We can only hope. Actually, those two are a matched set, and they probably understand each other perfectly. A perfect example of “you can’t con a con man”.
Not a bad idea, except Trump is the wrong man for the job. He doesn’t listen to anyone, always thinks he knows best even when he demonstrably doesn’t and finally, he is a piss-poor negotiator.
Kim KNOWS that Cadet Bonespurs Dumpsterfire is an utter moron, and can be manipulated into giving North Korea WHATEVER they want just with a few vague compliments and nebulous “promises”.
Hell, promise Trump he can put his name on that monster unfinished “Hotel” in North Korea, and he’d give away New Jersey and Delaware, and throw in Ivanka and Barron as well!
current prez is absolutely the wrong person to negotiate. he will give away “the farm” just to be noted that he was a prez that did this. I do not feel comforted that he is willing to do this. have little kim come to US so we have at least home field advantage.
current prez is absolutely the wrong person to negotiate. he will give away “the farm” just to be noted that he was a prez that did this. I do not feel comforted that he is willing to do this. have little kim come to US so we have at least home field advantage.
Trump has charged into this without any preparation. No quid pro quos, no staff informed and ready to engage, not even experienced representatives of our foreign service in place in Asia. But he sure has given Kim ’s government an international legitimacy it has not previously had. I do not have high hopes for this endeavor…
Short-term? No further testing from N. Korea till May: positive. Nothing has worked for the past 70 years! Could it be that two questionably qualified leaders could come up with progress, bypassing all the arthritic layers and levels of shadow diplomacy to accomplish….anything? [Lower bar here]As long as it doesn’t lead to Armageddon, let’s see.Can’t say I’m exactly eager awaiting the meeting.
If these were two men of integrity and good-will I’d be all for it. As these men possess nothing remotely resembling these qualities, this is just extremely dangerous gamesmanship — with a smiling, treacherous assassin on one side and a narcissistic ignoramus on the other.
Unfortunately, this is probably a repeat of the usual North Korean diplomacy gambit. They get aid and relief from sanctions and then proceed to do just what they have been doing until they get caught again. At least President Trump shows signs of awareness of this pattern and may approach the talks with the proper level of skepticism. It is a shame that Senator Schumer can only think of trowing monkey wrenches in the gears of the State Department when cooperation is desperately needed.
A breath of fresh air! A cartoonist asking for opinions, and people actually responding. I thought that the rule was: cartoonist states opinion, one side cheers, the other side boos, and then, individuals on either side attack each other or the cartoonist. You might have started something here, Mr. Carroll.
The problem is basically one of SCALE. Israel is to the US as NK is to China. The arms ratio between the NK alone and the US is laughable from multiple viewpoints. But if we retaliated to a NK attack, would China then jump in? Quite Likely. As surely as we in the US would respond if Iran managed to pop Jerusalem. We are NOT, and have not been, dealing with NK alone. Consider nuclear-tipped, peaking China to be in full play on this one. >pun intended<
I agree with THEBASHFULONE. As I read Mr. Carroll’s comment and the commenters comments, I was struck by how unusual this was, but THEBASHFULONE put the idea in words so well. Very impressed by it all.
If we actually had a Secretary of State and not a Putin appointed crony; if we had a president who had the welfare of the world, and not his own profit, highest on his agenda; if Korea wasn’t run by a family that paints themselves as gods in their own country, forcing the populace to be on a single minded pilgrimage to attain nuclear weapons to threaten their neighbors and demand respect. That said, this is a roll of the dice we need to take. Start talking person to person, stop tweeting. If North Koreans can love Dennis Rodman, maybe anything is possible…
Brian Carroll creator about 6 years ago
News is that Kim Jung-Un has invited Trump for one-on-one chats, and Trump has accepted. What does everyone think about this?
I’m of the slight opinion that this could be a good first step. Smarter minds may disagree!
Dani Rice about 6 years ago
We can only hope. Actually, those two are a matched set, and they probably understand each other perfectly. A perfect example of “you can’t con a con man”.
