Cart Before The Horse

Ken AshfordNorth Korea, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Wow.  Trump seems to think North Korea is no longer a threat and that it is a done deal. In reality, Trump returned to America from the Singapore meeting having secured only a vague promise, not unlike others the North Koreans have broken in the past, about working toward the goal of denuclearization. Yet North Korea has just as many … Read More

Yeah, We Got Hoodwinked In Singapore

Ken AshfordNorth Korea, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Kristof: It sure looks as if President Trump was hoodwinked in Singapore. Trump made a huge concession — the suspension of military exercises with South Korea. That’s on top of the broader concession of the summit meeting itself, security guarantees he gave North Korea and the legitimacy that the summit provides his counterpart, Kim Jong-un. Within North Korea, the “very … Read More

Trump In Singapore

Ken AshfordNorth Korea, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Fox & Friends accidentally said this about the Singapore summit: “regardless of what happens in that meeting between the two dictators.” This gaffe is probably the most honest thing ever said in the program’s history. pic.twitter.com/eooBanu9b2 — Adam Best (@adamcbest) June 10, 2018 In the simplest form of nuclear weapon, two portions of uranium are hurled together to reach “critical … Read More

Trump To Head To Hostile G7 Summit

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Foreign Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

I am heading for Canada and the G-7 for talks that will mostly center on the long time unfair trade practiced against the United States. From there I go to Singapore and talks with North Korea on Denuclearization. Won’t be talking about the Russian Witch Hunt Hoax for a while! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2018 Looking forward … Read More

“It’s About Attitude”

Ken AshfordNorth Korea, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

When asked this morning about his efforts to prepare for the upcoming “summit” with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump gave an answer that was not at all reassuring. I think I’m very well prepared. I don’t think I have to prepare very much. It’s about attitude. Translation: His staff has been unable to prepare him, because as usual … Read More

United Nations Human Rights Office Tells Trump Administration To Stop Separating Children From Parents At Border

Ken AshfordForeign Affairs, Immigration and Xenophobia, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

This is how low we have sunk as a nation.  So much for that Nobel Peace Prize. CNN: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday called on the Trump administration to end a policy that could lead to the separation of families detained on the US southern border. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed “deep concern” … Read More

Trump Starts Trade War With Allies

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Foreign Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Even the Koch brothers hate this. The Trump administration announced today that it would impose hefty metal tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico starting Friday, immediately provoking fears of an international trade war that sent stocks tumbling. The measure has already been met with vows of retaliation against American businesses and now threatens the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The action, which was … Read More

Trump Keeps Campaign Promise; Dozens Killed

Ken AshfordMiddle East, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

… and the United States loses its status as an honest broker of Mideast Peace. That’s what happens when the US Embassy got moved to Jerusalem, a political move that is more symbolic (in its support for Israel) than practical: ZEITOUN, Gaza Strip — Israeli soldiers on Monday killed 41 Palestinians demonstrating along the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip … Read More

Leaving The Deal

Ken AshfordIran, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Beinart writes: Read some of the most prominent critics of the Iran nuclear deal and you’ll notice something: They seem to be preparing their alibis in case Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from it proves a catastrophic mistake. Trump, wrote Bret Stephens on Tuesday in The New York Times, “was absolutely right” to leave the agreement, “assuming, that is, serious thought has been … Read More

End To The Korean War?

Ken AshfordNorth KoreaLeave a Comment

No matter your political persuasion, we all woke up to good news this morning. The leaders of North and South Korea agreed on Friday to work to remove all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula and, within the year, pursue talks with the United States to declare an official end to the Korean War, which ravaged the peninsula from 1950 to 1953. At … Read More

Van Slams Into Toronto Pedestrians; Possible Terrorist Attack

Ken AshfordMental Health, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Police have arrested a suspect after a white van mounted the curb and struck numerous pedestrians in Toronto. The incident happened on Yonge Street south of Finch Avenue around 1:30 p.m. today. A suspect was arrested beside the van on Poyntz Avenue off of Yonge, just south of Sheppard Avenue West. The van is marked as belonging to the rental … Read More

No More Castro

Ken AshfordCubaLeave a Comment

For as long as I have been alive, a Castro has been the leader of Cuba. That will no longer be.  Raul Castro, who succeeded his brother Fidel as president in 2006, will remain head of the Communist Party, but will step down as Cuba’s President.  Cuba’s National Assembly has elected Miguel Diaz-Canel to become president, meaning a leader not named Castro … Read More