Is Trump actually right this time?

Currently, the topic de jour for the chattering class is the war of words twixt the Don and North Korea. There is incredible consternation that trump is escalating the war of words, and bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. The complaint is that he is not using the right terminology and there is not tight control twix he and his national security staff including Rex Tillotson. This lack of following established norms is apparently deemed totally irresponsible.

Let's think about with whom he is dealing. These guys do not themselves follow any acceptable normative behavior. Rather, they make irresponsible belligerent statements and take provocative actions with nuclear development and missile launches. Those who are constantly critical of Trump's current behavior also tend to constantly reiterate that we have no good options and that diplomacy has failed through four or five administrations. They want diplomacy done in a polite manner and to somehow rely on China and sanctions. Because this is not worked in the past it is assumed that it will now.

Now I am no advocate for Donald Trump. Generally speaking, I find him to be an ignorant, lying incompetent. But this might be the one time when his self serving, egotistical bullshit is useful. What is he actually saying? Pretty clearly, it is" don't screw with us, I am tougher and have more power than you." In the alternative, he is saying "don't try to bullshit a bullshitter". At the same time, we can safely assume that at lower levels there are some diplomatic talks. There is also the new sanctions, the effectiveness of which are totally dependent upon China. Will China enforce them? That depends upon what they think about the alternative. In this respect also, Trumps behavior maybe useful.

Kim Il Jung is either rational or is not. If he is irrational all bets are off regardless of what Trump does. It is completely rational that he insists on his nuclear weapons after watching what happened to Qaddafi and Saddam without them. If he is rational, he certainly can recognize Trump's behavior as being pretty much like his own. That, combined with the sanctions may well lead to something constructive.

To me, the most worrisome thing about this is that Trump is clearly enjoying himself. In the media it is all about him and he gets to portray himself as tough and powerful. Opioids are not the only thing that is addictive and addictive behavior is hard to control.