Former President Bill Clinton in North Korea

[BearInBunnySuit]

August 4. 2009 Juche 98

Bill Clinton Arrives Here
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, and his party arrived here Tuesday by air.
They were greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm

Bill Clinton to Seek Release of U.S. Reporters in North Korea



WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/bill_clinton/index.html?inline=nyt-per) was headed to North Korea (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/northkorea/index.html?inline=nyt-geo) to negotiate the release of two American television journalists who were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for illegally entering North Korean territory, a person who was briefed on the mission said late Monday night.
Mr. Clinton was on his way to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, the Yonhap news agency (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/) reported early Tuesday in Seoul, citing an unidentified source. The White House declined to comment.


Rest of the NYT article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/world/asia/04korea.html

[Alpheus]

Can they keep him?

[Ordie]

I wonder how the Secret Service can deal with North Koreans

[Blue387]

No politics on Clinton being in North Korea, please. I hope he succeeds here and brings those people home.

[willytee]

i hope hes paying for the secret service and not us TAX payers....

[BlackFlag]

No politics on Clinton being in North Korea, please. I hope he succeeds here and brings those people home.

x2

Noble cause is noble

[JJC]

Let's not make North Korea sound that evil and irrational. They will protect Clinton and the Secret Service. lol Will he stay at their incomplete pyramid looking hotel?

[Blue387]

i hope hes paying for the secret service and not us TAX payers....

Presidents get lifetime Secret Service protection, with the exception of future presidents who will only get them for ten years after they leave the White House.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service

[Elbs]

Hope his flight leaves him behind.

[CS1.6]

one was from china, the other was from south korea,

why not anybody else to exacute the mission but them?

poor special agents, they were feed to the NK

............

[budgie]

Hope his flight leaves him behind.

And the hostages? Hope anything nice for them? Sheesh, like the man or not he IS trying to release US hostages...

[PeoplesPoster]

And the hostages? Hope anything nice for them? Sheesh, like the man or not he IS trying to release US hostages...

not white enough I guess.

[Universal_Soldier]

i hope hes paying for the secret service and not us TAX payers....

We pay for his secrete service protection cos we elected him president. Too bad you didn't vote for him.

[Fat Lazy American]

As someone who thinks Bill Clinton was a good president (obviously a minority here), if not the most moral man ...

I just can't stop picturing President Clinton and Kim Jong-Il sitting in some opulent, palatial room somewhere smokin' Cohibas, sippin' Hennessy and surrounded by beautiful, partially-disrobed women.

[Russianlynxy]

As someone who thinks Bill Clinton was a good president (obviously a minority here), if not the most moral man ...

I just can't stop picturing President Clinton and Kim Jong-Il sitting in some opulent, palatial room somewhere smokin' Cohibas, sippin' Hennessy and surrounded by beautiful, partially-disrobed women.

"Oh why are we here again, oh, oh yeah, how about those hostages..."

[Ordie]

The N. Koreans are desperate for bi-national negotiations with the US.

The party-line has been for N. Korea to only talk via through the Six-parties (Russia, China, Japan, S. Korea, & USA).

Sending Clinton may be the foot in the door to placate the North Koreans...for now.

PS: I'm sure Clinton consulted with the Chinese and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico before his trip.

[Ritual]

Too bad they didn't keep emir richardson. :-(

[Ordie]

Too bad they didn't keep emir richardson. :-(

I met the guy, I voted for him in the primaries, I wish he was in the Cabinet.

I would not be surprised if Clinton has a lifeline with Richardson on the who's-who of North Koreans.

It was Richardson who first secure the release of a wandering American in North Korea, that later led to a door opening with the North Koreans.

[lightfire]

Watch out for the honey trap, Bill p-)

[xav]

Is there any occurrence in past history that some (high profile) diplomat sent on a diplomatic mission ended up held by the party/country they were supposed to meet?

edit: this is serious question, not anti clinton or whatever

[Evolv5]

Is there any occurrence in past history that some (high profile) diplomat sent on a diplomatic mission ended up held by the party/country they were supposed to meet?

edit: this is serious question, not anti clinton or whatever

Well, after what his wife said last week, NK might act like the "teenagers" they are and try keep him.
That would make the headlines.

