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Trump seeks to placate N Korean leader over uncertain summit

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By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom

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In rambling remarks in the White House's Oval Office in which he also sharply criticized China over trade, Trump said that as far as he knew, the meeting with Kim was still on track, but that the North Korean leader was possibly being influenced by Beijing after two recent visits he made there.

These are not "rambling" remarks at all. Quite the contrary, his remarks were very calculated and on point.

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

"Kim's security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi's Libya, unless that could not be reached."

sound like a threat to anyone else?

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Trump said he was not pursuing the "Libya model" in getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Bolton has repeatedly suggested the Libya model of unilateral disarmament for North Korea, most recently on Sunday.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan are far more in sync on the North Korea issue than the White House.

Anyway, hope all those who were overjoyed at the notion of a "meeting" "discussion" "talks" and interpreted that to mean "a unified Korean Peninsula" realize that we may be far closer to military conflict in June than we were before.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Kim boy is one of the few leaders that speak the language that the United States goverments understands: When you have nuclear weapons, you are a partner. When you don't, you are an existential threat to the human kind. Just look at Iraq, Iran, Lybia, Syria...

Never, ever, denuclearize

4 ( +8 / -4 )

These are not "rambling" remarks at all. Quite the contrary, his remarks were very calculated and on point.

Comedy gold.

Trump had no idea what Bolton meant by the "LIbyan model". Bolton meant the 2003 agreement to surrender Gaddafi's nuclear equipment but President Pørnø McMafia thought he meant "invade and kill".

Trump has no idea what's happening, he just wants to be centre stage, basking in media attention.

14 ( +20 / -6 )

Alife: right on the money.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Let’s not forget who created the Libyan model by overthrowing Gaddafi.

Regardless, it’s ridiculous for Trump to be doing an Obama and trying to placate a tyrannical regime just to make a deal - any deal. Like Obama he seems to have it in his mind that there has to be a negotiation no matter what. That will only lead to a crappy deal that will not pass the Senate and will end up being rejected by the next president.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Never, ever, denuclearize

Spot on. If terrorists havens like Pakistan and israelcan have them, NK sure as hell can.

Trump had no idea what Bolton meant by the "LIbyan model". Bolton meant the 2003 agreement to surrender Gaddafi's nuclear equipment but President Pørnø McMafia thought he meant "invade and kill".

Thats the very definition of the libyan model. Might not happen today or tomorrow but knowing the mic bloodlust coupled with aggressive memory loss and complacency from the voting numbskulls, NK will eventually experience 'color revolutions' Enough with the double standards. If terrorists can be allowed to have them, NK should as well. Otherwise, ALL must disarm.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Bolton due for a bollocking, perhaps?

His comments about Libya were extremely provocative, it's no wonder Pyongyang reacted with alarm.

Let's hope the summit can be saved.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

such biased reporting, Trump is not placating anyone and his remarks were not "rambling."

You know we have the best economy in decades, deporting illegals at a high rate, jobs, stocks all up, and we are on the precipice of denuclearizing NK and nutjobs still find things to bash Trump about.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Anything Trump says usually begins and ends with 'rambling remarks'. The world is an even scarier place with the rambler (i.e. he who can't really string more than one or two logical sentences on the same topic together) in charge of the largest military in the world.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Do what I say or else diplomacy always works right:-/

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I think there is still too much we need to learn and we need to be patient. Good things can still happen.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I think there is still too much we need to learn and we need to be patient. Good things can still happen.

Fingers crossed.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"He would be there, he would be running his country, his country would be very rich," Trump said.

One of the many problems with an inarticulate truth-twister like Trump is knowing what to believe. If anything.

On another note, it would be helpful to see the tax returns of each man shown in the above photo to find out how much each has invested in the various US war industries.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Placate, uh? Y'know another way to say that?

Appease.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Kim made clear that the negotiations will not be one-sided. If Trump hoped he could get NK to abandon its nukes before giving them anything, he now knows it won't happen.

