Trump’s historic step
Challenges ahead
Regarding “U.S. and North Korea begin a new chapter” (Page A1, Tuesday), the summit meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un was just the first step on a journey that will be long, if it doesn’t get thrown off course by either or both parties, which is at least a start. Now comes the tough part. North Korea is known for promising to scrap its nukes in exchange for concessions and then breaking those promises once it gets what it wants. But Trump and his team are well aware of North Korea’s record and will not give up anything significant until the North has made good on its side of the bargain, which is a complete, verified, irreversible denuclearization. That is why President Trump said sanctions will remain in place as things move forward.
The challenge ahead is enormous. Washington must be able to determine exactly what nuclear weapons and facilities the North has now, then verify that they’ve all been destroyed and finally, ensure that North Korea isn’t resuming its nuke program later. Knowing that a Triple D regime (devious, dishonest and dangerous) such as Kim’s, has spent much time and money on its nukes, you wonder if they really plan to abandon them now or if it’s just window dressing.
Right now, we can only hope for the best.
Mike Ganis, Houston
Long journey
Following the defeat of Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe, at the Battle of Britain in 1941, Sir Winston Churchill cautioned the British people to temper their enthusiastic celebration with these poignant words: “Now this is not the end nor is it the beginning of the end, but at least it’s the end of the beginning.”
So too with President Trump’s historic achievement with the U.S.-North Korean peace talks with Kim Jong Un at Singapore on Tuesday. It’s a start of a long process, but it’s not the end.
The old Chinese proverb, “The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step” is applicable here. Perhaps that historic meeting will be not only the end of the beginning, but also the beginning of the end of this long Korean nightmare.
Mike Gonzales, Houston