Grading the Singapore Summit: The most fair-minded answer is that it’s too soon to tell.

National Review ^ | 06/12/2018 | Jonah Goldberg

[SeekAndFind]

How to grade the Singapore summit? I think the most fair-minded answer is that it’s too soon to tell, but there’s every reason in the world to be deeply skeptical that Kim will make good on his commitments to “de-nuclearize.” Why? Because: North Korea has promised to do exactly that — with far more specificity — in the past. The actual paper agreement that Trump and Kim signed is not just worthless on its own, it’s less than worthless given that it literally recycles past worthless promises as if they are new ones. That’s contrary to the opinions of a lot of people on Twitter and TV who think — and feel — that this is Trump’s masterstroke. This isn’t a criticism of Trump. It’s just a simple recognition of reality. The Norks have bamboozled everyone else who extracted promises from them. By all means, let’s hope for the best. But North Korean duplicity is normal.

Moreover, there’s good reason to believe that if Kim were sincere about getting rid of his nukes, his own regime would kill him. The nuclear program is a unifying tool of state propaganda, celebrated and mythologized in grade schools and everywhere else in Korean society. Expecting them to get rid of them is like expecting the Hell’s Angels to forswear motorcycles in favor of minivans.

Still if Kim is actually sincere this time, then the summit will prove to be a huge success. That is a monumental “if,” but it’s one I think every sane person should hope for.

Comments

However, there are many people who want to score the summit as an instant success or failure in real time. On those terms, here are some preliminary notes on my scorecard.

It’s a success if:

• You think a general improvement of relations with North Korea is a desirable end in itself.
• You care deeply and sincerely about the return of American remains from the Korean War (by the way, we pay the North Koreans about $1 million for each set of remains, so this isn’t quite the “goodwill” gesture it’s being made out to be).
• You think we were in fact on the brink of war during the whole “fire and fury” chapter and that talking is always preferable to fighting.
• You think North Korea deserves to be welcomed back into the community of nations and be seen as a co-equal nation with the United States of America.
• You think any spectacle where Trump dominates the news coverage is good.
• You’re Dennis Rodman.
• You’re a Republican strategist eager to keep the peacemaker story through the midterms.
• You’re Kim Jong-un.

It’s a failure if:

• You thought the international opprobrium on North Korea was well-deserved and maintaining pressure on the regime was a valuable and correct policy.
• You think an American president heaping praise on an evil dictator in exchange for worthless promises is grotesque.
• You thought Trump could simply walk into a room and charm North Korea out of its nuclear weapons.
• You place a high value on the issue of human rights and the evils of the North Korean gulag.
• You think U.S.–South Korea military exercises are too valuable a chip to trade for more implausible promises (though in fairness, there’s plenty of time to restart them on schedule, so this may have been a clever and costless chip — though not informing the Pentagon about this in advance strikes me as ill-advised).

[Sacajaweau]

An “A” for just getting to the table.

[Reno89519]

Too much second guessing before the ink is dry. How about we celebrate the successes and work on implementing them instead of finding fault and worrying about it. Besides, this is not President Obama, it is President Trump.

[JudyinCanada]

I saw Jonah interviewed the other day - he still looks like he either hates the president or had a bowl of lemons for lunch.

[Arm_Bears]

More Monday morning quarterbacking—This time from the Never-Trump National Review.

Meh!

[bert]

Jonah is imitating his mom

Jonah was

[bcr100]

Like duh. But how many in the media were quick to call Obama’s Iran deal aa success when trust is also a question about them?

[poconopundit]

...Still if Kim is actually sincere this time, then the summit will prove to be a huge success. That is a monumental “if”...

It pains Never Trumpers so much to say something positive about what Trump does. There's always a "monumental IF" to add.

This one's another George Will or Peggy Noonan -- crest-fallen.

[Logical me]

The communists Democrats and the Trump haters would rather have war than piece. Watch the rotten filthy Rats and RINOs go at it. This is a chance for real piece with NK.

[HamiltonJay]

Yes, N Korea has shown it can’t be trusted, again and again.. but unlike other Administrations... Trump did not hand them cash for empty promises they could break later.

If N. Korea breaks their promises, it will be evident quickly that they have no intention of biding by the agreement.

Unlike the 7 years or more it took for other Administrations to validate they had been had.

Could this all be a waste of time? Sure... but the only other real solution to N. Korea is a military one, and does anyone want a war where there is little doubt the death toll would be in the hundreds of thousands if not more??

The status quo was not tenable, so we give this a try... if it fails, it fails, but it can’t be said it wasn’t tried.

They just won’t allow Trump to have a clear win.. a win that only came about because he completely changed the geopolitical stand of the US when it came to NK. Will it play out as a win or a waste of time? Only time will tell.

That doesn’t diminish this moment, and its repugnant that the press will keep trying to.

[fireman15]

This was one for the history books. A+++ But we can see how the Never-Trumpers are going to play this one based on just this one National Review piece. Bill Buckley is turning over in his grave again at the piece of trash the saboteurs have turned his magazine into.

[poconopundit]

It's a failure if... You think an American president heaping praise on an evil dictator in exchange for worthless promises is grotesque.

Hey Joah, be careful who you call an "evil dictator".

What about a oligarchy ruled by a Uniparty that attempts a coup on a duly elected government of the people. Is that an "evil dictatorship">

How about a Deep State that sends young men and woman to war for no just cause?

[Cicero]

He says it’s too soon to tell. True. And then he goes through a ton of never-Trumper exercises the whole rest of the way.

Thanks a bunch, Jonah-jerk.

[FLT-bird]

As to the whining that it’s a brutal dictatorship......it was for the last 3 presidents too and they all tried to make deals. I didn’t hear this complaint then.

What the hell does anybody think Stalin and the Soviet Union was? I didn’t hear criticism from the MSM for FDR and subsequent presidents who made deals with them. President Trump has to play the hand he was dealt. Sorry the Norks aren’t choir boys. If we can get a deal done that gets rid of the nukes though, then that’s a Yuge success.

[old-ager]

Jonah, you’re a has-been never trump puffed up ass (rhymes with sasse).

Nobody cares how you grade anything.

Go away.

[Political Junkie Too]

Moreover, there’s good reason to believe that if Kim were sincere about getting rid of his nukes, his own regime would kill him. The nuclear program is a unifying tool of state propaganda, celebrated and mythologized in grade schools and everywhere else in Korean society. Expecting them to get rid of them is like expecting the Hell’s Angels to forswear motorcycles in favor of minivans.

Goldberg doesn't believe that North Koreans would be willing to give up nuclear weapons they can't use for Four Seasons and JW Marriott hotels?

-PJ

[SES1066]

But how many in the media were quick to call Obama’s Iran deal aa success when trust is also a question about them?

Amen, the resemblance to the situation and the difference in the reaction is STRIKING!

[pgkdan]

STFU Jonah.

[TTFlyer]

FOAD, Goldbrick.

[a little elbow grease]

"I saw Jonah interviewed the other day - he still looks like he either hates the president or had a bowl of lemons for lunch."

_____________

Jonah tends toward being a jealous pussy. He was always pissed that his mother helped Linda 'Day' Tripper expose dear Monica.