I think the summit will happen, but that sooner or later we will discover that China is lurking in the shadow, and certainly has Kim's back.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So let me get this straight, the murdering dictator of the world's most outlaw country has not only been made a peer of the President of the United States by Donald Trump, but is also now being guaranteed to remain in power by Trump?

And Republicans have the audacity to call the Iran deal bad?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The trump administration is like a clown car driving in all directions to the tune of the benny hill show.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So let me get this straight, the murdering dictator of the world's most outlaw country has not only been made a peer of the President of the United States by Donald Trump, but is also now being guaranteed to remain in power by Trump?

Trust me when I tell you, No one misses the butcher of Baghdad or looney Gaddafi. Life is hard for dictators and Kim doesn't have a lot of options or money and he knows it, so he can go his way and lose or go the US way and take a chance as Steve Winwood would say.

And Republicans have the audacity to call the Iran deal bad?

Not just the US, Israel and the Sunnis, of course it was a bad deal, if Obama thought it was so great and really truly believed in it, he would have given it over to congress for a vote and he didn't, he knew it was a bad deal.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

President Trump placating/kowtowing to little Rocket Man? Puhleeze. The delusional Alt-left NWO media machine needs to be reminded that it was North Korea that originally asked for the summit; not the other way around. . . .

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

if Obama thought it was so great and really truly believed in it, he would have given it over to congress for a vote

So you are willing to go on record and say that unless Trump gets the backing of Congress, even a possible future Democratic controlled Congress, it means he doesn’t believe in his own deal?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Bolton is a chicken hawk. I am not sure how the man lives with himself. Iraq, Libya, and now he may be part of derailing negotiations with North Korea. He was part of the think tank founded in 1997 which created the infamous, "Project for the New American Century".

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/pdf/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf

I find the top of page 51 to be rather interesting considering this document was published in 1999 or 2000.

Bolton is a neo-conservative however he seems to be able to get himself entangled in excrement regardless of which political party is running the Executive Branch.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

bass4funkToday  09:30 am JST

Trust me when I tell you, No one misses the butcher of Baghdad or looney Gaddafi. 

I think what you mean is no American right-winger neocon who spent the last 15 years of violent conflict sitting on their couch with a bag of pork rinds watching FOX News misses the former leaders of Iraq and Libya. For the people who live in these countries who have had to deal with loved ones murdered in drone strikes, sectarian violence created by incompetent post-invasion management, or the depredations of ISIS that were allowed to spread unchecked because the US was disinterested in building a sustainable post-war society, the picture is no doubt a good deal more complex.

But I'm sure it must warm the heart of a detached and disinterested war cheerleader to be able to make pithy slogans and nicknames for the dead.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Bolton's Libya model seems the best way, but N Korea will never accept it whatever. Trump wants to achieve something more about it for midterm election, so Trump may compromise properly to succeed in the summit. It seems that Trump is not looking for perfect denuclearizaion from the beginning and he wants something he made it to achieve.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

So you are willing to go on record and say that unless Trump gets the backing of Congress, even a possible future Democratic controlled Congress, it means he doesn’t believe in his own deal?

There is a difference here, the GOP knew Obama's policies a lot of them were disastrous as the Iran deal proved to be, the Democrats just want and have been obstructing Trump just because they hate the President, it doesn't matter what it is or who it is, just obstruct it. But now as the gap is closing between the Dems and the Repubs within the margin of error, dunno if this Blue wave will actually take place. So I wouldn't worry much as the Senate will still stay red, so I doubt it. Trump can believe his deal, but you always go through congress, Obama knows this, supposedly he's this anointed Adjunct constitutional professor, he just wanted a deal before he exited, he got it and it was one of the worst deals that a President could have made and if I were an Isreali or a Sunni, I would never allow a country like Iran to have nukes.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

I think what you mean is no American right-winger neocon who spent the last 15 years of violent conflict sitting on their couch with a bag of pork rinds watching FOX News misses the former leaders of Iraq and Libya.

