Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   Trump Cancels Kim Meeting Date:   5/24/2018 11:53:06 AM

Bolton didn't originate the Libya issue and what happened to Qaddafi.  It was raised by the media back as far as 2015 and he responded to questions whether there was a model for these kind of talks and he mentioned Libya.  None of this is his fault and at least as far back as 2015 Un was saying he didn't want to end up like Qaddafi. The Libya model is a good one absent what Obama did but to claim Bolton caused Un to suddenly think about this issue is incorrect.

At this point we are watching gamesmanship and negotiation and both sides are playing their part.  From the outset I have never believed Un would give up his nukes because if he did head in that direction the military would likely take him out.  They understand that this is their biggest bargaining chip in their dealings with South Korea and China.  That and their total disregard for human life and the fact that no one knows what Rocket Boy would do.  

But the reality is that the normal course of these negotiations over the years always ended up with the U.S. being played.  So when the establishment forign policy wonks try to lecture us on Trump's approach I am frankly pretty much unimpressed.  Time will tell if his way is more effective or if it is as ineffectual as all the prior attempts.  I am willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt because I know for sure the standard operating procedure has been an abysmal failure.