President Barack Obama is briefed by Lt. Col. Ed Taylor as he views the DMZ from Observation Post Ouellette at Camp Bonifas, Republic of Korea, March 25, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Washington Post: Trump White House debates presidential visit to demilitarized zone along North Korean border
It has become the ultimate symbol of American resolve against the threat of North Korea: a visit by the U.S. commander in chief to “freedom’s frontier,” the heavily guarded demilitarized zone that has separated the North and South for 64 years.
Wearing bomber-style jackets, surrounded by military officers, peering through binoculars, all but one president since Ronald Reagan have gazed across the barren strip of land at the 38th parallel from an observation post where they’ve been moved to talk tough. In April, Vice President Pence, undertaking the same solemn ritual, said he toured the DMZ so the North Koreans could “see our resolve in my face.”
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WNU Editor: A few weeks ago I said that President Trump should visit the DMZ .... but now I am not sure. When a country threatens to do this .... North Korea threatens 'unimaginable' strike on United States (USA Today) .... normal protocol goes out the window. I still expect President Trump to visit the DMZ, but I will not be surprised if the military and the Secret Service will be on maximum alert when he does visit in the event that the worst case scenario does break-out.
5 comments:
been there. done that...why bother?...PR stunt only and nothing to be gained.
Such a bad idea. I wouldn't even call it having nuts. More like a lapse of judgment. There are a lot of people that would like to see Trump dead. Including north Korea of course..
At the current height of tensions, if I was Trump's security advisor, I'd advise against it. North Koreans have always had anti-american propaganda fed down their throats, but that has been ratcheted up lately.
All it takes is for one North Korean guard to play the hero for his country and take a pot-shot at President Trump.
At the time the visit was proposed, I thought it was a bad idea. Now I think it an even worse idea. The editor is absolutely correct when pointing out that normal protocol goes out the window in times like this.
Of course POTUS is dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't. If he does, his critics will call it a PR stunt. If he doesn't his critics will say he is not doing his job as commander in chief.
In situations like this it is best to do the right thing regardless. This helps one to stay focused and keeps a clean conscience. As such, having POTUS there right now would be a huge distraction and accomplishes nothing.
As D.Plowman and Scott Day point out a number of people want Trump dead. I'm sure POTUS's security detail is already extremely taxed as it is. Furthermore no one is going to go to war to assist the US on behalf of a dead US president. It's best not to get in such a situation.
he should go see kim
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