CNN: Trump advisers clash over 'bloody nose' strike on North Korea
The tabled nomination of a widely-respected diplomat is bringing renewed focus to divisions inside the Trump administration over how tough the US should be in positioning against North Korea with nuclear tests expected to resume after the upcoming Olympics.
The nomination of the long-rumored candidate to be US ambassador to South Korea, Victor Cha, was pulled last weekend after he warned the White House that a so-called "bloody nose" strike against Pyongyang would risk pulling the US into a disastrous war that would endanger hundreds of thousands of lives.
That's largely in line with the caution that's being urged by Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
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Update #1: 'Bloody nose' strikes and diplomatic drama: The Trump administration flipped on a respected foreign-policy expert it nominated for an ambassadorship to South Korea (Business Insider)
Update #2: Disagreement on North Korea policy derails White House choice for ambassador to South Korea (Washington Post)
WNU Editor: The above CNN and Washington Post's reports focus on the withdrawal of the long-rumored candidate to be US ambassador to South Korea, Victor Cha, as evidence of divisions. But Victor Cha's position has always been well known, and it mirrors the positions of US Defense Secretary Mattis and US Secretary of State Tillerson. I think there is something else at play. As for current U.S. strategy when it comes to North Korea ... what I see is unity in pursuing a policy of pressuring countries to enforce sanctions, while slowly deploying military assets to dissuade North Korea from retaliating. That policy has been consistent since April of last year when President Trump met Chinese President Xi at Mar-a-Lago to pressure him on North Korea. A good summary on what I believe is the White House's North Korean approach can be read here .... A ‘bloody nose’ attack on North Korea is not happening anytime soon (Josh Rogin, Washington Post).
Update #3: U.S. says military option not believed to be close for solving North Korea crisis (Reuters)
I feel confident that neither CNN nor WAPO have reliable sources inside the Trump inner circle. I feel confident that in the absence of reliable sources, both CNN and WAPO take ample artistic licenses with the truth to keep the clicks coming for their Trump coverage.
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