For those outside the US who watch and try to fathom the Trump presidency, the extraordinary sequence of events which has unfolded in the saga of the projected meeting with Kim Jon Un, defies explanation. The surprise was that it was set up at all and when it was it became a foreign policy triumph for an administration in pretty hot water all across the diplomatic firmament. Then bit by bit, with incessant talk about Libya as an ideal model or possible consequence, the whole thing was undermined and an angry Trump has cancelled it. But make no mistake, the first stone was thrown by Bolton not by Kim.
Trump’s letter to Mr Kim is quite gracious and beguiling, whilst unable to resist the ‘ours is bigger’ boast. Perhaps this leaves the door open? Or has it fallen off its hinges? Trump supporters, a little under half of America, will rejoice at wise decisions and measured responses. The rest of America and most of the rest of the world, will regard this as yet another example of an administration in chaos with which constructive business is impossible.
At this moment this blog is too confused to offer a view. Time will tell.