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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFirst Response to the Singapore Summit
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2018/6/12/9141/04762First Response to the Singapore Summit
by BooMan
Tue Jun 12th, 2018 at 09:14:01 AM EST
There is a positive in many negative situations, and I suppose that Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will be less inclined to misunderstand each other now that theyve met and developed some kind of rapport. Perhaps Kim will not feel so threatened that hes tempted to take some rash action that could escalate into a global conflagration. In the short term, the risk of war including an exchange of nuclear weapons should be reduced. Considering the stakes, this is not nothing and its why Im generally in favor of having dialogue with enemies of the United States and problematic world actors.
Having said that, this Summit was ludicrous, morally bankrupt, and potentially harmful to our military readiness and our longterm commitment to the security of both South Korea and Japan. The Joint Statement is a laughable document. It says nothing of any consequence other than that both sides will work diligently to recovering POW/MIA remains from the combat phase of the Korean War. The DPRK reaffirmed a commitment to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The key word is reaffirmed. In the agreement, the United States committed to little other than working to establish relations, but this was accompanied by a declaration that we will end provocative and expensive military exercises with the South Korean armed forces.
Leaving aside what Trump and Kim might have gained politically simply by agreeing to meet, Kim is going home with an enormous victory and Trump is coming home with no tangible prize.
The South Koreans were described as blindsided by the joint exercises declaration, as well they should be since this isnt some simple negotiating chip but rather a key element of their military preparedness. The Chinese had been insisting that we cease these exercises in exchange for North Korea ceasing nuclear and rocket testing. In effect, if only informally, thats the deal that Trump just struck. I would not call that the Art of the Deal.
Were now best friends with North Korea,
A 2014 United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on human rights in North Korea stated that systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations committed by the government included murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortion, and other sexual violence, and constituted crimes against humanity.
I found the way Donald Trump ignored this to be highly disturbing and the way he commingled our nations flags and talked repeatedly about how honored he was to meet with the North Koreans to be disgusting.
As I said at the top, Im hopeful that something positive can come out of this Summit, but overall it was a deplorable display.
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First Response to the Singapore Summit (Original Post)
babylonsister
Jun 2018
OP
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)1. The first paragraph is what is important. trump doesn't even deserve mention of a Peace Prize or
anything, but just a few months ago we were seriously worried about war with NK, perhaps with nuclear weapons. Those tensions have been reduced a bit and trump will have a hard time convincing us that bombing NK is needed if Kim stays low. The meeting was almost as important as Nixon visiting China.
Now, trump needs to make peace with our allies and trading partners.