Trump’s Hot Date With Kim Jong-Un
Upon receiving a request from North Korea, via South Korean officials, Donald Trump immediately accepted an invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
Since then much has been discussed by the talking heads on cable news about past U.S. Presidents’ refusals to meet with North Korean leadership. Because doing so would seemingly validate the North Korean regime’s leadership as something to be taken seriously. Something the U.S. has never agreed to do.
And we shouldn’t.
The reasoning of this American policy towards the North Korean regime should remain as such. This is why we have a State Department that handles such negotiations. Because allowing Trump to visit with Kim Jong-Un could go either way.
And that’s scary.
Sure, on the positive side we could end up with some sort of peace agreement or at least begin negotiations towards such an agreement, but it’s not likely.
On the opposite side of that spectrum, Trump could also undermine all of the work that has been done by foreign policy advisers over several decades. Not to say that everything they’ve done has produced positive results. But a great portion of it has. Trump’s lack of understanding of all of these efforts is the most dangerous part of such a meeting.
Past Presidents who understood these efforts knew the importance of never granting such a meeting.
Trump who is known for not reading anything, including his daily intelligence briefings, doesn’t have a clue where our diplomacy efforts are, what they have yielded, or what they are working towards.
He could undermine all of that and create further chaos.
In fact, that is what’s most likely to come of it.
Further chaos.
The recent diplomatic efforts by South Korean leaders coupled with stiffer Congressional sanctions and the assistance of Chinese leadership are undoubtedly what led to North Korea’s request. A request that has gone unheard many times before.
North Korea is a nation born of distrust. They can not be trusted to follow through on any agreements. They never have. They always seem to play by the rules for a few years, receive some aid for their people, only to renege on every single deal.
Could this time be different?
Sure.
With new leadership comes different motivations. But the idea that North Korea is an oppressed nation at the hands of the “Evil Empire” that is the United States is not lost on Kim Jong-Un. It’s more likely that the policies of the North will remain as they have.
I’m not saying we don’t negotiate with North Korea. We absolutely have to. But our Presidents, particularly Donald Trump, need to stay out of such negotiations. At least for now. Had he staffed all of his open cabinet and diplomatic positions, they would be the staff he should send on his behalf.
Once some positive momentum is built and some initial concessions are made by North Korea, then maybe it would be a good idea to have direct talks between leaders.
At this point, it is beyond ill-advised.
If Trump does meet with Kim Jong-Un and in turn validates his regime’s leadership and it’s oppression of its own people, then that will give North Korea a sense that the rest of the world must listen and meet their demands.
This meeting that Trump seems so gung-ho about could (and most likely will) lead to an irreversible diplomatic disaster.
Words matter.
And Trump struggles with words…
(Originally posted on Facebook)
“Please Clap.” -Jeb Bush
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