LETTER Be careful about claims of peace and security

The signing of the agreement between President Trump and Kim Jung Un leads me to remember the old saying that if you fail to learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.
Please do not get me wrong. I am encouraged that the rhetoric between the two leaders has been toned down because of this agreement. I honestly hope that it does result in “real” change for the people on the Korean peninsula. Time will tell.
However, I am reminded of the history of Sept. 30, 1938, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain met with Adolf Hitler of Germany and returned to England waving a signed document that he said promised “peace for our time.” Chamberlain met with Hitler in good faith, but history has shown that Hitler had no intention of abiding by the agreement. Less than one year later, Hitler declared it was nothing more than a “scrap of paper” and invaded Poland, which ignited World War II.
President Trump claims that this agreement means that there is now “no threat of nuclear attack” from North Korea. I am not claiming that Kim Jung Un is another Hitler, but the consequences of his actions could have a more devastating impact on our world. I pray that we learned from history and it does not repeat itself.
Gary L. Ford
Washington