Putin, Jimmy Carter, Trump and Mattis on North Korea

Avoiding conflict on the Korean peninsula is an urgent priority of our time. Possible nuclear war would be too catastrophic to risk.

Days earlier, Vladimir Putin said. “We are witnesses to another confrontational spiral over North Korea’s missile and nuclear program.”

“All parties should display restraint and seek a peace solution. [I]n the modern world, conflicts must be resolved in accordance with many extremely sensitive factors through the search for a compromise.”

Jimmy Carter, now age 93, a cancer survivor, said he’s willing to meet with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in an effort to defuse tensions and prevent war.

University of Georgia Professor of International Affairs Park Han-shik said Carter told him he wants to “contribute toward establishing a permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula.”

“He wants to employ his experience visiting North Korea to prevent a second Korean war.”

Trump rules out diplomacy. “Only one thing will work,” he roared, suggesting military confrontation, falsely claiming earlier talks failed, “making fools” of US negotiators.

Asked what he intends next, he said, “You’ll figure that out pretty soon.” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said all options are on the table, with no further elaboration.

At a meeting with top military officers days earlier, Trump said, “We cannot allow this dictatorship to threaten our nation or our allies with unimaginable loss of life.”

“We will do what we must do to prevent that from happening, and it will be done if necessary, believe me.”

Defense Secretary James Mattis belligerently said US armed forces will “ensure that we have military options that our president can employ if needed.”

“The US Army must stand ready,” Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley, adding US forces are ready to act. “There will be a decision made. There is no question about it.”

“There are no good, easy, risk-free options here. This is extraordinarily difficult, extraordinarily dangerous. No one should underestimate it.”

Earlier Mattis said war on North Korea would be “catastrophic.” Millions could die, the entire peninsula affected. Japan could be targeted, along with US regional forces.

Trump, Mattis, Milley, other Pentagon commanders, along with administration and congressional hawks are warriors, not peacemakers.

War on North Korea would be madness, yet possible because of deep-seated anti-DPRK hysteria in Washington.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.