The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward warned on Sunday that a U.S. military engagement in North Korea would be “hell.”
During a segment on “Fox News Sunday”, a panel including Woodward examined the different definitions of power espoused by the Trump administration and that of former President Barack Obama. Host Chris Wallace referred back to an interview Woodward had a year ago with then-candidate Donald Trump, in which he said true power is “fear.” He asked Woodward if he thinks President Trump is sending a message to U.S. allies and enemies by “unleashing the military” and not micromanaging the Pentagon the way his predecessor had.
“It’s a very different message, and as you may recall, president Obama’s first inaugural, he said American strength comes from our humility and restraint,” Woodward said. Noting that Wallace had begun to smile, he added: “You’re smiling because that’s not the way the world is.”
“It’s also not the mantra of this administration,” Wallace interjected.
“It’s not,” Woodward replied. “I think Trump means that when he did a year ago say that real power is fear.”
He then went on to talk about the no-win situation the U.S. seems to have with North Korea, who hours earlier had launched, unsuccessfully, another missile.
“In North Korea the reality is none of the options are very good. President Trump talks repeatedly, he wants to win, he likes to win. The military likes to win,” Woodward said. “The military options in North Korea as you suggested, you have some sort of pre-emptive strike engagement, Seoul, Korea gets devastated. There is no win and so what you need to do is be tough, try to deter and see if you can work something out. We get into a military engagement in North Korea, that’s going to be hell.”
Trump himself has not commented specifically on the missile launch, though he did tweet Sunday that the U.S. has “no choice” but to build up its military.
A day earlier the North Korean regime paraded intercontinental ballistic missiles in a massive military display in central Pyongyang, with ruler Kim Jong Un looking on.
The launch came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. An Air Force wing in Japan conducted a surprise military exercise at Kadena Air Base in Japan on Wednesday as North Korea was rumored to be nearing a sixth nuclear weapons test. The U.S. also deployed the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group to the region. The group of ships comprises an aircraft carrier, two destroyers and a cruiser.
North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and about two dozen missile tests in the last year.
National security adviser H.R. McMaster said in a separate interview Sunday that the president is ready to take action against any threats North Korea might pose to the U.S.
He said on ABC’s “This Week” that “that the president is determined not to allow this kind of capability to threaten the United States. And our president will take action that is in the best interest of the American people.”
