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Title: Muzzle Trump or it’s the end of the world as we know it
Source:
Seattle Times
URL Source: http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion ... nd-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/
Published: Aug 11, 2017
Author: Trudy Rubin
Post Date: 2017-08-11 18:44:25 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 3099
Comments: 15
Here’s the good news about the crisis over North Korea. We are not going to war. Donald Trump is not going to nuke Pyongyang, reckless, rhetorical threats to the contrary. Nor is North Korea’s Kim Jong Un going to nuke Guam. Yes, I know the president just threatened to meet any more North Korean threats to the United States “with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” This is the kind of extreme military rhetoric by a U.S. president the world has never seen, except by Harry S. Truman before bombing Nagasaki. Kim responded by threatening a pre-emptive strike against Guam, a U.S. territory with American military bases. But a pre-emptive war is not on the horizon, with one key caveat: My prediction may soon reverse if Trump’s team can’t muzzle the president. For months, observers have warned that Trump’s tweets and careless comments could endanger our country in a crisis. Trump’s words were no doubt perceived by Kim as a warning of a likely pre-emptive attack on North Korea, which led to his dangerous riposte on Guam. But the president also undercut his own team — which was making some important progress in putting the squeeze on Pyongyang. Only last week, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, pushed through the harshest sanctions yet against North Korea’s nuclear program, with China and Russia on board. These sanctions could cut North Korea’s foreign earnings, which fund its military, by a third. Much more needs to be done to ensure enforcement of U.N. sanctions, to curb North Korea’s export of workers, and to pursue U.S. secondary sanctions against foreign banks that help the North. The model (despite differences) should be the sanction policy that forced Iran to the nuclear bargaining table. In tandem with the sanctions push, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had made a key statement aimed at reassuring Kim. He said America does “not seek a regime change” or collapse, or an accelerated reunification of the two Koreas. Tillerson also said, “We do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel.” In other words, despite competing statements from different Trump-team officials, the nucleus of a smart North Korea policy was emerging: aggressively pursuing sanctions and compliance from Beijing, moving at a much faster pace than President Barack Obama did with Iran, while trying to reassure Kim of U.S. intent. The goal: to get North Korea to stop testing missiles and nukes and return to the bargaining table. Then, Trump casually — and without consultation — blew it up. Tillerson, reportedly blindsided, tried to walk things back, saying nothing had changed and “Americans should sleep well at night.” Trump clearly misunderstands the presumed target of his rhetoric, whom he thinks he can bully into better behavior. However, Kim, who’s mainly concerned with staying in power, already knows that an attack on the U.S. would be suicidal, says Scott Snyder, the Council on Foreign Relations’ top Korea expert. But the young leader is making a major miscalculation by “using threats in a more provocative way than we saw (Soviets) doing in the Cold War.” This escalation of threats could provoke Kim into doing something rash, which might in turn persuade Trump to order military retaliation. From such rhetoric and miscalculations, a war could begin. The best advice I’ve heard, from the Atlantic Council’s Robert Manning, a veteran of past negotiations with Pyongyang, is: “Stop getting hysterical every time they (the North Koreans) do something.” Trump should make clear, as part of an overall policy, that any use of WMD would result in a massive American reaction. But beyond that, his team needs to press behind the scenes for a broader, tougher sanctions regime, involving European and Asian allies. The “fire and fury” episode sends a warning of where Trump’s loose tongue could lead. That prospect presents a more immediate danger than does Pyongyang. Poster Comment:
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#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
This is all a bunch of crap just to get more funding for the pentagon and other government agencies. You would think that the american people would finally figure this system out. The media's job is to do exactly what they are doing, "promote it".
I do not go to church every time the doors are opened, but I love Jesus Christ. I am only human and fail Him daily. I believe Jesus is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, was crucified on a cross, died for my sins and rose from the dead and that He loves us dearly, and is faithful to forgive us of our sins. But He says that if you deny me in front of your friends I will deny you in front of my Father. Can I get an Amen!
Well, that's been our policy under Bush, Clinton and Obama. And where has that gotten us? A North Korea with nuclear weapons and ICBM's to deliver them.
That whiny little boy-bitch whines about that just like it is a bad thing. WTH do you goobers think we elected Trump? In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
The media's ONLY job is to make money by selling advertising and subscriptions. Period. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
hog wash, bull dung, etc
Moar war, and a bigger gov police state? The Trump team work for Trump. They can no more "muzzle" the President than a pack of poodles can muzzle their master.
Good advice. I expected Trump would be a better negotiator. So far it seems I was wrong about that. He's used to getting his way about everything. Maybe compromise is a new concept for him.
Never underestimate the impulse of a psychotic madman to deny that his mission is suicidal.
There isn't a muzzle big enough to muzzle his ego. He should know by now he isn't expected to be the front man for the administration on all occasions, and someone over there needs to get on the same page. Kim is like a mosquito buzzing in his ear, what he needs is some repellant, rather than a swatter. Trump unfortunately, despite his seventy years, is immature. He does not have a cool head or patience or the temperament to be a world leader, and certainly not a person in possession of nuclear launch codes. He should take a leaf out of Xi's book.
Moar war, and a bigger gov police state? Go back to masturbating to photos of Boy Jorge,Mitt,McLunatic,and Lady Lindsey. It's what you do best. Above all quit trying to pretend you are a conservative. You are nothing but a Republican Pod Person. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
What the HELL is that?
What the HELL is that? I thought it was self-explanatory. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#2. To: hondo68 (#1)
#3. To: Willie Green (#0)
“Stop getting hysterical every time they (the North Koreans) do something.”
#4. To: Willie Green (#0)
Muzzle Trump or it’s the end of the world as we know it
#5. To: U don't know me (#2)
The media's job is to do exactly what they are doing, "promote it".
#6. To: Willie Green (#0)
#7. To: sneakypete, Willie Green, U don't know me (#4)
WTH do you goobers think we elected Trump?
Trump Threatens Venezuela With Unspecified 'Military Option'
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#8. To: Willie Green (#0)
My prediction may soon reverse if Trump’s team can’t muzzle the president.
#9. To: Willie Green (#0)
Trump should make clear, as part of an overall policy, that any use of WMD would result in a massive American reaction. But beyond that, his team needs to press behind the scenes for a broader, tougher sanctions regime, involving European and Asian allies.
The “fire and fury” episode sends a warning of where Trump’s loose tongue could lead. That prospect presents a more immediate danger than does Pyongyang.
#10. To: Willie Green (#0)
However, Kim, who’s mainly concerned with staying in power, already knows that an attack on the U.S. would be suicidal
#11. To: Willie Green (#0)
Muzzle Trump
#12. To: hondo68 (#7)
WTH do you goobers think we elected Trump?
#13. To: sneakypete (#12)
Republican Pod Person
#14. To: Willie Green (#0)
#15. To: buckeroo (#13)
Republican Pod Person
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