. With Trump, this is not empty, mean-spirited speculation.
2
In the grand scheme of geopolitical chess, North Korea’s unique proxy position has kept it in world affairs for decades. Both Russia and China have used it to fulfill their ambitions or simply to taunt the US. Now with Trump’s love affair with Kim, and Trump’s efforts to give North Korea a pass, both China and Russia are making plans to use this situation as part of their continuing efforts to disrupt democracy.
9
@Lawyers, Guns And Mone "Disrupt democracy"? Who does it better than the USA? When has any country embraced democracy and tracked an independent foreign policy that the US hasnt liked, and lived in peace to tell about it?
1
Kim likes missiles; Trump likes lies. As of this date, the latter is worse than the former, but that will change for the much worse. Trump lies loud, but Kim will not lie still. A big price will be paid by many and it will challenge the price this country will pay for Trump's incompetence, traitorous behavior in wallowing in foreign cash, and ruinous undoing of the environment, our trade, manufacturing, farming stability, and daily overdoses of lies.
19
Perhaps this is another trick question: do you believe what the intelligence community tells you and what your eyes see or do you believe what the President says? This game is getting too boring because of overuse.
4
Trump is so obviously not doing anything to protect the US from known enemies, like the Oath of Office states. It is distressing that so many people are talking about a worsening economy may be why he is not reelected.
America has gone down that rabbit hole with Trump.
11
@David Bible True. It is also distressing none of our elected officials in the Senate or House are doing anything about it, either, nor are they pressuring President Trump to take action against North Korea. Where are our elected officials?!?
1
There is a deep desire to see Trump’s NK efforts fail. That’s how twisted things are. Fortunately he goes on undeterred. The people who hate him never voted for him anyway.
@Edward What is his strategy or plan? He doesn't seem to have one. Beyond a few photo ops and love letters he has accomplished zero, zilch, nada. He may keep 'going on' but he is 'going on' to nowhere.
1
@Edward
What efforts? He’s done nothing but legitimize Kim and NK and give up war games for nothing in return. By all accounts, that’s beyond terrible deal making. Trump got owned.
1
@Edward A desire to see Trump's NK efforts fail? Those efforts were for show, a shiny bauble, to display in front of the gullible supporters.
And he goes undeterred? Did we read the same piece?
2
The biggest concern we all should have is Trump's inability to detect danger unless he sees it coming straight at him. Everything is personal for him and he thinks that Korea and Russia are his friends. Until an attack by either of these countries is aimed at him personally, he will ignore all danger signs.
11
Trump is not the first President to fail in efforts to contain North Korean military expansion, but he might be the first to be bamboozled into a false sense of security by mere flattery.
16
Let’s look at the history. We have bases in that region to project US force options, deter historical aggression concerns, and to act as a tripwire that would trigger a US response of overwhelming force.....the deterrent.
Both the Obama and Trump administrations have been poor students of history. Are we still committed to what used to be our strategy and our commitment to allies? One must be clear with bad actors. And then be willing to follow through. This is not a NY real estate deal. This is real.
5
@Wilmington EDT
How can you equate Obama with Trump?
4
Perhaps it is best to continue to humor Trump by pretending to buy into his fantasy that his wonderful relationship with Kim Jong Un will serve as a deterrent to N. Korea’s acquisition of nuclear weaponry.
Who knows what Trump would do if Kim Jong Un sent Trump a “Dear John” letter?
Our President believes his own lies and fantasies. How long can his aides control his worst impulses?
12
Howecer catastrophic it might be Trump's personal agenda has always received precedence over the narional security interests. He would continue downplaying the nuclear threat from the rogue regime of Kim Jong-un until he is kept in good humour by the latter.
1
One thing is for sure. If there is another war with North Korea it will not be anything like the last one. Our (Trump's) response to any aggression by the North will be closely watched by China and Russia and they could also intervene with cyber attacks against our military commands.
North Korea is a punny little third rate country, but then so was Serbia in 1913. I'm afraid this Korean situation is way above the capabilities of Trump and his administration.
16
While nations like Iran and N. Korea would be a problem for any president, Trump's overwhelming emotional need to produce the perception of success makes him an easy mark for their rulers. He talks, they act.
13
Trump got his photo op with Kim and in return Trump agreed to stop military exercises with South Korea.
Trump reported that North Korea would be reducing their arsenal. The opposite is happening.
Russia is pleased that its ally, North Korea, is getting stronger while the US becomes weaker.
Trump is such a deal maker.
35
Their side is smarter than our side. Doesn't that scare everyone? It sure does scare me...
32
@Airpilot What should really scare us is that our media has been on the war path over Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and China for years. Combined they hardly pose a threat to world peace comparable to that of our own nation. Squishy moderate liberals have bought into it. Much of the left, rightfully, has not.
I guess #45 who doesn't even know what direction the current hurricane is traveling and decided that Alabama should prepare for the worst, which prompted the Weather experts to text(correct) that was not even in the forecast and that Alabama had no worries. So why are we not surprised that he keeps playing down NK short range missile tests, which the rest of us know will most likely lead to long range missiles. Its been going on 3 years and nothing has been agreed to by either side regarding the nuclear issue, except #45 brags about the love letters he gets for the dictator. Oh hey tax payers Pence is in Poland currently and instead of staying on the site of where he is meeting with leaders he has been taking Air Force 2 to one of #45 resorts 20-30 minutes away on the other side of Poland. When #45 is gone its going to be very hard (impossible) for the GOP members and Republicans to complain about ethical/ costs to tax payers. But I bet they do.