[Stainless Steel Rat]

Is there any occurrence in past history that some (high profile) diplomat sent on a diplomatic mission ended up held by the party/country they were supposed to meet?

edit: this is serious question, not anti clinton or whatever

I can't recall this happening in the modern era (1800 and later), but earlier in history diplomats were often "guests" of the local ruler, sometimes for many years.

I wish Clinton luck, N Korea will try and make maximum political capital from this, and then probably release the women 'as an act of humanity' (gag).

Might be just the thing for a politician nicknamed "Slick Willie".

We shall see.

[Derbedeu]

Is there any occurrence in past history that some (high profile) diplomat sent on a diplomatic mission ended up held by the party/country they were supposed to meet?

edit: this is serious question, not anti clinton or whatever

The Ottomans were notorious for that. Count Tolstoy, Russia's ambassador under Peter the Great, spent years in the Tower as a "guest" while the two countries were at war.

[RxOnco]

I keep reading that old Willy is over there to "free the hostages" You may question the validity of the North Korean judicial system...but like it or not, they were found guilty in court and are being held in prison. They're not hostages. These two girls were caught a little too close to their own story and are now paying for it. Now, if old Slick Willy can get them out...so be it. If he can't, they shouldn't have been over there in the first place.

[CS1.6]

I keep reading that old Willy is over there to "free the hostages" You may question the validity of the North Korean judicial system...but like it or not, they were found guilty in court and are being held in prison. They're not hostages. These two girls were caught a little too close to their own story and are now paying for it. Now, if old Slick Willy can get them out...so be it. If he can't, they shouldn't have been over there in the first place.

i think Bill Clinton will get the out,

Nk is always seeking to have direct and only dialogue with US, and now it's the best timing to start their direct conversation; so they will show their kindness on this matter, release these 2 Americans will lose nothing to them, but maybe could gain a lot of political benefit.

NK doesn't like the idea of 6-parties talk, it would be 1 to 5, they want to focus on 1 to 1 talk, smart.

as to the judical system of NK, it's all decided by the KLP, not the court;

[BearInBunnySuit]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79098&stc=1&d=1249395465

Good luck Bill!

[commanding]

It appears that President Bill Clinton has gone to visit North Korea, to try to get the release of Ling age 32 and Lee age 36. Clinton's meeting with Kim Jong Il, he was heard to say "If I have to die for a word, that word would be Poon-Tang" (with apologies to Animal Mother from Full Metal Jacket)

p-)

[Hispeed1]

Not really happy with this-they should've sent someone else. Someone tell me what position ex-president Bill Clinton holds in the U.S. government now? I am all for the release of the 2 reporters but why did he go? Secondly, N. Korea should just deport them back to South Korea. If people trespass into your country, don't they just get kicked out? N. Korea is going to milk this for all they can. This really sucks for the immediate families of the reporters, one of them has a young daughter.

[BearInBunnySuit]

Not really happy with this-they should've sent someone else. Someone tell me what position ex-president Bill Clinton holds in the U.S. government now? I am all for the release of the 2 reporters but why did he go? Secondly, N. Korea should just deport them back to South Korea. If people trespass into your country, don't they just get kicked out? N. Korea is going to milk this for all they can. This really sucks for the immediate families of the reporters, one of them has a young daughter.

Given Clinton's history with N. Korea and the fact that his wife is the SoS probably had a lot to do with it. Besides, he's the most recent president from the Democractic party so it makes sense.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79099&stc=1&d=1249396881

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79100&stc=1&d=1249396881

[Hispeed1]

It also appears that this is a repost... (j/k!):
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=162326

[xav]

^ Holly cow.

One of them doesn't look too fit... or start looking like most N koreans anyways... :|

[Geezah]

As someone who thinks Bill Clinton was a good president (obviously a minority here), if not the most moral man ...

*** offender springs to mind when I think of Bill Clinton!


Women have been charging Bill Clinton with ****** assault since his days as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford 30 years ago.

A continuing investigation into the President's questionable ****** history reveal incidents that go back as far as Clinton's college days, with more than a dozen women claiming his ****** appetites leave little room for the word ''no.''

