Abt letter: North Korea

Regardless of political leaning: Right/Left or Center, the current drama between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been and continues to be a failure of leadership. The fact that the Administration (President, Cabinet and Security Council) presided over public intelligence leaks postulating the possession by the DPRK of an ICBM capability and nuclear weapons to fit on those ICBMs without any accompanying plan to mitigate or defeat this threat is irresponsible. This is particularly appalling given the Administration’s recent drama over stopping leaks regarding personal feuding within the ranks of the White House Staff — surely hurt feelings within the West Wing are of much less importance than a surprise announcement that a long time adversary may now possesses the capability to inflict nuclear conflict directly upon the United States. This demonstrates a shameful lack of discipline akin to shouting “Fire” in a crowded movie theater within the ranks of this Administration. Nuclear conflict is not the arena for bluster and posturing. If this Administration is unable or unwilling to provide responsible leadership, then they should step down or be reigned in by the Congress who has the Constitutional responsibility to commit the U.S. to conflict.

This story was originally published August 23, 2017 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Abt letter: North Korea."