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Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of Al-Rai Al-Youm and former editor-in-chief of the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi, praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for treating U.S. President Trump with "utter contempt." "He grabbed them where it hurts. This is the way to treat the Americans and the Israelis," he said. Atwan further said that Kim Jong-un "has more honor, self-esteem, and manliness than all the Arab leaders put together" and that "I love him." He commended the North Korean leader for not giving up his nuclear and missile capabilities. "Who would sacrifice their nuclear deterrence?" he asked. His address was posted on his YouTube channel on May 25.
Following is a transcript:
Abdel-Bari Atwan: I believe that the North Korean leader is one of the most clever people in the modern age. He really is! He fooled the Americans. He said to them: “I destroyed a nuclear test site, and this is a goodwill gesture.” That nuclear test site had been used six times. It is worthless. It cannot be used. Even if he did destroy it, he can rebuild it in less than two months.
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Now [Kim Jong-un] is saying: “I will not give up my nuclear program, and I will not give up the nuclear heads I produced or my ballistic missiles, which can hit San Francisco, Miami, New York, Washington, Oregon, and so on.” That is the truth. The man is negotiating from a position of strength. When Trump said to him: “My nuclear button is bigger than yours”… What is this childish behavior? [Kim] didn’t even give him the time of day. He treated Trump with utter contempt. Trump must be treated with nothing but contempt. But what can we do about our [Arab] leaders? They are all kissing his hand.
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Would anyone sacrifice their nuclear deterrence? Who sacrifices their chemical weapons, their nuclear experiments, and even their conventional weapons? Unfortunately, we Arabs do. There is not a single man among us who would say: “Okay, I am going all the way, and if you provoke me and I cannot reach New York, I will strike your Israeli allies, and I will strike your Arab allies, who build military bases for you. Even if I cannot reach [U.S. territory], I can still make it hurt.” This is exactly what Kim did. He said to the Americans: “You have 30,000 soldiers in North [sic] Korea. I will cut them into pieces. Japan? My missiles are ready, and I will destroy it. Your allies, your soldiers, and your forces are all under my thumb.” He grabbed them where it hurts. This is the way to treat the Americans and the Israelis.
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Kim Jong-un has more honor, self-esteem, and manliness than all the Arab leaders put together.
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I say “bravo” to [Kim Jong-un]. He has made us all proud. I swear, he is a hero, a real leader, not like the [Arab] “lambs”. I thank [Kim Jong-un]. I love him.
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