15
@Ricky You whine about three years? You may want to take a look at the history of US nukes in South Korea and the seas surrounding the north.
You don't need to launch a missile very far to test guidance and delivery systems. It was obvious from the beginning of this round of tests that's what NK was doing. To say they are nothing, not important is to ignore NK's development. They have already proved they have long range capabilities, now they are perfecting launch and delivery systems. We should be very concerned and get back to the negotiating table with some real proposals, like recognizing NK is a nuclear power, to put a check on this potentially dangerous situation. But , no, the 'great negotiator' would rather stick his head in the sand, pretend a threat doesn't exist. Not good, sad.
8
@Jimmy Our military hawks would not allow Trump to do a deal with DPRK. It would take an end to US troops and bases in South Korea, and end to war games just off the coast, DPRK access to the World Bank and IMF, and an end to all sanctions. The US prefers to stay on a war footing.
@S NillissenWho knows what we could put on the table, troops in SK, war games, if we put the nuclear power card and reduced sanctions on as well. Something to consider, that's what a negotiation is supposed to be not the immovable grandstanding our president is pursuing. Getting nowhere in negotiations is not a workable option. Unreal demands by us have locked up the process.
Way to go Republican Senators!
What happened to your oath to protect us?
24
Trump's dictator friends built up a threatening arsenal while he just smiled and watched sure that his 'wisdom' and diplomatic skills are keeping them from be a 'real' danger.
All the while the Republicans have stood mostly mute and by their silence give support to this outrage. Had this been a Democratic president their behavior would have been greatly different.
21
To all those who did not vote for Hillary - yes you who threw your vote away on a write in (John McCain and others) or voted for a third party candidate (think Jill Stein), or did not vote at all, you own trump and this mess. Good luck solving it.
Lesson for 2020 either the democrat or the republican will win period. Be careful what you choose. Your children and grandchildren will live with the results.
23
@Christian Democrat I voted for the best female candidate, but it wasn't HRC. She was a poor choice, and after what she pulled on Bernie, many people leapfrogged from Bernie, over HRC and into the Trump camp. I will not vote for another Clinton era candidate like Biden. Bernie, Warren, Tulsi Gabbard, and at least a few other Democrats can work for me. Never Joe Biden.
@S Nillissen
I respect your opinion but...if you do not vote for the democrat, no matter who he or she may be, then others will decide the next president and you should then prepare for four more years of trump.
Pompeo is "worried that the Administration is being Played". Duh!
13
These are "very standard" for a country that is a nuclear power on its way to being able to reach the USA and Europe with nuclear weapons.
Of course Uncle Donnie promised they would never have such capability if he was elected and the Mexicans would pay for the wall and ...Surprise! He was just conning you!
10
Unless you want to invade North Korea, what are you going to do.
3
dave:
1. More sanctions, and more enforcement of existing sanctions.
2. Vote in 2020 to get rid of the menace in the Oval Office.
6
The Trump supporters on Fox and Breitbart used to beat down criticism of Trump on NK by saying the likes of "Trump knows what he's doing and Un fears him. There hasn't been a single missle test while Trump's been president".
Oh well.
13
@Dan Do you really think that shortrange missile tests compare to the fire power that the US Navy is pivoting to the area around the South China Sea? We have bases that form a gauntlet from Australia thru Japan,for Chinese and Russian operations in the Pacific. Abe was supposed to throw the Americans out of Okinawa. The US wouldnt allow it. Russia will not give back Kuril Islands to Japan as long as they do the bidding of the US
NYT:
What do you expect Trump to do? Obama didn't stop the NKs so why do you expect Trump to do so? At least Trump doesn't wring his hands and offer the NKs aid every time they test a missile. That only encourages him. Just ignore their provocations and keep squeezing their economy.
3
@James
What does this have to do with Pres Obama? Trump's "strategy" for controlling MK's build up of weapons has failed. Kim has played Trump for a fool, and boosted his own standing with his people. That's all Trump's fault, not Obama's.
20
@James ...because Trump continues to say he is making progress with NK and that the threat has been eliminated. Obama did not wring his hands over NK and he did not lie about the situation.
19
On some occasions Trump actually gets it right about war. Then the propagandized American public led by establishment Democrats object.
@Timshel
What has Trump "gotten right" about NK? Trump nearly started a war; backing down from something you start isn't a "success."
In response, Kim has continued to build and test more weapons. He fooled Trump into stopping war games (coordination) with Japan and SK. He has increased is standing among the North Korean people. Win, win, win for Kim.
Your partisanship has made you blind to facts.
20
@Paul-A We should stop the war games, period. We have military bases all over the region. We dont need to play games 12 miles off the DPRK coast.
Kim has played Trump like a fiddle. As has Putin. As has bin Salman. Between Trump's fawning over dictators, and Trump's inexcusably reckless tweeting of a classified intelligence photo of Iran, Trump is demonstrating beyond any doubt that he is a clear and present national security risk.
