In meeting with military, Trump talks of
'calm before the storm'
Send a link to a friend
[October 06, 2017]
By Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After discussing
Iran and North Korea with U.S. military leaders on Thursday, President
Donald Trump posed for a photo with them before dinner and declared the
moment "the calm before the storm."
"You guys know what this represents?" Trump said after journalists
gathered in the White House state dining room to photograph him and
first lady Melania Trump with the uniformed military leaders and their
spouses.
"Maybe it's the calm before the storm," he said.
What storm?
"You'll find out," Trump told questioning reporters.
Classical music played in the background and tables were set in the
nearby Blue Room for a fancy meal.
The White House did not immediately reply to a request to clarify
Trump's remark.
Earlier in the evening, while seated with the top defense officials in
the cabinet room, Trump talked about the threat from North Korea and
preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
"In North Korea, our goal is denuclearization," he said. "We cannot
allow this dictatorship to threaten our nation or our allies with
unimaginable loss of life. We will do what we must do to prevent that
from happening. And it will be done, if necessary, believe me."
During his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month,
Trump said the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if
needed to defend itself or U.S. allies.
The president on Thursday also had tough words for Iran, saying the
country had not lived up to the spirit of an agreement forged with world
powers to curb its nuclear program.
[to top of second column] |
President Donald Trump (L) participates in a briefing with senior
military leaders at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 5,
2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
A senior administration official said on Thursday
that Trump was expected to announce soon he would decertify the
landmark agreement.
Trump has filled top posts within his administration with military
generals, including his chief of staff, retired General John Kelly,
and national security adviser, Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster.
McMaster, who normally dresses in civilian clothes at the White
House, wore his uniform for the meeting.
Without being specific, Trump pressed the leaders to be faster at
providing him with "military options" when needed.
"Moving forward, I also expect you to provide me with a broad range
of military options, when needed, at a much faster pace. I know that
government bureaucracy is slow, but I am depending on you to
overcome the obstacles of bureaucracy," he said during their cabinet
room meeting.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Peter Cooney)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|