Juanita Broaddrick, an Arkansas nursing home operator, told NBC's Lisa Myers five weeks ago she was raped by Clinton. NBC shelved the interview, saying they were confirming all parts of the story, but finally aired it Wednesday night.

Broaddrick finally took her story to The Wall Street Journal, which published her account of the brutal rape at the hands of the future President, followed by The Washington Post and some other publications.

But Capitol Hill Blue has confirmed that Broaddrick's story is only one account of many attempted and actual ****** assaults by Clinton that go back 30 years. Among the other incidents:

Eileen Wellstone, 19-year-old English woman who said Clinton ******ly assaulted her after she met him at a pub near the Oxford where the future President was a student in 1969. A retired State Department employee, who asked not to be identified, confirmed that he spoke with the family of the girl and filed a report with his superiors. Clinton admitted having *** with the girl, but claimed it was consensual. The victim's family declined to pursue the case;

In 1972, a 22-year-old woman told campus police at Yale University that she was ******ly assaulted by Clinton, a law student at the college. No charges were filed, but retired campus policemen contacted by Capitol Hill Blue confirmed the incident. The woman, tracked down by Capitol Hill Blue last week, confirmed the incident, but declined to discuss it further and would not give permission to use her name;

In 1974, a female student at the University of Arkansas complained that then-law school instructor Bill Clinton tried to prevent her from leaving his office during a conference. She said he groped her and forced his hand inside her blouse. She complained to her faculty advisor who confronted Clinton, but Clinton claimed the student ''came on'' to him. The student left the school shortly after the incident. Reached at her home in Texas, the former student confirmed the incident, but declined to go on the record with her account. Several former students at the University have confirmed the incident in confidential interviews and said there were other reports of Clinton attempting to force himself on female students;
Broaddrick, a volunteer in Clinton's gubernatorial campaign, said he raped her in 1978. Mrs. Broaddrick suffered a bruised and torn lip, which she said she suffered when Clinton bit her during the rape;

From 1978-1980, during Clinton's first term as governor of Arkansas, state troopers assigned to protect the governor were aware of at least seven complaints from women who said Clinton forced, or attempted to force, himself on them ******ly. One retired state trooper said in an interview that the common joke among those assigned to protect Clinton was "who's next?". One former state trooper said other troopers would often escort women to the governor's hotel room after political events, often more than one an evening;

Carolyn Moffet, a legal secretary in Little Rock in 1979, said she met then-governor Clinton at a political fundraiser and shortly thereafter received an invitation to meet the governor in his hotel room. "I was escorted there by a state trooper. When I went in, he was sitting on a couch, wearing only an undershirt. He pointed at his ***** and told me to suck it. I told him I didn't even do that for my boyfriend and he got mad, grabbed my head and shoved it into his lap. I pulled away from him and ran out of the room."

Elizabeth Ward, the Miss Arkansas who won the Miss America crown in 1982, told friends she was forced by Clinton to have *** with him shortly after she won her state crown. Last year, Ward, who is now married with the last name of Gracen (from her first marriage), told an interviewer she did have *** with Clinton but said it was consensual. Close friends of Ward, however, say she still maintains privately that Clinton forced himself on her.

Paula Corbin, an Arkansas state worker, filed a ****** harassment case against Clinton after an encounter in a Little Rock hotel room where the then-governor exposed himself and demanded oral ***. Clinton settled the case with Jones recently with an $850,000 cash payment.

Sandra Allen James, a former Washington, DC, political fundraiser says Presidential candidate-to-be Clinton invited her to his hotel room during a political trip to the nation's capital in 1991, pinned her against the wall and stuck his hand up her dress. She says she screamed loud enough for the Arkansas State Trooper stationed outside the hotel suite to bang on the door and ask if everything was all right, at which point Clinton released her and she fled the room. When she reported the incident to her boss, he advised her to keep her mouth shut if she wanted to keep working. Miss James has since married and left Washington. Reached at her home last week, the former Miss James said she later learned that other women suffered the same fate at Clinton's hands when he was in Washington during his Presidential run.