Trump's arrogance, ignorance, greed, and impulsivity is putting lives at risk. The Republican party is apparently happy with all of this. Are there any patriots left in our government? Anyone with any courage willing to stand up and say, enough?
36
Trump's assertions that these short- and intermediate-range missiles do not present a risk to the US is at best short-sighted and at worst delusional. He again fails to appreciate, or even care about, the threat these missiles present to our allies in the region. His ego prevents him from making sound decisions once again. As with the Tom Cruise character in Top Gun: "His ego is writing checks his body can't cash!"
103
So how would the Democrats deal with North Korea? Has anyone asked them or is it just raised to bash Trump?
@Naysayer ...well for one thing, Democrats wouldn't lie about the status of progress or lack thereof with NK and no Democrat would fall in love with a dictator.
14
@Naysayer
For starters:
- They wouldn't bring us to the brink of war with NK, just to sheepishly cack down.
- They wouldn't foolishly meet with Kim, which only serves to legitimize him.
- They wouldn't cancel war games (coordination) with Japan and SK.
- They would tighten sanctions, in coordination with actual diplomatic negotiations, rather than just create meaningless photo ops.
Next question?
15
@Wohl If that is the case with Democrats, they should stop beating the war drums. The US has offered very little to DPRK and has imposed painful sanctions. End the war games, pull the SK bases, stop the bomber over flights of the dmz, pull the troops, end the sanctions, and give DPRK access to the World Bank and IMF. We still have bases in the region from which we can operate if needed.
I am pretty sure that the first thought every leader that meets Trump is "how can I best use this person's massive inferiority complex, inflated ego and mediocre intellect?"
There's many ways to play him.
33
The con man is getting conned, and somehow his base thinks he is winning with Kim. Trump longs to rule a country like North Korea, and his actions imply he thinks he is molding the US into that country.
9
Russia provides the rocket fuel for NK long range ICBM’s, Russia provides plans for their Iskander short range weapons. China provides everything else. They want the US military out of their back yard, can anyone blame them.
6
@Harry B
Meanwhile Russia and China are pretty firmly entrenched with Maduro in Venezuela. Both countries are also forging relationships with Cuba. And Russia is in Nicaragua. So it seems the U.S., Russia and China are in each other’s “backyards.”
2
Since Trump doesn't actually listen to people who he pays to advise him, it's quite clear that anyone who feeds into his narcissism can play him like a violin.
14
North Korea will be a case study for the ages around the challenges of nuclear non-proliferation and the apparent waning of international oversight and enforcement capabilities via the United Nations. The Korean War has never officially ended on paper at least. Maybe this would be a good start to any future discussions unless of course we still really want to be at war with North Korea and hence their paranoia.
Just another example of Trump's ability to lie, misrepresent, twist and fail without an political repercussions. He can say or do anything and not lose the support of his core. As some Times' writers have noted, race and religion dominate American politics.
10
We can never stop NK for testing short range missiles. Those missiles will never reach US continent. We are not in imminent danger nor NK dares to attack us.
If we worry about our military personnel in those eight bases near NK, then we should think if it is time to pull back from those dangerous areas. All the joint military exercises, air force patrol, and navy reconnaissance in the SE Asia, they are costly.
1
@Usok
Shrink from a threat, embolden your enemy. Then they develop a missile with a longer range. How far back would you recommend we pull the bases?
7
@Usok
Yes, we ARE in danger. Even if NK doesn't attack us directly, allowing them to become more powerful in the region destabilizes it. If they attack Japan or SK, who are our allies, they are de facto harming us. And allowing them to build their strength and grow closer to Russia (who wants to control the region) is very dangerous to us.
5
@Usok Having our military stationed throughout the world is for defensive reasons, a national security necessity, and a shrewd strategic position to hold.
Trump is going to be the greatest catalyst for book sales in recent American History. Can you imagine the books that will be coming out after this man leaves office? Everyone who has worked in his Administration, and the reporters who cover him, will be rushing to write their books. Barnes and Noble and Amazon will have to create a special department for Trump books. For example, books on his "negotiations" with North Korea.
4
How can Trump not know that Kim is testing missiles to be used against South Korea, Japan and US bases there??
Oh wait, he didnt know what a Cat 5 was, or that the storm wasnt going to reach Alabama, or that that Russians meddled, or coal was not the wave of the future, or that..,
17
I share the ambivalence towards these North Korea arm chair "experts" - as pointed out in a comment below.
He compares them to experts who predicted stock market meltdown when this POTUS was elected.
I think this little rocket man realizes that his bluff has been called with a "a total destruction and a fury the world has not seen."
Hard as he may try to please POTUS - he knows even our POTUS can only go so far - given the hostility of his own aides towards Kim.
Now, after Bolton - the North has started calling Pompeo - names. They have singled out Pompeo as the man behind maximum sanctions.
But they know and our secretary knows - the secretary is not going anywhere.
It can fire all missiles it wants - but they have been at it now for over a decade. As long as none lands in South Korea or Japan or heaven forbid the US - it's just another Fourth of July.
These "experts" have been studying the North missiles for a long time and have had excellent academic careers - but as it appears - it has largely been pure speculation or just guesses.
@Neil Please provide evidence for your claim that "our POTUS will only go so far". I see none.
1
@Neil I'm more worried about Pompeo and Bolton, with a clueless and malleable Trump, than I worry about Kim.
