Trump has absolutely no understanding of Kim or North Korea

[edhopper]

Kim is saber rattling for two reasons. To show his people how strong he is and make them feel the outside World is their enemy. And only he can protect them. This is his main goal.
He also is warning the World not to attack or he will use his nuclear weapons. Even if it means NK will be obliterated.
He has no designs on expansion or moving on another country. I mean really, he can't attack any of his neighbors, who are all much more powerful than NK. His biggest concern would be a push for Korean unification.
Threatening him with military action plays right into his hands.
There is probably a diplomatic solution, though it will be a difficult one and will have to involve China and Russia.
He is a lunatic, but to not understand what motivates him will lead to tragic, even catastrophic mistakes.
And Trump has shown he understands nothing of the situation.

[guillaumeb]

1. If anything, Kim is speaking to South Korea.

Trump shows little understanding or awareness of anything other than his own self interest.

[Not Ruth]

2. You lost me at "he is a lunatic"

Changes of the moon cause intermittent insanity

[edhopper]

3. ????

[Igel]

4. But we know what the word means,

and that's not its etymology.

He lost me at the non-sequitur "He has no designs on expansion or moving on another country. I mean really, he can't attack any of his neighbors, who are all much more powerful than NK. His biggest concern would be a push for Korean unification."

His terms for Korean reunification is like many leaders who push for collaboration and cooperation, "line up behind me." So reunification wouldn't entail a transition government run by interim people prohibited from taking power after, say, 12 months, largely outsiders, followed by fair and free elections but reunification under the One True Leader, Himself.

I find that to be expansionist and designs on another country.

[edhopper]

7. That is his retoric

which is again, for internal consumption. He is not going to send his military beyond his borders. He is not going to attack another country unless he is attacked or feels cornered.
Trump is playing right into his hands.
He wants the lifting of sanctions.
I am not saying we should appease him in any way.
I am saying Trump is completely looking at it wrong.

[Not Ruth]

5. My theory that I just made up this minute

Is at least good as the one that I just saw on Dennis Rodman being the Littlefinger in this Game of Thrones.

Kim has little concern for North Korea, its lands, its people, anything North Korean.

Kim is antifa.

ANTIFA

I have no doubt that you will find support for North Korea among Antifa. Which means that support for Antifa by North Korea is also likely.

North Korea was Marxist Leninist until 2009. They have become more extreme since.

He has no long term plan, but he knows that the world is not as he wants it, so he must DISRUPT!

Legally he cannot strike first. So he prepares his "defensive" weapons, and does the equivalent of dangling a donut in front of a Nazi cop.

Sooner or later, he will get the fight that he wants and it will be a glorious moment
with his social media comrades.

[smirkymonkey]

6. A man like Trump, with so little knowledge and understanding of delicate international

matters has no business being our president. He is a complete joke and a danger to the world. I can't believe the republicans are unable to see what a threat he is to freedom and the safety of millions around the planet. They need to start putting such serious matters first and foremost above their petty political agendas.

[edhopper]

8. Not until they get

the tax cuts and deregulation that is there holy grail.

[smirkymonkey]

9. But Pence or Ryan would do that for them. I can't understand why they are still

supporting Trump when he is obviously such an albatross around their necks.

[edhopper]

10. They fear angering his base

which make up a majority of Republican voters.

They can't win a general election with just the base. But they can't win primaries without them.

[smirkymonkey]

11. I suppose you are right. It's unfortunate, but it's an unpalatable truth

we have to face.

[edhopper]

12. We are ruled

by a racist, fascist minority.