Yes... I think Trump got 'Charlie Brown'ed' by a kid half his age.... lmao. The joint exercises were always going to be problematic for the DPRK, as it has for the past 50 years. I wasn't a bit surprised. Funny that Pompeo and Bolton didn't understand this. I also thought that they would eventually demand that all US troops be withdrawn to satisfy the 'DE-nuclearization' part... And that may yet come to pass.

I hope a 'Peace' can be accomplished, but I'm betting it won't happen. It's fairly clear to me that Bolton and Pompeo want a 'war' of their own, and it's either going to be the DPRK or Iran... Either one would make Trump happy, but I think the DPRK one will anger Trump's boss in Moscow, so I'm betting on Iran. Particularly when you have a trigger happy Bibi in charge in Israel... In the end, the main fear I have is that when the bombs fall in Iran and or Israel, one will leave a mushroom shaped cloud, and then it's a whole new ballgame....

The populist base stirred up by Putin/Trump is still very pro-Trump, and very active. The mid-terms are not going to be as easy as most Dems think... If the Dems do pull it off, the degree of a majority will play a big role. I'm still marginally worried that Putin/Trump will try to dissolve the Congress, and nullify the Constitution if the Dems win a BIG majority. I'm also convinced that neither Ryan or McConnell would lift a finger to save the country from disaster. My only real hope is yet the military. I'm still hoping that their deep tradition of supporting the Constitution (at least by the higher ranks) will be able to stem the tide...

I'm also a firm (FIRM) believer that impeachment talk is bad, as is the whole idea. I believe there's a better way, and it would actually show the world, and even many in his base that he's always been a fraud. Better to disgrace him totally, than let him become a martyr to the populists...

Another unfortunate situation is that the US is fast sinking as an influencer on the world stage. As this was already happening slowly, it's pace is now enhanced. I would feel better if the EU was more 'together' and stronger, but it's not. The Russians - Putin aside - are in near dis-array and that leaves only the Chinese standing who would have the hegemony and strength to maintain a 'peaceful planet', and they have neither the experience nor the technology to handle it... That means we'll inevitably fall into our little silo's of (mostly bad) choices, and the pendulum will have swung full out ... It will take decades to start swinging back....

No, it's NOT Armageddon... Necessarily... But it is a dangerous time to be sure. Are we really going to leave it up the fanatic's to decide which way we go ? ? ?