Kim is rational. Pompeo, Bolton, and Trump, not so much.
1
The Stable Genius needs no experts. He is the Chosen One. Have no fear.
23
No one thinks what N.Korea is doing is good for anyone. But taken from their viewpoint they are doing exactly what is necessary.
We think of Japan as this benevolent polite group of people, however Japan has a history as viscious oppresors of the peoples of N. Korea. N. Korea has no intention of letting that happen again.
1
Fascinating, what "love" can do. Put South Korea, Japan, and thousandths of Americans in nuclear peril. Quite a powerful emotion!
5
Trump lies so often that it's no longer worth listening to his claims. After a 2018 meeting with Kim Jong-Un, Trump claimed he had personally solved the North Korean nuclear problem. Trump is a farce.
15
Kim, the virtuoso, has played Trump like a Stradivarius.
8
Trump is in love with North Korea and Russian dictators.
Everyone needs a role model.
99
It is obvious that the Rocket man is playing Trump like a fiddle.
11
“We never restricted short range missiles”, Trump has said “Its very standard”, he has said. In other words, he doesn’t mind that Chairman Kim is happily refining his missile defense strategy, that we’re told can be modified into nuclear carrying missiles. As long as the love missives continue to come and there’s the possibility of a Nobel Prize in Trump's deranged mind, he’s fine with the unhinged Dear Leader.
10
For world leaders, there may be easier tasks than suckering Trump. But there can't be many.
11
This is expected when the United States of America Government puts a president with zero experience and his hired family. If he doesn't do his job here in the usa how can he do it overseas. Not to mention he put all united States of America and its allies at risk. additionally as he is president he is breaking rules and policy set in place for hundreds of years. Hopefully we can preserve the materials to prosecute him and all the corrupt politicians like Moscow mitch that abated his criminal activity.
5
Trump: "we fell in love" and Kim expresses his love for Trump in his letters to Donald. Love is in the air!
5
Why would any Kim Jong-un want to sign any agreement after watching what Trump has done with Iran? Is it any wonder that Korea, or any other country, might distrust U.S. intentions?
11
Did anyone read this op-ed in the NYT last month which claimed Trump was outmaneuvering Kim? https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/15/opinion/kim-jong-uns-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-year.html The opening claims Kim has been having a very bad year due to the Trump administration. It was such a warped view of reality I actually thought he was being sarcastic at first since the opposite is true — Kim has been playing Trump like a fiddle.
Then I saw that the writer is from the conservative think tank the American Enterprise Institute. If this 180-from-reality, Emperor-has no-clothes thinking is what passes for smart analysis from the conservatives, no wonder the Republicans are letting Trump making the biggest foreign policy blunders with North Korea — and praising themselves for it.
In reality, Kim, a nobody on the world stage, a tin pot dictator of an impoverished, imprisoned and brainwashed country, got the leader of the world’s remaining superpower to prop up his power among his people *without giving up a single concession.*
No American President has stepped foot in North Korea. Trump did it, validating Kim’s regime there, without so much as a second thought let alone extracting some major win on anything — nuclear arms, human rights, nada. With that one thoughtless act alone, he could have very well ensured decades more of Kim’s rule. 25 million people are trapped inside North Korea today. Because of Trump, tens of millions more will suffer under the rule of Kim.
52
@L
Trump is nakedly trying to become Emperor of the USA, but corporate media is too busy marveling at his giant hypocrisies to call his blatant attacks on the Constitution, High Crimes.
1
@L "No American President has stepped foot in North Korea. Trump did it, validating Kim’s regime there, without so much as a second thought "
Actually the Demilitarized Zone meeting was to make sure that Trump is on schedule to get the Nobel Peace Prize that he so richly deserves (tons of sarcasm).
I wonder how Kim was able to keep a straight face in that meeting as he looked across the table at the Trump-Kushner family.
America , you are better than the Trump crime family and their abettors ………….. aren`t you ??
1
I guess Little Rocket Man's "beautiful letters" did the trick. Flatter the American president and you can build a nuclear arsenal.
Vote Blue in 2020.
40
When madman actually pushes the start button on deadly weapons is euphoric and egotistical. This gentleman is a crazy as Trump and a major screwup is already in the making. Some sidewinder of an algorithm will mistarget the ocean and South Korea will be hit. Trump is responsible for this scenario and he will blame Obama. Japan and South Korea are pasty to this craziness and cannot plan intelligent geopolitics with Trump in the middle reading love notes from the North.
2
Republicans see war as a business proposition. Democrats, most Democrats, dread the loss of life, and the destruction of another country.
And.... these people are our leaders? Why do we keep agreeing with methods of destruction in so many ways with our precious vote?
Americans must have acquired some mysterious 'Death Wish", religious or other, that possesses them in the voting booth.
8
@s.whether
‘Republicans see war as a business proposition.’
Continually amazed at the self-validating nonsense Democrats and so-called ‘progressives’ post and apparently believe...
President Clinton did not want to do what was necessary to stop N. Korea in the 1990's and now they have weapons of mass destruction. Obvious negotiations did not work. I do not believe negotiations are working today. Kim will not give up his weapons. However, I believe Kim values his life. So if he did attack S. Korea, Japan or the US, that would also be the end of his regime.
