After creating this title “Who’s Leading the World?” the historical meeting emerged between U.S. President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jung-un. They met behind closed doors for the third time on Sunday at the Demilitarized Zone (a region on the Korean peninsula that demarcates North Korea from South Korea.); the first sitting U.S. president to step foot in North Korea after meeting Kim Jong-un in the DMZ, a meeting initially thought to be a handshake, but lasted about 50 minutes. President Trump announced that the two countries would look to revive stalled nuclear talks. “I never expected to meet you at this place,” Kim told Trump through an interpreter as they greeted each other at the DMZ. Trump walked with Kim a few steps into North Korean territory; they shook hands, posed for photos at the heavily fortified most demilitarised border on the earth. Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim were joined by South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, an unprecedented three-way gathering.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48814975
Both countries agreed to set up teams to resume stalled nuclear talks. Critics have dismissed the occasion as a political theatre. “The United States is the site of the most remarkable economic development of recent times, with the emergence of West Coast IT revolution. It may be militarily, economically and even culturally in command. Can this contradiction last? (Google News) Some think there is debate around the world on the question of whether the American empire is in decline, arguing that this decline has begun and is irreversible. (We have fighting within.) The American empire, among others has had setbacks, e.g. 1960s, 1970s and 1980s: many thought the defeat the U.S. suffered in Vietnam in 1975 was definitive. It wasn’t, and the United States hasn’t suffered another setback on that scale since. (We need to be mindful to not suffer such dramatic setbacks again. Moving into socialism would lead to a dramatic setback: I believe. We need to find ways to modify our system internally.)” “What role should the United States play in the world?
When we ask that question, we are talking about foreign policy: the sum of our defense policy, trade policy, and diplomatic relations with other countries. (Will Ruger)Perhaps, some forget how devastating was the Vietnam war. Unless we know and understand how this empire functions globally, it’s difficult to propose a set of strategies to combat or contain it.” The U.S. needs to keep its eye on foreign and domestic policy. Some of the declinist arguments are simplistic – that, for example, all empires have eventually collapsed. True, but there are contingent reasons for those collapses. Presently, the United States remains unassailable. I keep thinking we need to work at molding our system to be more compatible for its citizenry.
Jeanette Grattan Parker, Ph.d. Founder/Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start, Inc., www.todaysfreshstart.org. all articles ©all rights reserved “Inquiring Minds Want To Know.”
