President
Trump
The White House
1600
Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington
DC, 20500
5 April 2017
Dear
President Trump:
According to
CNN, today you met with Jordan’s King Abdullah and spoke on the phone with
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. While CNN didn’t report on what you
discussed, I am assuming that you spoke about some of the trouble spots in the
world. Also today, North Korea test-fired
another missile. CNN quoted you as
saying “Well, if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.”
I think that
may have been a dangerous thing to say.
I an imagine that there may be times in international relations when it is necessary to issue a threat, and that North Korea's nuclear program may be present such an occasion, But when a threat is vague and unclear, it can come across as far more belligerent than you perhaps intend it to. When you make a vague threat you allow a lot of room for interpretation. Since North Korea is ruled by a paranoid, egotistical
madman his interpretation will likely be that you intend an attack on his country or his person in whatever way his imagination can think of. If he were the only person in that country, this might make sense. In fact, however, North Korea is populated with innocent people.
Regardless of what measures you intend, there is a huge risk of those
innocent people being endangered.
I wanted to
write to remind you that not only do our actions, no matter how well
intentioned, put people at risk, but your words, as the leader of our country,
put people at risk as well. I encourage
you to seek wise counsel and think careful before you act or speak on matters
of world conflict.
Regards,
Bill
Boerman-Cornell
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