1
@Rod Actually, President Clinton made great progress with reigning in the Kim regime. It was the George W. Bush administration that weakened the agreement.
8
I don't understand how a country can successfully test missiles but does not have a plane that can fly Kim to meetings outside of N. Korea.
2
@cec, a nation has what it prioritizes. I don't understand how a country can successfully make it's rich white men even richer, but will not make a way to provide basic healthcare like insulin without bankrupting the entire non-wealthy population. For the purpose of wringing out more profit for the already obscenely rich! And I'm not talking about NK.
7
@cec
Nothing to do with planes and everything to do with security if paranoia is the prevailing culture.
1
World leaders, especially Mr. Kim, have found that by treating our president like a puppy (what a good boy!,who wants a treat?), he will act like a puppy and roll over for them.
38
@galtsgultch
Trump has been a disappointment.
@Areader: This is the understatement of the year.
1
Our great negotiator have been duped once again, or at least he sees political capital in believing otherwise. Kim Jong-un has clearly won this battle by eliminating significant oversight of his nuclear program by the US.
Trump is marginalizing the US and isolating it from rational nations. He is not making America great again but making it a laughing stock around the world. Sadly by living in Trump's alternative reality his acolytes don't even know this. It is shocking to see how quickly a great nation can slip into utter irrelevancy.
15
@Jim Dickinson " Our great negotiator have been duped once again, or at least he sees political capital in believing otherwise. "
The analogy with Trump`s business capital is that he went bankrupt 6 times and that if he had just invested his inheritance in Exchange Traded Funds today he would be worth twice as much as he claims to be which is at least twice as much as he actually is according to studies.
When the Official Policy of the Previous Administration was Strategic Patience Kim didn't 'take advantage' to improve his arsenal? Really? Of course he is 'improving' his arsenal. That's what adversaries do. They work to undermine your objectives. But 8 years of Strategic Patience was never questioned? How many nuclear tests has Kim conducted in the last two years?
This has been an intractable situation through multiple administrations, not just Obama. What’s different now, however, is that North Korea has significantly increased the country’s capability and we have a president who seems completely oblivious because he can’t bring himself to admit that any situation might be challenging. Remember “trade wars are easy to win”? Trump has also done a good job of alienating almost every other country, making consensus building to address situations like this much more difficult.
12
@GregP The Obama Administration never lied about the progress, or lack thereof, with North Korea and President Obama never claimed to have fallen in love with the North Korean dictator. The Obama Administration did not deceive the country or delude themselves into thinking everything was fine with NK.
4
Mr. Abe, usually an ardent supporter of Mr. Trump, immediately contradicted him, telling reporters that all of North Korea’s tests have violated United Nations Security Council resolutions.
____________
Ardent supporter. That won't end well either.
27
When it comes to North Korea and Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump is making Dennis Rodman look like the paragon of professional diplomacy and emotional stability, and that's pretty hard to do.
What happened to the notion of a Republican president, let alone a Republican Party, that are unwaveringly against autocratic dictators, strong on national defense, fiscally responsible, anti-deficit and support family values?
60
When has a republican really led with those values?
14
@Nathan Schneiderman Oh, we all know that they merely led with these professed values, which were never really their values. Part of the long history of GOP shell games.
7
@Quoth The Raven
It was all a lie. The continuing support of 90% of Republicans for Trump proves that, as did their never ending support for Bush, until the 2008 campaign started and they pretended they never heard of him. ("Why are you bringing up Bush? He's not running.") By the way Republicans usually back dictators, unless they have something Republicans want to steal.
Every policy that comes from the Right is a combination of hate, greed, and violence. For example, they claim that mental illness is the cause of multiple mass murders every year, but want to cut mental health funding, not increase it, while proposing that we involuntarily commit (using police powers if necessary) the mentally ill in case they might kill someone. They dehumanize the mentally ill (except Trump) so they can hate them, and are too greedy to help them, so they use police violence to punish them preemptively.
I dare you to name a Republican policy that is not based on some combination of hate, greed, and violence, sold with a bunch of lies.
They say they love the USA, but also say "the government is the ENEMY." The government is how democracy gets things done in Our Republic according to the Constitution of the United States of America, ratified by We the People, but it's their enemy?
That's the only thing they say that I believe.
10
Every few weeks or so, going back to Bush’s “axis of evil” nonsense, we are reminded by the media to be terrified of North Korea. And in all that time what has NK done? Nothing. Carry on with your day. There’ll be another reminder to be scared soon enough.
1
Kim Jong Un has more experience and talent leading a nation state than Donald Trump and his White House staff and Cabinet combined.
Kim Jong Un leads a tiny nation with a population that is a tenth of America's with the 4th largest military and the highest per capita number of it's citizens in uniform plus nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver them with malice.
Giving up Kim's nuclear weapons in exchange for Trump Tower Pyongyang is not going to happen. It is all about the nukes not the Benjamins.
7
The few thousands dollars invested by Putin and the FSB in 2016 are probably the most efficiently spent money ever, at least in the "geopolitical conflict" category. Trump is single handedly making the USA irrelevant in the northwestern Pacific area, separating them from Japan and South Korea because he has "fallen in love" with Kim Jung Un.
48
This is probably naive but, why it is okay that the US has nuclear weapons but other countries are not allowed.
