Spring 2018 North Korea/US meeting

[Paul]

The Queen's job is basically as a figurehead. Think of her as being to Britain as Ronald McDonald is to McDonald's.

Damn, just realise I should have used Burger King instead of McDonald's in that example. Their figurehead is a king, so more appropriate. (Plus I haven't seen Ronald McD on TV for years, but "The King" is still advertising BK over here.)

[Simon Dog]

But if she did, she would have to abdicate (resign)

Does British law require to abdicate if she does not sign a law, or is this just tradition?

[MooseMom]

Paul, re the Royal Wedding, don't be such a wet weekend!    

lulu, you are right in pointing out that Kim craves world recognition and respect, ie, legitimacy.  I suspect that what he also craves is money, and lots of it, in the form of massive aid packages.  And that's fair enough.  But the US is not going to be able to unilaterally financing the project of dragging the N. Korean economy up to S. Korean standards, and this is where our allies come in to play, along with Russia and China.  China does NOT want an unstable nuclear power on its doorstep.  I don't know how much money other countries in the area would be willing to spend.  N. Korea is basically saying, "Give us money if you want us to give up our nukes."

This will be all so interesting.  Trump has declared that the deal with Iran is "horrible" despite the fact that our allies disagree.  The idea was to keep Iran from becoming a nuclear power for as long as possible.  If this sort of deal with a country (Iran) that doesn't even have a nuclear weapon yet has been deemed "horrible", then what kind of deal will Trump possibly be able to make with a rogue nation who already has nuclear weapons?  How will he be able to trust Kim?  There is an incredibly strict verification policy applied to Iran, so if Trump thinks THAT is inadequate, how is he going to ensure verification with a regime that is notoriously brutal and scandalously secretive?  The US had a nuclear physicist as the head of the Department of Energy when we were negotiating the Iran deal.  Now we have Rick Perry.  I just don't know how this is going to work.

Anyway, thanks for you assessment, lulu.  It WILL be fascinating to see what happens, although it will probably take some years to see a final result.  This could be a real turning point in history!  I wish we could ALL denuclearize.  Such a colossal waste of money that could be used to help our vets, educate our kids and ensure good health care for millions of Americans.

[Paul]

But if she did, she would have to abdicate (resign)

Does British law require to abdicate if she does not sign a law, or is this just tradition?

Since this rule has come in it has never happened, she has never refused. So not certain of the answer.

[Paul]

Paul, re the Royal Wedding, don't be such a wet weekend!   

Ooooh, wet weekend, what a good idea. Perhaps it will pour with rain and the whole thing will have to be cancelled.   

[Simon Dog]

China does NOT want an unstable nuclear power on its doorstep.

Nor does China want a country friendly to the US on its border.  Re-unification (Germany style) with the south would place a US ally on China's border.

[Paul]

Nor does China want a country friendly to the US on its border.

Wouldn't be too certain of that. China has a lot of money invested in America (both in loans and owned businesses), plus it makes a lot of money selling rubbish to Americans. China may still be a fairly closed and very strict communist country, but it no longer wants America to fail, it would cost them too much money. It would be optimistic to call China a "friend", but they are not the enemy they used to be.

[Jean]

Dear Paul,

You state you are older than most of us. I think not. I am nearly 80. Yes, I am a poor poster for the last two years, since the neuropathy hit me. I have not had it the whole 10 years I have been at IHD. I do not appreciate your personally attacking me. It is uncalled for. I stand behind my original post, DJT is a wonderful president and history will show this. You post so many things about our country and I dont appreciate that at all.

[Simon Dog]

You state you are older than most of us. I think not. I am nearly 80.

You can be older that him without invalidating the possible truth that he is older than most of us.

[Jean]

Oh, scuse me!!

[Paul]

You state you are older than most of us. I think not. I am nearly 80. Yes, I am a poor poster for the last two years, since the neuropathy hit me. I have not had it the whole 10 years I have been at IHD. I do not appreciate your personally attacking me. It is uncalled for. I stand behind my original post, DJT is a wonderful president and history will show this. You post so many things about our country and I dont appreciate that at all.

Please read my posts carefully before commenting on them. Don't make up stuff I never said and then criticise the words that are only in your head. I have never said that I am older than most of you. In the dialysis clinic about 50% of the patients are as old or older than me, so I assume the statistics will be about the same here. What I said was things like "If you are as old as me you will remember...." which is an entirely different thing.

Now you say you are 80, that means you will remember well the days when America was a great nation, so why are you arguing with that? Are you trying to make America's past look bad?

WRT: " I do not appreciate your personally attacking me." I did not attack you personally, I attacked your views, which are very anti-American, bordering on treason. If you cannot take it when people attack what you say, then don't post on this part of the site, it says "Thick Skin Required for Entry" for a reason.

And you say "You post so many things about our country and I don't appreciate that at all." Did you read any of my last couple of posts? If so, you didn't get the point, did you? Read them again, slowly, and think about them.

WRT "DJT is a wonderful president": I disagree with you, time will tell which of us is correct. Sadly, if it is me (and about 50% of Americans) then America is screwed, so I really hope you are correct, but unfortunately I am as certain as I can be that you are not.

[Jean]

Gee whiz Paul, I wish I was as smart as you are. You know everything about every body and every country. It is truly amazing. I skim thru your posts because the vitriol against our POTUS and our country is nauseating. Oh yes, thick skin is necessary here and I agree with it, but you have yet, since I have seen your posts to say anything nice about or to any one on this post. You are a bully, plain and simple. There is a limit as to how much the ladies here should have to put up with and you are far beyond. Moose Mom is a very smart lady and she and I have had words, but one day later it is forgotten.I respect her for that. Kristina is a sweet and gentle soul, but, even she can not stand your anger about everything. I have no interest in the Royal Wedding, one can only see one or two and they are pretty much the same, but I dont have to bash the
couple getting married, but it's your country and you bash them anyways. Is there any thing you do like?? I wonder.

