- (7) Until today--literally June 1, 2018--American policy was that we wouldn't meet with the North Koreans until they FIRST did various things. Trump turned that on its head.
(8) Here's what none of the "experts" understood:
FACE is the most important thing in East Asia.
Trump honored the North Koreans in a way that no other US president has.
- (9) If the North Koreans reneged on everything NOW, they would lose all their face. They're committed. Trump solved a 70-year problem.
- (10) As he said, "It souldn't have been up to me." And here's my prediction: The US will establish bilateral relations with North Korea.
- (11) Remember Obama's endless groveling and apologies to the world? It made the world hold him in contempt. See, Obama was debasing the PRESIDENCY and the COUNTRY, not himself.
- (12) By simply treating North Korea AS AN EQUAL, Trump solved the problem. He neither groveled nor issued orders. AND I'm absolutely positive that some form of military action was involved.
- (13) IF--and that's a BIG IF--military action was involved, it was at the behest of Kim Jong-un and his allies. The North Koreans are not acting as though they were coerced into anything.
- (14) And now Trump and Kim Yong-chol pulled off another deception that allowed North Korea to debrief Trump directly. I wondered why a former military intelligence officer and active-duty general came to the US. Now I know.
- (15) The final element is that Trump has taken the North Korean leadership into his confidence. North Korea--in one day--went from struggling for legitimacy to confidant of the United States. Without WEAPONS. Without WAR.
- (16) The negotiations will LIKELY be tough, just for the sake of appearances. But the deal is done. Trump and Kim Jong-un totally outsmarted the Chinese and the Russians.
- (17) Every day brings NEW incredible news. The only way to see it is to stop being distracted by the deliberate distractions...
- (18) ADDENDUM: Just for a laugh, read what the idiot Bruce Cumings had to say about all this a month ago.
- (19) "I don’t think Trump has the slightest idea about the nature of the Korean conflict, how deep it has run, or how long it has been going on."
- (20) Nobody is stupider than a leftist intellectual...
- I love this man. He's so brilliant he makes the stars disappear.
- I got that as well.He spoke about "honor" alot. He was reminding Kim that he will only be given honor if he does the right thing. Question: What do you think about the dates of the OIG and the Trump/Kim meeting being essentially the same time given the NK time zone?Suspicious!
- 1 more reply
- Correct again. 'Face' for East Asians is the most important aspect of our cultural paradigm. The experts forgot why the Emperor of Japan was allowed to remain after surrender, a symbolic gesture to allow Japan to Save Face. Trump understands people.
- I understood it as well. I have a Vietnamese aunt, a Vietnamese sister-in-law and my brother teaches at the university in Saigon. I have some insight into the Asian culture and mindset
- OMG How do they classify themselves as experts
I know so little, thought that was well known
- Aa an expat living in Asia...this is so true. Kind of frustrating at first but once you get used to it, transactions become easier.
- Face. The most important element of any discussions with Asia
- Trump knows exactly what makes people tick. The man literally wrote the book on deal-making. We are so fortunate.
- Any business man knows this
- So true Thomas
- I agree 100% Sir, The photo of yesterday when Kim met w/ Lavrov of Russia & they were shaking hands, Kim did not look happy.
- I understood it.