And the US is the great decider?
The US is the most militaristic country in the world.
NO country needs nuclear weapons.
10
All this spin is making me dizzy. A year ago, we had a summit where we were told North Korea was going to curtail their nuclear weapons program. Its hard to describe the agreement because it was all verbal ( or completely imaginary) And now we hear that well, yeah, of course they will continue developing more weapons because everyone does.
Couple this with the nuclear accident in Siberia and its clear that Trump's BFFs are taking advantage of a lack of experience and insight to move ahead, putting us at more risk.
18
Mr.Trump routinely misrepresents events-he is in really dangerous territory here as he refuses to call out Mr.Kim’s adventurous program to test ever more sophisticated weapons systems.Two of our allies, Japan and South Korea, have every reason to be alarmed as should the U.S. Mr.Trump needs to give up his “ love letter” fantasy-it is a delusion which puts us at risk.Pompeo and Bolton need to figure out how to negotiate with Mr.Kim.
13
US policy towards nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation has always been flawed. It has consistently empowered countries which do not deserve to be empowered and has punished responsible nations.
In the early 1980s, Iraq (then a US ally) was actively seeking the nuclear bomb and seeking to enrich uranium to weapons-grade. If Saddam could later use mustard gas on his own citizens, how would he have handled nukes? While I'm not a fan of the Israelis, i think they did the right thing by destroying the Osirak nuclear facility in Iraq.
In the 1980s, a man named Abdul Qadeer Khan managed to smuggle nuclear secrets out of the US to his home country, Pakistan. He would later become the leading nuclear scientist in his country and help in the 1998 detonation of nuclear devices. This has created a major problem for the major democracy in the region - India - whose defence spending has been ramped up. After major terrorist attacks by Pakistan-based outfits, Islamabad used threaten using nukes against India for a long time - preventing any retaliation. Pakistan is a US ally.
Instead, the US always sought to curb the abilities of responsible nations. All South Korean missiles must have a maximum range under the MTCR and the US enforces this, even while the North grows emboldened by launches of ballistic missiles. And India for a long time was denied access to uranium for commercial use under the NSG, but communist China was allowed. Way to go.
2
We must remember that Trump has said he has a "love" affair with Kim. Based on the way our president has reacted to North Korea's military advances, he seems to be the submissive partner.
28
I don't think Kim will ever give up his nuclear weapons. The US response should be to allow the two Koreas to work out their reunification desires and pull out our military. The concern is that these missiles have been aimed at Japan. Mr. Abe has a duty to defend his country and may decide to develop it's own nuclear arsenal. The US can not control these events as China and Russia have an interest is North Asia as well.
3
I thought he won a Nobel Prize for his greatest deal making ability?
Does this mean he and Kim have fallen out of love?
15
Ronald Reagan's mantra was "Never speak ill of another Republican." Trump's is "Never speak ill of another dictator."
113
He's playing Trump like the proverbial fiddle. Each time he sends Trump a love letter, he increases his arsenal without objection.
27
“… missiles with greater range and manoeuvrability that could overwhelm American defences in the region.”
Definitely a Christmas Present for the Military/Industrial complex.
19
Well I guess our diplomats need to address this at the next peace talks that are continually being undermined by the same intelligence officials and "experts" (could the "expert" be John Bolton?) being anonymously quoted here. What's the big deal here? So North Korea is testing short-range missiles. We conduct war games and fly nuclear-armed B-52 and stealth bombers a few miles off their coast. We have a huge base in South Korea (imagine if North Korea had 28,000 troops stationed in Mexico) and nuclear attack subs lying in wait twelve miles off their coast. This is nothing new. This, if anything, is negotiating. Sign a peace treaty that includes security guarantees and non-aggression clauses, a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula, and the removal of our military bases in South Korea and have it ratified by our Congress and let's move on. Kim would be suicidal to give up his nuks after seeing what we did to Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, and are trying to do to Assad and Murduro, and the list goes on. Quoting unnamed "intelligence" officials and "experts" is just another ploy by the NYT to do the bidding of the intelligence community and to keep the war machine chugging along. Relax people, take a deep breath, enjoy your day. North Korea is no threat to us.
3
@FXQ The big deal is Trump is continually ignoring the facts in favour of his love of another Dictator. He has become deaf to the truth, which possibly is not new for Trump.
4
It is probably past the time in which the United States can expect to achieve any breakthrough agreement on curbing development of North Korea’s nuclear weaponry.
In the short time in which Donald Trump has been in office, the arsenal of Kim Jong-un has grown from a potential strategic threat to the region to an in-place, operational force.
This change worries the United Nations Security Council and America’s allies along the Northern Pacific Rim. The refusal or inability of President Trump to deal with the North Korean nuclear menace worries leaders of America’s allies around the world.
Even if Donald Trump is not paralyzed – as he seems to be -- by fear, embarrassment and an intellectual inability to grasp the situation and is just stalling for time until the American election in November 2020, the price for controlling Kim in the 14 months until then will have soared at the rate North Korea is advancing.
13
His response is predictable. Trump’s bff Kim JK, is cast as his ticket to his coveted Noble prize. Kim JK, in turn, took a page out of wacky Trump’s demagogue play book. That photo is expertly choreographed for Western leadership consumption.
