LEONID BERSHIDSKY: Trump meeting Kim was a celebrity encounter. Which is not a bad thing
'Trump shouldn’t be condemned merely for trying a different tack, and he should be commended if any results are achieved'
Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un didn’t agree on anything of global importance, and the grandiose photo opportunity that took place in Singapore probably benefited Kim more than it did Trump. But the beauty of the moment is that Trump doesn’t care about that sort of thing, and that could be good for world peace. Consistency isn’t generally one of Trump’s strengths. Even at his Singapore press conference on Tuesday, he first said North Koereans’ human rights had been discussed only briefly at the summit and then contradicted himself, saying the discussion had taken place “at great length.” But Trump has been consistent about one thing: A meeting with anyone is “no big deal.” It’s not a royal honor to bestow and not a human rights prize to award. It doesn’t cost much even when the U.S. president is involved. It’s just a meeting.
Trump had no compunction about setting up a row of alternating U.S. and North Korean flags as the backdrop for the photo op, or about shaking Kim’s hand. Th...
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