Why did the president announce North Korea plans like this?
Aug 9, 2017, 5:54 AM
(File, AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
America’s official policy is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons by arguing that they’re not necessary anymore. That logic can ring hollow considering we are the only nation to have used them in a time of war — twice. The second time exactly 72 years ago Wednesday.
Gorka: North Korea’s latest threat ‘an exercise in blackmail’
We’ve had to strike a delicate balance – insisting to non-nuclear countries they can never have nukes even as we upgrade our own, but that it’s OK because the big nuclear nations are not looking to attack you. Even though we did attack Iraq and Libya after they gave up their nuclear programs.
On Tuesday, the president was holding an ordinary press conference about the opioid epidemic.
“Overdose deaths have nearly quadruple. My greatest responsibility is to protect the American people.”
Just as Trump was dismissing the reporters, one of them shouted a question about North Korea, which he answers as follows.
“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met by fire and fury like the world has ever seen.”
That sounded very much like the president saying we would shoot first in response to the next threat. So within hours, Kim Jong-un issued his next threat. His news agency said he was considering striking Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. After which we sent two bombers to Guam to prepare for war.
Now, it’s not my place to challenge the president’s wisdom, but why would you announce this at a meeting on how to get Americans to kick opioids? I’m worried this just gives them a reason to stock up.