PUTIN AND TRUMP SET TO MEET, BUT DID THE MAIN TOPIC JUST CHANGE?

A successful ICBM flight for North Korea as confirmed by the US.  Going into the meeting between the Putin and Trump, the major topic was most likely going to be Syria with a bargaining stance of future support events in Eastern Europe. Now, part of that conversation may have just changed and changed dramatically. North Korea. That will be The Donald’s lead talking point. I would be willing to bet some level of conversation has taken place in just the past 24 hours. Staffs resetting the discussion flow. That is what I bet has taken place. An ICBM capability in North Korea! A game changer? Yes, but for more reasons than you might think.

One Man’s Crisis is another man’s opportunity!

Do the North Koreans have a miniaturized warhead that can sit on top of the rocket they just launched yesterday? The Intelligence community will have made the best guess they possibly can. Are they correct? The Chinese and maybe even the Russians may know. The fact of the matter is this. The ability to deliver is now there and the US has admitted it. Delivery. The world that most “experts” said the North was not close to yet. These are the same experts that missed the nuclear weapons programs in South Africa, Pakistan, and India. Need I say more? When it comes to nuclear weapons, there is no such thing as, “whoops”! Trump comes to the meeting now with a topic that must have some level of resolution. The North Korean can has been kicked down the road for over 25 years, but the road has come to an end. By the way, it’s the same road the can is heading with the Iranians.

Trump comes to the meeting with Putin with a growing crisis on his hands. On his watch, the issue of North Korea will finally have to be dealt with. What does the mean to the Tsar? Leverage! That what it means, leverage! Putin had it coming into the meeting, but the counter effort was painful. Eastern Europe. Poland and a Missile Defense program on the horizon. All of these things with Putin willing to turn up the heat in areas like Serbia as the Chess Match continued. Now. Now, that has changed and Putin know it. What does The Donald need from Putin on the issue of North Korea? What is the new price of support from Moscow? How does Putin help convince the Chinese to accept the possible fate of North Korea? Can he make the crisis better or worse? Going into this meeting, it may appear the Tsar holds the Trump Card…. I know….cheap! But! Does he? Does Putin have the real advantage?  Does he truly understand the mind of Donald Trump? Here is where the “experts” in Moscow, the Tsar’s “Experts” may have been wrong………………………very wrong!

The Mind of Trump!

I’ve made this point before. Trump is not a man who has achieved where he is in the world today by being out maneuvered at the negotiation table. Can he take a crisis and turn it into an advantage? Yes! He has that skill most of the US politicians, on both sides, hate about him. He is better at their game then they are and they know it and they hate it! The media knows it and they hate it more than the Politicians. Just ask CNN. “Vlad. I want you to know I am going to deal with North Korea’s program with or without your support. I’m going to inform the Chinese and let them know they need to make a choice. I know what they want in the region and I know what I will offer them to allow this North Korean nightmare to end. I will tell the South Korean government that we have run out of time. I will tell Japan’s government I will need their help,, but I will do this with or without them as well. I can’t allow this to continue and I will accept loses in our forces and the lives of civilians in South Korea and North Korea before I will allow the loss of life on US land. China has one last chance to prevent this event. You and I both know they have the ability to overtake the North Korean government either with their military or with the help of the North Korean military, but they must act now”! Now, these are not the exact words Trump may use, but the tone is there. The perception of, “I’m not going to let this event dictate the future of my country”! This is the real Donald! This is the mindset of a man who drives hard and at some point in a negotiation, digs in and crosses his arms. If this is the Trump that shows up for the sit down this week, what does the Tsar do? How does he maneuver to up the stakes if he suddenly sees that there is no room for compromise?  Does he look The Donald in the eyes and say, “ I understand! You can no longer tolerate what is taking place in North Korea and I can no longer tolerate what is taking place with NATO in Eastern Europe. What are we to do”? You better believe Putin is capable of such a steely eyed conversation. Folks! This could be one of the most important meetings for the future of the world in a long…………long time. Who knew the first meeting between these two would have such weight on it! I know I’ll be watching.