First off, “we” didn’t rally behind JFK in 1962 if the “you” part of “we” was born in 1970. Aside from your slipstream in time, I sincerely doubt the “you” part of “we” would have, in any way or in any situation, supported the “cosmopolitan” President Kennedy, even in the face of an existential threat to the United States.
But, assuming, in the face of no evidence whatsoever, your good will and spirit of unity and cooperation, I’m willing to accept your inherent premise and posit a Cuban Crisis-like solution to our present contretemps with Mr. Kim.
Such an analogous solution would, of course, center on America’s prime security goal in the situation: a nuclear-free Korea. As Fidel was forced to give up his new Soviet toys, Kim will have to give up his nuclear program and, ideally, surrender his fissable materials. As with the Iranians, some independent monitoring regimen would have to be instated and maintained.
For our part, we will be required to offer some sweetening. Since there is no patron state like the Soviet Union to mollify with the removal of obsolete missiles deployed in another country, that sweetening will have to be for Kim himself. The obvious offer is a lifting of sanctions and the infusion of cash and chow.
But the bit that’s going to really stick in the craws of Mssrs. Gorka, Trump, et al will be identical to the deal-sealer given to Mr. Castro eight years before the blessed advent of Mr. Gorka’s arrival: an ironclad “Hands Off” agreement.
Kim’s prime concern vis a vis the US and the West, is the same as his father’s and his father’s before: the survival of the Kim dynasty. The only impetus Mr. Kim had to accelerate the development of nukes and ICBMs was the example of Saddam Hussein, who had agreed to the national equivalent of a colonoscopy by weapons inspectors in hopes of maintaining House Saddam then fell down the spider hole. A public guarantee of non-interference and the continuation of Kimworld might not convince the young lordling, but it would surely be a sine qua non of any deal.
So, Mr. Gorka (and Mr. Trump and Mr. Tillerson, etc.), how ‘bout it? Is this, in your minds, a new Cuban Crisis? Does it need the same national resolve and willingness to deal as was required by that brink?
If so, are you prepared to assure Kim and at least a succeeding KIm that the Hermit Kingdom will remain a Kimdom?
If not, shut up about 1962. Particularly if you weren’t even swimming in your dad’s balls at the time.