What about the liberal Progressive loons that were sitting on their couches knowing at a veggie sandwich and Kale juice screaming to the top of their lungs and calling conservatives every name in the book while watching Maddow and communist O'Donnell that were supporting Hillary and the Arab Spring which as we all know cascaded downward to our ambassadors being murdered and the rest was history....well, Susan Rice tried vehemently her hardest to change it....

For the people who live in these countries who have had to deal with loved ones murdered in drone strikes, sectarian violence created by incompetent post-invasion management,

Gotcha, but why was it ok when Obama did it, but Iraq under Bush wasn't? I mean, both evil tyrants are dead, so that's a bad thing?

or the depredations of ISIS that were allowed to spread unchecked because the US was disinterested in building a sustainable post-war society, the picture is no doubt a good deal more complex.

No one told Obama not to establish a SOFA agreement and take out all of our troops to leave at least a residual force present.

But I'm sure it must warm the heart of a detached and disinterested war cheerleader to be able to make pithy slogans and nicknames for the dead.

Nice try, No one likes war, but unlike appeasement, apologetic liberals, at least conservatives can see the results of what happens when you lead from behind and when you lead through strength.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

Libyan model ="Gaddafi plus nukes=Gaddafi alive" "Gaddafi minus nukes=Gaddafi dead".

The Libyan government turned over a nuclear program that could fit into a garage.

The only model worth viewing is the "Iran model" which delayed the start of the creation of a bomb for at least ten years. Trump ditched that agreement, so we know what the Iran model means for NK.

There is no model for a nation completely giving up a working nuclear stockpile.

Trump needs to stop talking. He is so bad at it, it is unreal. Stable genius my butt. He should stick to his strengths, racist ramblings.

Kim will be protected??? Is this a payoff attempt? Will Kim get assassinated if his military gets wind of Kim taking a payoff? Will his advisers decide there is too large of a chance Kim will sell them out and derail the talks?

Denuclearize NK?? What about the rest of the peninsula? Trump showing his hand too quickly.

No, Kim and Trump first need to sit down together and agree to have a series of negotiations for the purpose of a peace treaty. How the peace treaty is reached is another host of issues, but that should be the goal.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

the GOP knew Obama's policies a lot of them were disastrous as the Iran deal proved to be

It hasn't proved to be disastrous, so they were wrong. The only party not fulfilling their part of the deal is the US.

the Democrats just want and have been obstructing Trump just because they hate the President

The Republicans have the White House, both houses, and the Supreme Court. Any failure is entirely on them.

it doesn't matter what it is or who it is, just obstruct it.

You just described Obama's congress. One of the least cooperative in history. And you wonder why he didn't run the Iran deal through them?

Obama knows this, supposedly he's this anointed Adjunct constitutional professor, he just wanted a deal before he exited

Literally everyone else in the world minus the Republicans, Israel, and the Sunnis supported and still support the Iran deal.

I would never allow a country like Iran to have nukes.

That was the point of the deal... Since Trump hasn't come up with an alternative deal, Iran has no reason to not pursue nukes.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Nice try, No one likes war

When I watched the news coverage of the Iraq War in the US, it was almost erotic in nature. People who saw this filthy bloodbath for what it was were often scorned.

Sickening.

It seemed many people did like war. The right in particular.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

bass4funkToday  10:26 am JST

What about the liberal Progressive loons that were sitting on their couches knowing at a veggie sandwich and Kale juice screaming to the top of their lungs and calling conservatives every name in the book while watching Maddow and communist O'Donnell

That never happened.

bass4funkToday  10:26 am JST

For the people who live in these countries who have had to deal with loved ones murdered in drone strikes, sectarian violence created by incompetent post-invasion management,

Gotcha, but why was it ok when Obama did it, but Iraq under Bush wasn't?

I think if you'll review the posts, Obama's use of drone strikes has been one of the things his supporters most consistently split with him on, and his supporters on this particular website consistently criticize him for.

