Prez. Clinton gets 2 Americans in North Korea released.

[SirNitram]

Link

Bill Clinoton has achieved the released of Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

As reported Tuesday morning: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and former U.S. President Bill Clinton met in Pyongyang Tuesday, with Clinton reportedly delivering a message from Washington.

Clinton traveled to the reclusive Communist country to try to win the release of two U.S. journalists detained in North Korea. Current TV reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested March 17 near the North Korea-China border and later sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp on charges of illegal entry and hostile acts.

"Bill Clinton courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama to Kim Jong-Il," the country's official Korean Central News Agency said.

In Washington, the White House denied sending a message to Pyongyang through Clinton, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

"That's not true," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Earlier, the White House issued a statement saying it would not comment on Clinton's trip.

"While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment," the statement said. "We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission."

Kim and Clinton had "a wide-ranging exchange of views on the matters of common concern," North Korean media said. The National Defense Commission hosted a dinner for Clinton and his entourage at the state guest house.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the former president's wife, has said the United States would seek amnesty for the journalists after dropping its request for their release on humanitarian grounds.

They'll be coming home. Good stuff, good stuff.

[Isolder74]

Looks like Clinton is trying to be the new Carter.

[Crossroads Inc.]

I found out about this only because I was flipping through FauxNews and found the Conservatives Howelling about how this "Legitimized" the North Korean government and empowers an evil dictator, that Clinton has only enhanced his position as leader and just should have left things alone...

[fgalkin]

They really said that? Holy shit....


Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Lonestar]

I found out about this only because I was flipping through FauxNews and found the Conservatives Howelling about how this "Legitimized" the North Korean government and empowers an evil dictator, that Clinton has only enhanced his position as leader and just should have left things alone...

Yeah, I saw a headline in Google news quoting Bolton as saying we were "appeasing" the Norks or something.

Jesus Christ.

[Civil War Man]

Doesn't surprise me. The people at Fox news remind me of one of the minor characters from the movie Amistad. The abolitionist preacher played by the guy who was Bootstrap Bill in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Basically as soon as the case hit a speed bump, his attitude literally amounted to "We should let the whole lot get executed so then we can use them as martyrs."

[Knife]

It is because the two journalists were Asian. If they were two blond, pony tailed girls, Fox would have went apeshit about getting them back.

[Lonestar]

It is because the two journalists were Asian. If they were two blond, pony tailed girls, Fox would have went apeshit about getting them back.

Also, they worked for Al Gore's organization, so...

[Sea Skimmer]

Well that’s good new, but also blatantly expected all along. North Korea is crazy, but they still know they gain more (if only in media airtime) from a quick capture-show trial-release then from actually keeping a couple Americans in prison. It was all just a propaganda stunt.

[Tanasinn]

It is because the two journalists were Asian. If they were two blond, pony tailed girls, Fox would have went apeshit about getting them back.

It's because he's a democrat, and therefore wrong by default.

Besides that, Republican foreign policy as of late is to fuel the bombers and make demands. Even if they agreed with Clinton going over there to see the journalists released, they're going to condemn it as cowardice because the democrats are the enemy.

[Memnon]

Well, this proves (as usual) Clinton's good humor about insults to his wife :P
Seems like, now that the party is smaller, they want to present a common face to the world - though that face is not particularly appealing.

[Count Chocula]

So the canny Norks played along with Bill's publicity stunt. It was smart of them; I doubt they really intended to keep the journalists in durance vile indefinitely, and were simply waiting for the opportunity to release them for maximum benefit. Fox obviously missed the point, or chose not to report it in favor of hyperventilating "Clinton bad!" rhetoric.

The question in my mind is, will Hillary now owe the Norks a favor? Perhaps a commitment of democratic grain, or an import allowance on a ring-laser gyro? Hmmm...there's precedent. Billy-boy allowed the Chinese purchase of sophisticated multi-axis milling machines, supposedly for airliner parts manufacture, but which were found later to be used in the manufacture of Silkworm missiles.

