"N. Korea threatens to pull out of Trump-Kim summit over denuclearization demands "
That is ancient news!
Trump suggests June 12 meeting with North Korea may be back on
President Donald Trump said Friday the summit with North Korea on June 12 may still happen despite his decision to cancel it less than 24 hours ago.
“It could even be the 12th, we’re talking to them now, they very much want to do it, we want to do it, we’re going to see what happens," Trump told reporters at the White House Friday.
We are having very productive talks with North Korea about reinstating the Summit which, if it does happen, will likely remain in Singapore on the same date, June 12th., and, if necessary, will be extended beyond that date. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2018
State Department Admits Obama Lied - $400 Million Payment To Iran Was Contingent On Prisoner Release
If you define "ransom" as "a payment exchanged contingent on the release of a hostage" then you find yourself forced to admit that President Obama lied last week when he aggressively denied (and was irked at the question) that he paid Iran a $400 million ransom for the return of 4 hostages. Today, The State Department's spokesperson John Kirby told the truth that the Iran payment was contingent on the prisoner release... but of course spun this 'ransom' payment as masterful diplomacy "deliberately leveraging the moment."
As Bloomberg reports,
The U.S. withheld a $400 million cash payment to Iran earlier this year as leverage to ensure that American prisoners would be released as the country had promised, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
“We were able to conclude multiple strands of diplomacy within a 24-hour period,” Kirby told reporters in Washington on Thursday. “We deliberately leveraged that moment.”
Kirby was responding to a report in the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. wouldn’t let Iran take control of the money -- which the country was owed as part of a $1.7 billion settlement over a long-running dispute -- until a plane carrying the American prisoners had left Iran in January.
Disputes over the timing of the payment have fueled criticism of the administration’s nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. While the U.S. has said talks over the release of the prisoners were held separately from last year’s negotiations on the payment and the nuclear deal, Kirby’s comments represented an acknowledgment that those two matters eventually converged.
Previously, US official stated on the record that the $400 million payment to Iran was separate from the hostages. This is what State Dept. spokesman John Kirby told the WSJ two weeks ago:
“As we’ve made clear, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim… were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home,” State Department spokesman John Kirby had told the Wall Street Journal.
Which should serve as a reminder: if lying, especially as a president, don't leave a trail, and definitely don't get caught.
Are ransom payments always in cash or did Obama pay for the release of the traitor Bergdahl by giving up FIVE TALIBAN TERRORISTS?? Bergdahl was dishonorably discharged, a mere slap on the wrist for his crimes.
And today Joshua Holt, a Mormon missionary, arrived back in America after two years in a prison in Venezuela.
Trump Says U.S. Prisoner Released by Venezuela After Pressure
An American citizen imprisoned in Venezuela since 2016 is on a plane back to Washington, where he’ll meet with President Donald Trump, after being released in response to pressure from the U.S. government and members of Congress.
“Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela,” Trump said on Twitter. “Looking forward to seeing Joshua Holt this evening in the White House. The great people of Utah are Celebrating!”
Local media showed images of Holt and his wife with Republican Senator Bob Corker in Venezuela before the three boarded a plane bound for the U.S.
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