The
strange thing about there being a debate in America concerning North Korea
living up to its promise to denuclearize, is that there is a debate on the
subject at all.
There
was a summit meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea
resulting in an agreement that went no farther than delineating what normally
happens in such circumstances. For example, when during the Cold War, the two
superpowers deemed it necessary to reduce their nuclear arsenals, they set-up a
protocol that determined what each side will do and when, so that no side will
find itself at a disadvantage during the process.
As
well, when deep distrust exists between two sides, they would first agree on what
the ultimate outcome of the talks should look like. But recognizing that the
distrust between them will be a big factor, they work out a protocol that sets
up a number of confidence building measures whose purpose will be to show each
side that the other is serious about reaching a deal. The antagonists need such
a protocol to allay the fear that one side might want to pull a surprise by
which to put the opponent at a disadvantage or even at peril.
In
fact, this is the language you'll find in the joint statement signed by Trump
and Kim at the Singapore Summit. To wit, one passage in that statement says
this: “...recognizing that mutual confidence building can promote the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula...” Another passage reads as follows:
“Trump committed to provide security guarantees to North Korea, and Kim
reaffirmed his commitment to complete denuclearization of the [entire] Korean
Peninsula”.
Unfortunately,
what happened a few weeks after the summit, was that the American Secretary of
State pompously declared the following to the base of Trump's supporters:
America will ease the sanctions on North Korea only after that country has
disarmed fully, verifiably and irrevocably. The trouble is that when someone in
authority uses the media to send a message to the masses out there, the whole
world hears that message. And so, they heard the message in North Korea, and
they were not amused.
To
respond, the North Koreans did the very natural thing of reacting to the
provocative words of the American Secretary of State by accusing him of acting
like a gangster. Moreover, having taken several steps to prove their sincerity
to the Americans, only to be treated so rudely in return, the North Koreans
resumed their armament activities. What they refrained from doing, however, was
launch ICBMs or detonate nuclear weapons. This was their way of signaling to
the Americans that they do not want to burn the newly formed bridges between
them … at least not for now.
It
is against this backdrop that the current debate on the subject is unfolding in
America. You can get a taste of it by going over the article that came under
the title: “Consistency, the hobgoblin in North Korea,” written by Jed Babbin
and published on November 18, 2018 in the Washington Times.
So,
how do you think the debate is unfolding in America, my friend? Have the
participants realized the gravity of the situation and asked America's leaders
to refrain from engaging in the kind of provocations that can jeopardize the
process just begun with North Korea? Not on your life. Instead, look how Jed
Babbin describes the unfolding debate:
“New
imagery shows that North Korea is deploying nuclear-capable missiles. The New
York Times and The Washington Post seized upon the report, insisting that
Trump's initiative with Kim had failed and that he was being played for a
sucker”.
Trump
being a Republican and a conservative, he was denigrated by the two liberal
(and most supportive of the Democrats) newspapers. Was that a response to his
Secretary of State attempting to use the initiative with North Korea to
energize his base? Yes, it was. And that's a tragedy because when it comes to
playing politics, those that have the responsibility to look after their people
and the world, are acting like crackhead addicts.
Their
opium is the game of politics for which they will sacrifice anything that'll
give them the “fix” they crave … even if it means letting America slide down
the path of total irrelevance. But should we conclude this is how America will
perish?
Not
necessarily because from all the appearances, America has disgusted enough
goodwill people around the world, they will want to humiliate its foolish
leaders.
In
so doing, the goodwill people will shame those leaders and force them to alter
their frame of mind and start behaving. Failing this, the defective leaders
will leave office on their own or be kicked out before they can push America
past the point of no return.