[Andrew J.]

So the canny Norks played along with Bill's publicity stunt. It was smart of them; I doubt they really intended to keep the journalists in durance vile indefinitely, and were simply waiting for the opportunity to release them for maximum benefit. Fox obviously missed the point, or chose not to report it in favor of hyperventilating "Clinton bad!" rhetoric.

The question in my mind is, will Hillary now owe the Norks a favor? Perhaps a commitment of democratic grain, or an import allowance on a ring-laser gyro? Hmmm...there's precedent. Billy-boy allowed the Chinese purchase of sophisticated multi-axis milling machines, supposedly for airliner parts manufacture, but which were found later to be used in the manufacture of Silkworm missiles.

I don't think Hilary lets Bill influence her interior decorating decisions anymore, much less her foreign policy.

[Count Chocula]

Well heck, ol' Hill may make a Demo run at the Presidency in '12. She could use "rapprochement" with North Korea, courtesy of Bill and whatever favors she may do for the Norks, as arrows in her quiver. She could certainly play the "I've got foreign relations experience" as a trump card over Palin, who seems to be gathering steam for a 2012 campaign of her own.

[General Zod]

Well heck, ol' Hill may make a Demo run at the Presidency in '12. She could use "rapprochement" with North Korea, courtesy of Bill and whatever favors she may do for the Norks, as arrows in her quiver. She could certainly play the "I've got foreign relations experience" as a trump card over Palin, who seems to be gathering steam for a 2012 campaign of her own.

Unless Obama decides to not run as the incumbent in 2012, that's one of the stupidest things you've said recently.

[Andrew J.]

Well heck, ol' Hill may make a Demo run at the Presidency in '12. She could use "rapprochement" with North Korea, courtesy of Bill and whatever favors she may do for the Norks, as arrows in her quiver. She could certainly play the "I've got foreign relations experience" as a trump card over Palin, who seems to be gathering steam for a 2012 campaign of her own.

...yeah, no. This may be cool, but it's not "Beat incumbent President Obama in the primaries" cool, especially since, as a member of his administration, he'll be able to take some credit for her accomplishments as well.

[Count Chocula]

Unless Obama decides to not run as the incumbent in 2012, that's one of the stupidest things you've said recently.

Hey you're right. Oops. I'm already banking on Obama being an ineffectual nonentity by the time of the next Presidential campaign...silly me. I guess Hill only has a chance if big O bows out. Maybe Biden will retire and she'll get a shot at VP...naah, probably not. I can't imagine those two getting along any better then Hillary does with Bill.

You've inadvertently raised another poser...what can Bill do with this media/PR/foreign relations coup? What's his angle? Are we going to see him swinging a hammer building another Habitat for Humanity frame house?

[SCRawl]

You've inadvertently raised another poser...what can Bill do with this media/PR/foreign relations coup? What's his angle? Are we going to see him swinging a hammer building another Habitat for Humanity frame house?

Well, not to be too obvious, but he's a former President of the United States of America. His resume is pretty much full; there's only room in his trophy case for a Nobel prize.

[General Zod]

Hey you're right. Oops. I'm already banking on Obama being an ineffectual nonentity by the time of the next Presidential campaign...silly me. I guess Hill only has a chance if big O bows out. Maybe Biden will retire and she'll get a shot at VP...naah, probably not. I can't imagine those two getting along any better then Hillary does with Bill.

You've inadvertently raised another poser...what can Bill do with this media/PR/foreign relations coup? What's his angle? Are we going to see him swinging a hammer building another Habitat for Humanity frame house?

Are you on the sauce tonight? You're more retarded and less coherent than usual.

[Knife]

Unless Obama decides to not run as the incumbent in 2012, that's one of the stupidest things you've said recently.