4
Everyone should remember the Putin component in all of Trump's and, to a lesser degree, McConnell's decisions.
27
Trump's celebration of a launch site disaster in the middle east should extend to any failures (not successes) in North Korea.
And if there were methods to make any of them go wrong, however it might have been done, then we should be doing the same to the supreme leader's toys. Notice one pic of Kim with binoculars and what looks like a remote control for a toy car or airplane by his elbow. I'm sure they let him push the launch button.
7
What about Russian goals? All of these tests of different systems clearly have Vladimir’s fingerprints all over them. The Russians are using NK as a testing sub-contractor and the results might likely be felt in Europe. Putin is a puppet master and he’s getting us to look at this show to keep our attention away from the NATO theater.
12
Every country in this world continuously tries to improve its military forces, including its missiles. This is exactly what the US does. So why shouldn't North Korea?
North Korea and the US have been in a state of war for decades now. The US has the capability to strike any part of North Korea with nuclear missiles. It is the only country in the world to have used nuclear bombs in war, against civilians. And the American commander during the Korean war repeatedly advised the American use of nuclear weapons.
Keeping all this in mind, it would be the height of irresponsibility for North Korea to not make every possible effort to establish a credible nuclear deterrent to deter potential future American aggression.
4
@A Cynic How about a "nuclear aggression." Who says this is only a deterrent?
1
Trump knows what we all know but don’t want to accept. North Korea already has the capability to nuke any city in the US, as well as destroy Japan and South Korea. The best option is to engage them and pursue diplomacy to avoid a catastrophic war while continuing to improve our own missile defenses.
2
This article makes should worry us all. Trump is unconcerned about North Korea's weapons tests, because he ignorant of facts, does not listen to expert advice, and is vainly naive in his belief than dictators who flatter him mean well. Each day he demonstrates that he is a dilettante of limited analytical intelligence and ineffective in protecting America.
244
@Konrad Gelbke
I'm not worried. What worries me is how to pay for my kids college and somehow save for retirement and the thought of getting sick, losing my job and therefore my job-based health insurance. That, and if there is lead in my water. North Korea? No so much. Oh, and be careful of that "expert" advice. The last time we listened to these same "experts" it got us into a disastrous $5 trillion war and thousands of dead Americans.
7
@Konrad Gelbke I completely agree. I would also add that Trump has more than once mentioned how nice it would be to build a Trump resort on the NK beach.
13
@FXQ
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were the result of NOT listening to experts. At every turn, Bush and his coterie of death, defied expert opinion, and demonstrated their incompetence.
If there is a war in Asia, it could turn nasty, and then your kids, along with their college education, will end up dying somewhere on the Korean peninsula, and your carefully-made retirement plans will be 'disrupted'.
This issue is not trivial. We could end up in a major war because of this, and then it's game over for all your little 'life plans'. If he manages to acquire enough nukes, Kim will be able to play the game called 'nuclear brinkmanship' where he will be able to bully South Korea, Japan, and the US. The consequences could be dire, and unacceptable to the US. That means that war would then be unavoidable. Now is the time to stop him. Hiding one's head in the sand, as Trump is doing, is the worst possible course of action.
25
If President Trump were smart he would buy North Korea and not Greenland.
24
Trump and his supporters believe that having had an "historic meeting" underscores his greatness, but historic meetings can be remembered as either bad or good. Kim, like other authoritarian leaders, is good at playing Trump. Hence the "beautiful letters" and the lots of "love."
What is happening is what Kim wants to have happen. Trump handed him a free gift by meeting with him in Singapore. It gave him a stature on the world stage and in the minds of his people which he never would have had otherwise. So far he has paid little for all of that. The sanctions are a big issue. However, the poor folks of N. Korea have endured need, hunger, and even famine before. While Kim might like to end them, he can drag this thing out for considerable time, advance his weapons capability, give up little, and hold onto power.
Trump needs to believe that his 'gut' is right about people. As long as the stroking keeps coming he is unlikely to change very much in his approach to Kim.
30
I sometimes think the whole point of the Trump administration is to drive rational people insane.
166
@Josh Wilson
It sure seems enough for his supporters.
2
I was a child when my father served in the U.S. Army in Korea in the Korean War in 1951-52; a brother in law was in the U.S. Army there in the 1970s. Abpit 33,000 American soldies died in Korea, 3 million Koreans and Chinese or more died. When is the U.S. going to pull out its troops and stop this madness in Korea?
The U.S. needs to broker a deal where it pulls out its military assets all and allows North and South Korea to unify peacefully and return to being one nation as they had been for a thousand years.
Our never ending wars of imperialism has to end now and peace and respect for other nations return.
8
Agree . After we lost Korea we lost Vietnam Iraq and Afghanistan. No sign of us learning.
The military industrial complex and their DNC corporate allies put a stop to Tulsi who is most forceful and articulate re your, our message. Tis a pity.
4
@john, perhaps the real fault is our falling lack of diplomacy in assisting better relations between Japan and South Korea. North Korea's leader would dominate South Korea like China is trying to dominate Hong Kong without effective military force in place to keep him from doing so. The UN exists to back up it's allies nearby, South Korea and Japan, with the support of all.
