He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic , rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!— Edwin Markham

Can we declare peace?

Was North Korean militarism never a problem, so we can set it aside with a handshake? Can we accept Kim as a gentleman rather than a tyrant? Can the question of human rights abuse in N. Korea be ignored?

Is Syria’s Assad government alright now? Can we honorably abandon those of his opponents we have supported? Can Syria’s use of chemical weapons, once abhorred, now be ignored?

Need we oppose China’s claim of sovereignty in the South China Sea, or can we close our eyes to it in the interest of peace?

Can Japan’s security, which we once pledged to protect, now be left to the Japanese? Will they now need a nuclear deterrent, chemical weapons, and all the rest?

Can we be friends with Russia in spite of Russian aggression in Ukraine?

Will we honor our commitment to NATO only when convenient and when others have “paid up?”

What about the Kurds; do we owe them anything for their support in Iraq and Syria?

What about Iran? If N. Korea can be allowed to have nuclear weapons after all, why not Iran. Let’s declare peace.

If peace can be had for the asking, I’m all for it. Drawing lines is no longer popular, but without lines how do we identify our vital interests? Should Congressional approval be needed for a “declaration of peace?”