Hey you're right. Oops. I'm already banking on Obama being an ineffectual nonentity by the time of the next Presidential campaign...silly me. I guess Hill only has a chance if big O bows out. Maybe Biden will retire and she'll get a shot at VP...naah, probably not. I can't imagine those two getting along any better then Hillary does with Bill.

You've inadvertently raised another poser...what can Bill do with this media/PR/foreign relations coup? What's his angle? Are we going to see him swinging a hammer building another Habitat for Humanity frame house?

Er... are you drunk?





Seriously, if you want us to take you seriously and not a chew toy; are you serious?

[Count Chocula]

Seriously...what's Bill's angle on this? I bet that the Norks would have released these journalists if Hillary had negotiated the deal, or hell if the President had spent ten minutes on the phone with Kim Jong-Il. What I don't get is the "cui bono" setup for either the North Koreans or Bill C., since the North Koreans released a pair of journalists to, effectively, an American civilian. Granted, an ex-President with a SecState wife, but still a civvie. Why didn't we just send Hillary to do the job?

Please disregard my 2012 ramblings, they're irrelevant.

[Knife]

Seriously...what's Bill's angle on this? I bet that the Norks would have released these journalists if Hillary had negotiated the deal, or hell if the President had spent ten minutes on the phone with Kim Jong-Il. What I don't get is the "cui bono" setup for either the North Koreans or Bill C., since the North Koreans released a pair of journalists to, effectively, an American civilian. Granted, an ex-President with a SecState wife, but still a civvie. Why didn't we just send Hillary to do the job?

Please disregard my 2012 ramblings, they're irrelevant.

Why do we care? We got what we want and they got what they want. Why isn't this a victory?

[General Zod]

Seriously...what's Bill's angle on this? I bet that the Norks would have released these journalists if Hillary had negotiated the deal, or hell if the President had spent ten minutes on the phone with Kim Jong-Il. What I don't get is the "cui bono" setup for either the North Koreans or Bill C., since the North Koreans released a pair of journalists to, effectively, an American civilian. Granted, an ex-President with a SecState wife, but still a civvie. Why didn't we just send Hillary to do the job?

Please disregard my 2012 ramblings, they're irrelevant.

There's numerous reasons for sending Bill that have been publicized. Just go read this. I'm not going to summarize it for you because frankly it's too long and you should try something besides asking to be spoon fed the answers.

[Knife]

Seriously...what's Bill's angle on this? I bet that the Norks would have released these journalists if Hillary had negotiated the deal, or hell if the President had spent ten minutes on the phone with Kim Jong-Il. What I don't get is the "cui bono" setup for either the North Koreans or Bill C., since the North Koreans released a pair of journalists to, effectively, an American civilian. Granted, an ex-President with a SecState wife, but still a civvie. Why didn't we just send Hillary to do the job?

Please disregard my 2012 ramblings, they're irrelevant.

There's numerous reasons for sending Bill that have been publicized. Just go read this. I'm not going to summarize it for you because frankly it's too long and you should try something besides asking to be spoon fed the answers.

He is an evil lib. Nuff said. Wouldn't want to send someone who disagrees with American Exceptionalism.....


No sir.

[Count Chocula]

Zod, thanks for the link. Please don't misinterpret me, I'm glad the ladies are free - I really don't care who got the deal done.

And, yes, I'm thinking out loud again...WHY would the North Koreans narrow their choice of accepted negotiators down to Kerry or Bill C.? I understand the article's claim that it was a matter of respect, and expanding on that I can understand why Kim Il Sung would not want to negotiate with Hillary (she's a girl, you know ), but the only conclusion I can draw is that the North Korean government wanted to get these journalists out of their country after making hay with their incarceration and did not see anyone in the current administration who would allow them to free them and save face at the same time. Hence, they chose a Democrat Senator and Democrat ex-President. It's ironic in my eyes that their chosen negotiators are both Democrats, same as the ruling party in the US right now. I fully expect North Korea to ask for more "favors" to them in the way of food for their people, now that they've shown that a Demo politician (retired or not) was able to move them to mercy and release the reporters.