It's too late to stop North Korea from getting nukes capable of hitting the US. The only real hope there ever was was to declare a formal end of hostilities and broker a deal to lift sanctions akin to the Iran deal. Only in a Hillary administration could this ever had any chance of happening; even then it would be unlikely.
Under erratic Caligula-esque monster that is Trump, no nation would ever make a deal with the US. And they are right and intelligent in making this judgment. There is simply no reason to believe Americans will ever honor their word.
47
Quite ironic? No we never honored our word re Native American treaties. Our nefarious behavior, racism and rapacious greed has no limits. The world must unite and isolate us. We have too much power and need to be neutered. Read “The Shock Doctrine”.
6
@Turin Pelham
I am a fan of the Shock Doctrine (though I wish someone had not read it to Trump, who seems to use it as a model as he creates shocks daily) Naomi Klein did meticulous research and footnoting, even going to interview key players in each country.
However I took different lesson from it. I believe We the People must take back control of our government and public servants from the global corporations and global shareholders (the actual Deep State) that has hijacked or foreign policy and domestic policy for the private gain of the mega-rich.
Many other governments are also under their control, so it is not likely they will try to isolate the USA even under Trump.
Shocks to a nation are used by the global elite, through U.S. hard and soft power, to rewrite the political and economic rules of countries around the world to benefit the mega-rich at the expense of everyone else.
It is not in the interest of U.S. citizens, especially now that Trump is trying to do it to Our Constitutional Republic.
1
Why is it we have arms control for foreign nations, but we can’t have it here at home? Kim is Kim, soon he’ll have more arms than sense like the U.S. Soon America will have another mass killing, maybe a war over arms control, how ludicrous. Kim is another form of Trump, except he’s predictable and well educated. He’s a showman fear monger and a conman. The US can’t do a thing, but further play “the art of the deal” game.
7
If Kim were our president and Trump was North Korea’s leader we would prevail.
Now we are certain to lose.
I find it depressing but also very entertaining . We are witnessing the end of the human species on earth. We should be privileged to see such a show. Something to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
If no couple reproduces over the next 30 years we will be saved. Trump was once a cute little baby.
When was he transformed? Kafka knows.
1
'Even so, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has taken the lead in the effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons and missiles, has hinted to foreign counterparts in private meetings in recent weeks that he is fearful the administration is being strung along, according to Japanese and South Korean officials.'
And he's just hinting now what has been apparent to anyone with half a brain since this whole Trump/Kim debacle began.
Kim will continue to 'flatter' Trump, send him 'love letters' and dangle the possibility of disarmament, not because he wants the sanctions lifted, but because Trump is giving him what he desperately seeks - legitimacy as a national leader.
Even if Trump does get a second term (which I sincerely hope he doesn't) there will be no appreciable progress with North Korea, and I wouldn't mind betting that Trump will wind back some of the sanctions as his love affair blossoms.
34
Trump's hideous self-absorption--confusing a bizarre "personal relationship" with autocratic murderers like Kim with actual foreign policy--is putting the national security of the United States at risk.
Where is the vaunted policy expertise of the GOP? Why are you silent Moscow Mitch?
Why are this administration's lackeys so afraid of Donald Trump and his temper tantrums that they would hide the truth under a bushel, while foreign enemies make obvious and terrible gains to our disadvantage?
Only Trump believes that his words and reality are the same thing. They really are not, GOP. At some point, you are going to have to face reality, with Trump's words left where they belong: in the dustbin.
179
Maybe is the hacking by NK of the Deutsche Bank@Paul McGlasson
Kim and Putin will immediately abandon 45 after he loses his bid for re-election. Then we'll see how friendly they are. Both have played our genius like a fiddle. His ego is truly in for it when no one cares about his hot air, except right wing looney tunes. Our next Democratic President will have his hand's full. Why do Republican administration's always leave such a mess for the next guy? Democrat's have not done that in our country since the late 60's.
38
In view of this article I still struggle to understand what would motivate Iran to give away nuclear armament
47
Is NK a proxy for Russia, or China?
9
Mr. President, how ignorant can you be? There are confirmed reports that North Korea is now building a submarine that can draw closer to our shores and fire these same mid-range rockets that you are dismissing, and how about our allies, Japan and South Korea, who are now in the vicinity of this arsenal threat. Stop playing golf and get back to work, unbelievably!
89
@Woosa09: No sub is needed. Rent a freighter or tanker and hide the missiles in the holds.
3
If the majority of Americans were killed by missiles from North Korea, Trump would still support them. He is not a negotiator, he shows his hand mostly by blunt force, and he doggedly insists that his first impression is correct, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, once again as with Russia, he would rather support the flagrant abuser than admit he is wrong. He is a total failure at anything other than bullying, and that is the opposition who analyze each situation more thoroughly than he does. For this reason Pompeo has totally lost any credibility he had, as he has not said one word to counteract these rash decisions by Trump which imperil the US at each turn. And in this case our Asian allies.
64
Isn't it natural that North Korea develops its missiles as time goes? What is a big story of this article? We all know that they will not gonna give up their nuclear weapons and regime. The reason, however, we expect that they can give up their nuclear weapons is the US economic sanctions are actually worked for them to surrender. And it could be reasonable for them to develop their missiles when if they really try to make an agreement with President Trump. How can they survive with poor short-range missiles when they give up their nuclear missiles? It is not a big deal.
1