Presidential Bluster, North Korea

People expect President Trump to sound ... well presidential. Not going to happen.  Donald Trump was a Reality Star and street fighter Real Estate Developer. Not a politician. He starts disagreements to get gain advantage, even when an observer thinks he should have stayed quiet.

President Trump wants attention and to win. His public speeches are all about look how great we have done, and responding to criticism. Marketing wise this was his successful campaign to be elected. But it sounds narcissistic.

This leads to the bluster with the King of ridiculous threats, Kim Jung Un. He intents to defend North Korea against all uninterested countries. Saddam Hussein announced the “Mother of All Battles” in an attempt to stop invasion. Both just wanted to stay in power and hide the weak position they were in.

All presidents bluff. President Obama issued several blusters of his own. He would “talk down” issues. Remember his “Red Line” threat in Syria? He was negotiating with Congress about a response. Before the US responded Russia negotiated Syria giving up chemical weapons, or at least most of them. Lots of talk, little action was the impression.

To date North Korea and the US are not putting enough assets into position to wage war. A build up will take month for an invasion, and frankly no one wants to conquer North Korea. South Korean citizens know about the reunification of Germany, and they don’t fear Kim Jung Un will start a war.

Problem with President Trump’s bluster with North Korea is talking the US into having to do something. A limited response like President Regan bombing Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi military bases may be appropriate. But first an action more meaningful than bluster and missiles into the sea would be necessary to initiate a response.

For North Korea, following Charles Barkley’s advice on the news, “I’m not going to waste my time worrying about these Confederate statues. I’m 54 years old.  I’ve never thought about those statues a day in my life.  I think if you ask most black people to be honest, they ain’t thought a day in their life about those stupid statues.  What we as black people need to do: we need to worry about getting our education, we need to stop killing each other, we need to try to find a way to have more economic opportunity and things like that.”

Great advice Charles. We need to work on improving society and opportunities, not unnecessary wars.