Zev about 6 years ago
Not a bad idea, except Trump is the wrong man for the job. He doesn’t listen to anyone, always thinks he knows best even when he demonstrably doesn’t and finally, he is a piss-poor negotiator.
superposition about 6 years ago
I’m not optimistic about two wrongs making a right, though.
Masterskrain Premium Member about 6 years ago
Kim KNOWS that Cadet Bonespurs Dumpsterfire is an utter moron, and can be manipulated into giving North Korea WHATEVER they want just with a few vague compliments and nebulous “promises”.
Hell, promise Trump he can put his name on that monster unfinished “Hotel” in North Korea, and he’d give away New Jersey and Delaware, and throw in Ivanka and Barron as well!
loreeeeee about 6 years ago
current prez is absolutely the wrong person to negotiate. he will give away “the farm” just to be noted that he was a prez that did this. I do not feel comforted that he is willing to do this. have little kim come to US so we have at least home field advantage.
loreeeeee about 6 years ago
current prez is absolutely the wrong person to negotiate. he will give away “the farm” just to be noted that he was a prez that did this. I do not feel comforted that he is willing to do this. have little kim come to US so we have at least home field advantage.
martens about 6 years ago
Trump has charged into this without any preparation. No quid pro quos, no staff informed and ready to engage, not even experienced representatives of our foreign service in place in Asia. But he sure has given Kim ’s government an international legitimacy it has not previously had. I do not have high hopes for this endeavor…
richsolano about 6 years ago
Short-term? No further testing from N. Korea till May: positive. Nothing has worked for the past 70 years! Could it be that two questionably qualified leaders could come up with progress, bypassing all the arthritic layers and levels of shadow diplomacy to accomplish….anything? [Lower bar here]As long as it doesn’t lead to Armageddon, let’s see.Can’t say I’m exactly eager awaiting the meeting.
dogday Premium Member about 6 years ago
If these were two men of integrity and good-will I’d be all for it. As these men possess nothing remotely resembling these qualities, this is just extremely dangerous gamesmanship — with a smiling, treacherous assassin on one side and a narcissistic ignoramus on the other.
Billy Yank about 6 years ago
Unfortunately, this is probably a repeat of the usual North Korean diplomacy gambit. They get aid and relief from sanctions and then proceed to do just what they have been doing until they get caught again. At least President Trump shows signs of awareness of this pattern and may approach the talks with the proper level of skepticism. It is a shame that Senator Schumer can only think of trowing monkey wrenches in the gears of the State Department when cooperation is desperately needed.
Gary Williams Premium Member about 6 years ago
If both are sincere it is a good first step
thebashfulone about 6 years ago
A breath of fresh air! A cartoonist asking for opinions, and people actually responding. I thought that the rule was: cartoonist states opinion, one side cheers, the other side boos, and then, individuals on either side attack each other or the cartoonist. You might have started something here, Mr. Carroll.
Scoutmaster77 about 6 years ago
Never give a sucker an even break.
Spun_G about 6 years ago
The problem is basically one of SCALE. Israel is to the US as NK is to China. The arms ratio between the NK alone and the US is laughable from multiple viewpoints. But if we retaliated to a NK attack, would China then jump in? Quite Likely. As surely as we in the US would respond if Iran managed to pop Jerusalem. We are NOT, and have not been, dealing with NK alone. Consider nuclear-tipped, peaking China to be in full play on this one. >pun intended<
Satchel,Koko,LDL,Kenny about 6 years ago
I agree with THEBASHFULONE. As I read Mr. Carroll’s comment and the commenters comments, I was struck by how unusual this was, but THEBASHFULONE put the idea in words so well. Very impressed by it all.
feverjr Premium Member about 6 years ago
If we actually had a Secretary of State and not a Putin appointed crony; if we had a president who had the welfare of the world, and not his own profit, highest on his agenda; if Korea wasn’t run by a family that paints themselves as gods in their own country, forcing the populace to be on a single minded pilgrimage to attain nuclear weapons to threaten their neighbors and demand respect. That said, this is a roll of the dice we need to take. Start talking person to person, stop tweeting. If North Koreans can love Dennis Rodman, maybe anything is possible…