There will be no official record of this tete-a-tete, only the two Presidents and their translators will be present, we are told. Besides, if either one gives an account of the discussion, no one will be able to verify a word of it. Neither of the two has a particular reputation for veracity, either.

So no matter what goes down at this love-in, we are not likely to find out what it is, even if they tell us outright, no one will have a good reason to believe it. If both sides come out later with conflicting stories no one will be able to tell who, or even if both, were lying. And whatever promises are made by either side, no one will be able to say for sure later if they are being kept.

So what’s the point of talking at all?

Its pointless to speculate on what is said at this meeting. It will only make sense to see if either side’s actions or opinions are changed. It will be a lot like the N. Korea talks. No one will know what really happened until much later, when its too late.