The expectations had been high but then Trump began to tamp it down. What began a year ago with insults and threats... from name -calling Rocket Man to Dotard; from Fire and Fury to Missile over the sea of Japan has dwindled down to " i do not have to prepare" to " I can size him down in first minute" to meetings between leaders of the North and South, with Pompeo to Rodhman in Singapore crying on CNN.
It had all the trappings of a reality clown circus and Trump made it more so with his temper tantrums and attacks on the G7 and especially on Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and with ad hominem attacks from his underlings, outdoing each other to win their " master's" approval, from Trump calling Trudeau " weak and dishonest" to Kudlow accusing him of " stabbing in the back" and Navarro saying that " there is a special place for him in hell".
Trump left the G7 meeting in a hurry, not wanting anything to dull his forthcoming meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong-Un. He continued his attack on Trudeau all the way ( he had first stated that the tariffs on steel and aluminum were in " national security" interests and Trudeau's pointing out about the past 100 years of close friendship, especially a militarily) and that Canada will not " back down". The tirade quickly unified all political parties in Canada ( a rarity) and a resolution was passed unanimously in the Canadian parliament.
Kim came in a plane provided by China ( but with his private toilet and limo , and two decoy aircraft), with his polished, groomed and well-dressed body guards, ready to "play". He took a tour of the City ( even having a selfie taken), waving and smiling , working the crowd, which shouted encouragement at him. It was a bizarre sight. This rabid human rights violator and alleged killer ( gave the orders allegedly), of a half-brother, an uncle and dozens of others about to be legitimized by the so-called leader of the " free world.
While Kim was working the crowd, Trump was nowhere to be seen ( like a bride in purdah). The excitement was palpable, especially as the media kept revving it up with experts and speculations ( there was a lot of empty time to be filled and so many " experts" to conflate the issues.
The meeting is to be held at the Singaporean island of Santosha ( sankscrit for "peace"...sam... completerly/utterly; tosh...acceptance, contentment) ). There will be a meeting of Trump and Kim with only translators and then a luncheon with others ( at these meetings the real work is done by specialists and then the leaders show up to sign any agreement). And this is how it played.
Trump and Kim signed a vague agreement ( short on details and/or open-ended). Trump played it up for all its worth, calling it " historic ( and the media lapped it up ) and stated that the U S has agreed to stop the " war games " and that they have agreed to " denuclearization" of the peninsula. That's it. Kim did give up anything except for this vague " denuclearization", whatever the hell that means.
The South Koreans, whose initiative started this whole charade were left out and then with Trump's promise of cancelling the " war games" and " denuclearization" of the peninsula ( which means no American troops, no nuclear weapons, no naval protection), they will on their own, forgotten and exposed. China is the other bid winner out of this. They were in control from the time Kim went to Beijing ( twice) and got on that Chinese plane. Without American troops( 29,00) and weapons in South Korea, they would clearly roam free and far That is if Trump understands what he promised and kept it. ( tomorrow he may, as usual change his mind)
The only thing " historic" about this meeting, is the meeting. Nixon opening up China, by going there and meeting Chairman Mao; Carter with Begin and Sadat and the Camp David Accords was historic ; Clinton and Rabin and Arafat at the White House shaking hands, these are historic. They change things of import...legitimizing China; bringing peace to Israel and Egypt and bringing peace and reconciliation closer between Israelis and Palestinians.
Kim came away with much. He sat as an equal with the President of the most powerful country in the world, the leader of the " free world" ( six flags each). He got legitimacy. He got prestige. He got praise and a whole lot a great propaganda video clips to show back home, his tiny hands being clasp by Trumps small hands) and a fawning ,smiling Trump leaning towards him, with a North Korean flag over his head. A grand, spectacular welcome awaits the conquering hero, who face the "Devil" and came out ahead.
It had all the trappings of a reality clown circus and Trump made it more so with his temper tantrums and attacks on the G7 and especially on Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and with ad hominem attacks from his underlings, outdoing each other to win their " master's" approval, from Trump calling Trudeau " weak and dishonest" to Kudlow accusing him of " stabbing in the back" and Navarro saying that " there is a special place for him in hell".
Trump left the G7 meeting in a hurry, not wanting anything to dull his forthcoming meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong-Un. He continued his attack on Trudeau all the way ( he had first stated that the tariffs on steel and aluminum were in " national security" interests and Trudeau's pointing out about the past 100 years of close friendship, especially a militarily) and that Canada will not " back down". The tirade quickly unified all political parties in Canada ( a rarity) and a resolution was passed unanimously in the Canadian parliament.
Kim came in a plane provided by China ( but with his private toilet and limo , and two decoy aircraft), with his polished, groomed and well-dressed body guards, ready to "play". He took a tour of the City ( even having a selfie taken), waving and smiling , working the crowd, which shouted encouragement at him. It was a bizarre sight. This rabid human rights violator and alleged killer ( gave the orders allegedly), of a half-brother, an uncle and dozens of others about to be legitimized by the so-called leader of the " free world.
While Kim was working the crowd, Trump was nowhere to be seen ( like a bride in purdah). The excitement was palpable, especially as the media kept revving it up with experts and speculations ( there was a lot of empty time to be filled and so many " experts" to conflate the issues.
The meeting is to be held at the Singaporean island of Santosha ( sankscrit for "peace"...sam... completerly/utterly; tosh...acceptance, contentment) ). There will be a meeting of Trump and Kim with only translators and then a luncheon with others ( at these meetings the real work is done by specialists and then the leaders show up to sign any agreement). And this is how it played.
Trump and Kim signed a vague agreement ( short on details and/or open-ended). Trump played it up for all its worth, calling it " historic ( and the media lapped it up ) and stated that the U S has agreed to stop the " war games " and that they have agreed to " denuclearization" of the peninsula. That's it. Kim did give up anything except for this vague " denuclearization", whatever the hell that means.
The South Koreans, whose initiative started this whole charade were left out and then with Trump's promise of cancelling the " war games" and " denuclearization" of the peninsula ( which means no American troops, no nuclear weapons, no naval protection), they will on their own, forgotten and exposed. China is the other bid winner out of this. They were in control from the time Kim went to Beijing ( twice) and got on that Chinese plane. Without American troops( 29,00) and weapons in South Korea, they would clearly roam free and far That is if Trump understands what he promised and kept it. ( tomorrow he may, as usual change his mind)
The only thing " historic" about this meeting, is the meeting. Nixon opening up China, by going there and meeting Chairman Mao; Carter with Begin and Sadat and the Camp David Accords was historic ; Clinton and Rabin and Arafat at the White House shaking hands, these are historic. They change things of import...legitimizing China; bringing peace to Israel and Egypt and bringing peace and reconciliation closer between Israelis and Palestinians.
Kim came away with much. He sat as an equal with the President of the most powerful country in the world, the leader of the " free world" ( six flags each). He got legitimacy. He got prestige. He got praise and a whole lot a great propaganda video clips to show back home, his tiny hands being clasp by Trumps small hands) and a fawning ,smiling Trump leaning towards him, with a North Korean flag over his head. A grand, spectacular welcome awaits the conquering hero, who face the "Devil" and came out ahead.