As for incompetent post-war management, the Baathist purge happened under Bush. Once that power vacuum was created and the post-invasion sectarian civil war begun, there was little Obama could have done to undo it.

Nice try, No one likes war, 

Bolton definitely likes war. And right wingers like Bolton because he likes war. America is a warmongering state, and under right-wing leadership it is sinking ever quicker into authoritarian fascism.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

What about the liberal Progressive loons that were sitting on their couches knowing at a veggie sandwich and Kale juice screaming to the top of their lungs and calling conservatives every name in the book while watching Maddow and communist O'Donnell

Such a vivid imagination and words that read like prose.

Reminds me of Johnny Cochran if he were a right wing, nutty, conspiracy believing white man.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I think what you mean is no American right-winger neocon who spent the last 15 years of violent conflict sitting on their couch with a bag of pork rinds watching FOX News misses the former leaders of Iraq and Libya. For the people who live in these countries who have had to deal with loved ones murdered in drone strikes, sectarian violence created by incompetent post-invasion management, or the depredations of ISIS that were allowed to spread unchecked because the US was disinterested in building a sustainable post-war society, the picture is no doubt a good deal more complex.

But I'm sure it must warm the heart of a detached and disinterested war cheerleader to be able to make pithy slogans and nicknames for the dead.

And as a US military veteran I find these cheerleader + chickenhawks and their attitudes to be very offensive, immature and disgusting. They are not even mature enough to go enlist and possibly fight. The US military has become gladiators for the American people, especially the moronic Spanky Donny Mussolini regime currently popping off the chops all the time.  I am offended by the Chump's boorish behavior and I am sick and tired of war being a 'reality TV' show entertainment for a nation of cretins. Sick. And. Tired.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All right. Here we go:

A couple of days ago, North Korea released a statement saying that it might have to “reconsider” its upcoming summit meeting with President Trump after inflammatory remarks from National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Bolton adopted so-called Libya mode of nuclear abandonment, using strong language like  “complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization,” “total decommissioning of nuclear weapons, missiles and biochemical weapons” etc. while talking about formula of “abandoning nuclear weapons first, compensating afterwards.” He was being a Big Meany and ruffled Drama Queen Kim's feathers.

Today Trump responded decisively:

“The Libyan model isn’t a model that we have at all,” Trump told reporters . “We decimated that country.” By contrast, if the U.S. reaches a deal with North Korea,bKim will “get protections that would be very strong,” Trump said. “He will have very adequate protection.”

North Korea pushed, and Trump backed away. We have a word for that"

Appeasement.

Trump is selling out US interests for a pig in a poke. Some negotiator.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Nothing wrong with letting him keep the missiles.

Actually, I think he has been setting himself up to move to China and let the South join the North if the Americans pull out.

Pull Out Americans = Dismantle nukes by China.

South and North reunite.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The only model worth viewing is the "Iran model" which delayed the start of the creation of a bomb for at least ten years. Trump ditched that agreement, so we know what the Iran model means for NK.

But it didn’t block Iran from making other bombs or ICBM that could reach Israel or Saudi Arabia or Jordan,

Trump needs to stop talking. He is so bad at it, it is unreal. Stable genius my butt. He should stick to his strengths, racist ramblings.

And yet, he’s the President and nothing the left say can change it. Better to have a President that promises what he will do than a President that’s likes to talk.....and talk and talk....

Kim will be protected??? Is this a payoff attempt? Will Kim get assassinated if his military gets wind of Kim taking a payoff? Will his advisers decide there is too large of a chance Kim will sell them out and derail the talks?

I could care less what happens to Kim. No one told him to take the job.

Denuclearize NK?? What about the rest of the peninsula? Trump showing his hand too quickly.

As I see it, NK was threatening to destroy the US, not a wise thing to say. Now he’s in the crap mess of his own making.

