Worries about North Korea
Chain reaction
Regarding, “North Korea crisis builds” (Page A1, Thursday), the most telling statement was a quote by an Asia specialist that they weren’t “even sure that Trump cares about having a consistent policy on any subject.” I believe the president has demonstrated the truth of that statement since he took office, in every facet of his administration. He came in thinking he had the powers of a king, not a president, and he could govern by edict and the whims of his command. I don’t think he understands how government, diplomacy, or the world works, beyond his own business empire. And what’s more, he is so clueless of the consequences of his actions, he doesn’t even know enough to care that his ignorance could get us all killed.
This is the worst crisis our nation and the world have faced since the Cuban missile terror. He is about equal in his delusions of grandeur and lack of understanding to Kim Jong Un. They are both arrogant, ignorant narcissists who can’t see beyond their own bluster. We can’t do anything about Kim Jong Un, but President Trump could be checked if all Republicans in Congress would finally admit that he is unfit to serve, due to his oft-demonstrated mental and emotional instability, and his lack of impulse control. He needs to be removed from office as soon as possible. Until then, maybe if someone would mention to him that global thermonuclear war is really bad for business, he might stop long enough for someone to explain to him what might happen if he goads the North Koreans into striking first, just so he could strike back, and put on a show for his base.
Even if the predicted chain reaction of countries bombing each other didn’t happen, even if the nuclear conflict could be restricted to North Korea, South Korea would suffer the effects of nuclear radiation as winds blew the blast cloud dust over them, as would any other part of the world where the wind took it. Hundreds of thousands of people would be killed or sickened. This is not a TV show. Neither Trump, nor the rest of us, can just turn it off and go about our business after it is over. Having Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pat us on the head and tell us not to worry, and to sleep tight, is not a solution. Get Trump out of office before he kills us all.
Marcia Tibbets, Houston
Consequences
No one suggests that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is suicidal. By all accounts, his most fervent desire is to continue living, preferably in luxury the way he was raised and has become accustomed to. Like most young people and dictators, Kim probably thinks he is immortal. He feels free to spit out threats of national destruction because he does not worry that he personally would perish if a “sea of fire” were to erupt. Even if North Korea were obliterated Kim expects he would be welcomed with open arms to a life of cushy exile in Beijing or Moscow.
If China and Russia truly want to pressure him into talks, they would tell him in no uncertain terms, both publicly and privately, that in case of war he will not be given exile but rather will be handed over to the South Koreans, who, after presumably suffering hundreds of thousands if not millions of casualties, will be in something less than a forgiving mood.
Larry E. Vecera, Houston