[Rerun]

2020  Keep America Great!!!!

 

[Paul]

Gee whiz Paul, I wish I was as smart as you are. You know everything about every body and every country

Grow up. And don't be so vindictive when you disagree with someone else's posts. You invoke Moose Mom and Kristina in your post, the  difference between them and you is that Moose Mom understands the idea of political debate and that people will disagree with them and does not get all sulky when someone offers a different view to their's. And although Kristina has overstepped the mark in the past, unlike you she has the courage to apologise afterwards. You however, by your own admission, just skim posts before reading, and as we have seen - post replies on what you think the original post said, rather than what they actually say. Then when this is pointed out to you, rather than apologising like any grown up would do, you go on the attack trying to blame the other person for your posts rather than accepting responsibility for your own action.

I strongly suggest you avoid the "political debate" board entirely. Not only are you causing yourself upset by reading things you do not agree with, remember that others will be reading your posts too, and many people who previously had plenty of respect for you for your posts on the main boards, will now regard you with no respect because of your last couple of posts on this thread. Go on like this and you will have no reputation left whatsoever.

This section of the board is for people who can argue a point and can take it when someone has the opposite view to them. If you cannot do that, it is unfair both on the board and yourself to continue to read posts in this section.

[Jean]

I did not say I skim read posts, I said I skim read YOUR posts, because they are nauseating. Dont make things up. When I feel the need to worry about my reputation, I will let you know. It wont be soon tho, so dont hold your breath. If you feel the need to worry about some one else's posts, I suggest you read some of your own. Especially the ones where you want to punch people out. But, oh well, to each his own. This is my last post to you and I am sure you are extremely grateful for that. So have a lovely day and just keep hating everything. Not being a hater is sometimes difficult, but can not be in line all of the time. Oh and I strongly suggest YOU avoid the "political debate" since you never agree with any one.

[MooseMom]

So, does anyone have any ideas of what Kim's intentions are, now that he is threatening to pull out of talks with S. Korea unless the US and S. Korea terminate the annual defensive exercises that we are currently engaged in?  Do you think Kim is just sabre rattling?  It wouldn't surprise me.

[Simon Dog]

It would be optimistic to call China a "friend", but they are not the enemy they used to be.

Frenemy?

[Jean]

Kim whats his face cant make his mind up one day to the next. I was really shocked when I saw that announcement. I guess all we can do is wait and see what happens.

[MooseMom]

Kim whats his face cant make his mind up one day to the next. I was really shocked when I saw that announcement. I guess all we can do is wait and see what happens.

You're right, Jean.  He's one scary dude!  His unpredictability is predictable.

[Jean]

Exactly!!!

[Bill Peckham]

It's about 3,000 air miles from NK to Singapore, I haven't heard any recent speculation about how kim will travel but as a practical matter the NKs aren't thought to have a plane that can fly over 1,000 miles (um ... I read that once but it seemed legit).

It is possible that Kim can't safely get there, maybe there will be a bunch of drama and they'll salvage the summit by moving it to the demilitarized zone?


Edit: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/trump-kim-summit-in-singapore-presents-logistical-challenges-for-north-korea

Interesting article, a few days old. t's having to bring kim's limo and other stuff that is the logistic challenge. The other stuff kim needs includes "a personal toilet" ... there must be a story behind that (fear of snakes emerging from the bowl?), or he's weird.

[Jean]

Bill, I am pretty sure he is wierd. Does he require just his own seat, or all the rest of the plumbing??

[Michael Murphy]

This is a repeat of past North Korean behavior, his father reached agreements with past presidents since 1985 the regime in the North has repeatedly reached agreements about denuclearization oh both koreas.  Each time they ha broken thr agreement and restarted the nuclear as soon as they could.  I don’t see any reason that this time will be different.

[Simon Dog]

Fat boy would be stupid to give up his nukes.   He knows that if he does, his regime exists at the pleasure of the US.

He sees what happened to Gadaffi after he took that path.

[Paul]

I did not say I skim read posts, I said I skim read YOUR posts, because they are nauseating. Dont make things up. When I feel the need to worry about my reputation, I will let you know. It wont be soon tho, so dont hold your breath. If you feel the need to worry about some one else's posts, I suggest you read some of your own. Especially the ones where you want to punch people out. But, oh well, to each his own. This is my last post to you and I am sure you are extremely grateful for that. So have a lovely day and just keep hating everything. Not being a hater is sometimes difficult, but can not be in line all of the time. Oh and I strongly suggest YOU avoid the "political debate" since you never agree with any one.

This is getting stupid, so this is my last post to you.

RE: "I did not say I skim read posts, I said I skim read YOUR posts" Yes, I know but the point I was making was that you skim read my posts, then reply without  having read them properly, just guessing what I said, and sometimes claiming I said stuff I never said. That is pointless, and only serves to make you look stupid. ALWAYS READ A POST FULLY BEFORE REPLYING. I do that for your posts, you are not decent enough to do it to mine.

RE: "I suggest you read some of your own. Especially the ones where you want to punch people out." With  this comment, and your comment on my post about the royal wedding you demonstrate one thing: You cannot recognise a joke!

Now as I said at the beginning, this is the last time I will post on this argument, you can now reply with whatever stupid comment you want to without fear of correction. Or you could grow up and learn to act like an adult. Your choice.