Issues ……

The Korea Talks

Amid the euphoria over the progress and premature talk of noble peace prizes, here are some questions that will have to be answered.

Is Kim really going to open up N. Korea to the world? Is he going to allow open borders? Wouldn’t that expose the people of the North to what they are missing out on? Wouldn’t that exposure leave Kim in a dangerous place in his own country? My goodness the northern people don’t even have access to life’s basics. Internet? They have no idea on that.

Is the world going to protect Kim from charges? He has had people prosecuted, beaten  gassed and murdered. He has jailed and killed foreigners who visited. Is he going to be protected from those crimes? If he doesn’t ask for and get that, he will be open to all kind of suits and charges. How are we going to handle that? Remember Saddam was hung by his own people after a trial for crimes against them.

We assume there will still be two Koreas, one open, thriving, an economic force in the world. The other, in the North, so backward that you if you are Kim, you have to wonder. Nuclear weapons protected him. Maybe building them was going to lead his end, and maybe not building them will too.

Kim has to make his survival a part of the negotiations. What will he get back? Can they reach an agreement? Can he survive?

Netanyahu and The Iran Files

Well that was a strong case Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out yesterday against Iran. First of all, this was planned with the White House. We are twelve days from a decision on the Iran agreement. The President and Netanyahu are the two leading world leaders who want it cancelled. Netanyahu outlined the case with clear evidence that Iran has lied, is lying and will continue to lie.

Now the President met with the French and German leaders last week. They don’t want him backing out. They want an added agreement that addresses the concerns over the original one. So President Trump and the European Union agree the deal was a bad one, but disagree on how to fix it.

Along come the tariffs which tie to this. You see the EU wants the tariffs against their countries lifted. The President had until midnight last night to lift them. So here’s what happens. At the last minute he announces a 30 day extension. Out comes Netanyahu with his presentation. Now the President has left the EU to make it’s call. You support me in the Iran agreement(or get Iran to agree to tougher sanctions in the next ten days), or I cancel and the tariffs stay. You side with me, or Iran agrees, and the tariffs go.
It’s all related.

One final thought on the Iran deal. The previous administration is still defending the agreement, but as time unfolds it is becoming more apparent then ever how bad it was.

The Noble Peace Prize

Way too early to talk this. But here’s a thought. They will never give it to Trump. Think this scenario.
Korea works out but Iran is a mess. They give it to the two Korean leaders and say how can we give it to Trump too, he is starting fires in the middle east.

Just a thought.

WHCD

Amid universal criticism for the comedian and night here is the NYT today:

OPINION Section:

Michelle Wolf Did What Comedians Are Supposed to Do
By ADAM CONOVER

The Ratings

Total Viewers Friday. Fox wins the night and all 8 time slots.

• Total day: FNC: 1.612 | CNN: 702 |  MSNBC: 1.140 | HLN: 206
• Primetime: FNC: 2.246 | CNN: 780 | MSNBC: 1.628 | HLN: 217