No, Kim and Trump first need to sit down together and agree to have a series of negotiations for the purpose of a peace treaty. How the peace treaty is reached is another host of issues, but that should be the goal.

I think so, denuclearize and we talk, if not, whatever happens is on Kim.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

That never happened.

As if the left would know, I know they believe they know, but they usually don’t.

I think if you'll review the posts, Obama's use of drone strikes has been one of the things his supporters most consistently split with him on, and his supporters on this particular website consistently criticize him for.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t against the drone strikes, but it was easier for the anointed one to do that rather than apprehend a terror suspect and bringing them in, it’s so much easier to just bomb the bejeezus out of them, it would help every now and then to bring in someone alive and interrogate them, but the left didn’t want to do that. Too costly and time consuming.

As for incompetent post-war management, the Baathist purge happened under Bush.

Obama was the one that didn’t want to establish a SOFA agreement, pulled the troops out and thanks to that, we had to deal with the birth of ISIS and the aftermath.

Once that power vacuum was created and the post-invasion sectarian civil war begun, there was little Obama could have done to undo it.

Obama could have done a lot, kept a residual force intact and make sure a SOFA was in place, he didn’t do that.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

No one misses the butcher of Baghdad or looney Gaddafi

Not even chums Rumsfeld or Blair?

What about the liberal Progressive loons....while watching Maddow and communist O'Donnell

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sorry meant to add, what do you define as liberal? As Progressive? As communist and as the "left"?

These are all different terms, can you distinguish between them? I believe it's important, otherwise people are being fed a very confused narrative.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

That never happened.

As if the left would know, I know they believe they know, but they usually don’t.

What an incredible idea. A loosely defined group of people defined in this way.

Stop projecting your own ability to throw out previously held ideas and do screeching 180s depending on Trump’s latest Twitter stink bomb.

Not everyone has this capacity.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Sorry meant to add, what do you define as liberal? As Progressive? As communist and as the "left"?

The opposite of what a conservative, right winger and a capitalist.

These are all different terms, can you distinguish between them?

Yes, I just did.

I believe it's important, otherwise people are being fed a very confused narrative.

I agree.

What an incredible idea. A loosely defined group of people defined in this way. 

Hmmmm....that’s one persons opinion.

Stop projecting your own ability to throw out previously held ideas and do screeching 180s depending on Trump’s latest Twitter stink bomb. 

It was? I don’t think so.

Not everyone has this capacity.

You got that right!

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

No Nobel Prize for Trump, but a Lifetime Achievement Booby Prize for John Bolton! Well done!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Bass: There is a difference here

So after posting a dozen times that the Iran deal is horrible since it didn’t go through Congress, you’re saying it’s OK if Trump doesn’t go through Congress with any NK deal.

Got it.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"odds were still in favor of the summit going ahead."

Of course the summit is going to happen - otherwise the Kim Dynasty is history.

"Trump has no idea what's happening"

That must be why he's already got Kim to step into S.Korea, release 3 American hostages in exchange for nothing and start dismantling a nuke site.

Trump administration strategy for North Korea summit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB53xexbyto

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

How about: US, UK, Israel, China, Russia, India, France and Pakistan give up their nukes as well.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So after posting a dozen times that the Iran deal is horrible since it didn’t go through Congress, you’re saying it’s OK if Trump doesn’t go through Congress with any NK deal.

Got it.

Yes, because unlike Obama, Trump will settle for nothing less than NK denuclearize, no concessions or anything until afterward. Had Obama done with Iran what Trump is doing with NK, he probably would have needed to bring the deal to a vote, but being the capitulating person he is.....

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Ok, so that's one restraint off of Trump that you put in Obama.

Im assuming you will refuse any deals with sunset clauses or ones that don't include missle testing?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

unlike Obama, Trump will settle for nothing less than NK denuclearize, no concessions or anything until afterward.

Which it's very doubtful NK would ever agree to.

To be a master negotiator, you need to actually close a deal. Extremist positions in negotiation rarely lead to an agreement.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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