Christy Zercher, a flight attendant on Clinton's leased campaign plane in 1992, says Presidential candidate Clinton exposed himself to her, grabbed her breasts and made explicit remarks about oral ***. A video shot on board the plane by ABC News shows an obviously inebriated Clinton with his hand between another young flight attendant's legs. Zercher said later in an interview that White House attorney Bruce Lindsey tried to pressure her into not going public about the assault.

Kathleen Willey, a White House volunteer, reported that Clinton grabbed her, fondled her breast and pressed her hand against his genitals during an Oval Office meeting in November, 1993. Willey, who told her story in a 60 Minutes interview, became a target of a White House-directed smear campaign after she went public.

In an interview with Capitol Hill Blue, the retired State Department employee said he believed the story Miss Wellstone, the young English woman who said Clinton raped her in 1969.

''There was no doubt in my mind that this young woman had suffered severe emotional trauma,'' he said. ''But we were under tremendous pressure to avoid the embarrassment of having a Rhodes Scholar charged with rape. I filed a report with my superiors and that was the last I heard of it.''

Miss Wellstone, who is now married and lives near London, confirmed the incident when contacted this week, but refused to discuss the matter further. She said she would not go public with further details of the attack. Afterwards, she changed her phone number and hired a barrister who warned a reporter to stay away from his client.

In his book, Unlimited Access, former FBI agent Gary Aldrich reported that Clinton left Oxford University for a "European Tour" in 1969 and was told by University officials that he was no longer welcome there. Aldrich said Clinton's academic record at Oxford was lackluster. Clinton later accepted a scholarship for Yale Law School and did not complete his studies at Oxford.

The State Department official who investigated the incident said Clinton's interests appeared to be drinking, drugs and ***, not studies.

"I came away from the incident with the clear impression that this was a young man who was there to party, not study," he said.

Oxford officials refused comment. The State Department also refused to comment on the incident. A Freedom of Information request filed by Capitol Hill Blue failed to turn up any records of the incident.

Capitol Hill Blue also spoke with the former Miss James, the Washington fundraiser who confirmed the encounter with Clinton at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, but first said she would not appear publicly because anyone who does so is destroyed by the Clinton White House.

''My husband and children deserve better than that,'' she said when first contacted two weeks ago. After reading the Broaddrick story Friday, however, she called back and gave permission to use her maiden name, but said she had no intention of pursuing the matter.

"I wasn't raped, but I was trapped in a hotel room for a brief moment by a boorish man," she said. "I got away. He tried calling me several times after that, but I didn't take his phone calls. Then he stopped. I guess he moved on."

But Miss James also retreated from public view this week after other news organizations contacted her.

The former Miss Moffet, the legal secretary who says Clinton tried to force her into oral *** in 1979, has since married and left the state. She says that when she told her boyfriend, who was a lawyer and supporter of Clinton, about the incident, he told her to keep her mouth shut.

"He said that people who crossed the governor usually regretted it and that if I knew what was good for me I'd forget that it ever happened," she said. "I haven't forgotten it. You don't forget crude men like that."

Like two other women, the former Miss Moffet declined further interviews. A neighbor said she had received threatening phone calls.

The other encounters were confirmed with more than 30 interviews with retired Arkansas state employees, former state troopers and former Yale and University of Arkansas students. Like others, they refused to go public because of fears of retaliation from the Clinton White House.

Likewise, the mainstream media has shied away from the Broaddrick story. Initially, only The Drudge Report and other Internet news sites have actively pursued it. Since initial publication of this story, a few mainstream media outlets have expressed interest in interviewing the women.

The White House did not return calls for comment. White House attorney David Kendall has issued a public denial of the Broaddrick rape.

Link (http://www.capitolhillblue.com/Feb1999/022599/clintonwomen022599.htm)




I just can't stop picturing President Clinton and Kim Jong-Il sitting in some opulent, palatial room somewhere smokin' Cohibas, sippin' Hennessy and surrounded by beautiful, partially-disrobed women.

While I feel bad for the women(who's first mistake was entering NK, and second was getting caught), is it really worth being held hostage by a fanatical state that is going to play this up for ever?
http://www.globalclashes.com/images/kim_jong_il_and_madeleine_albright.jpg

[Laworkerbee]

And the hostages? Hope anything nice for them? Sheesh, like the man or not he IS trying to release US hostages...

Why are so many users referring to these people as hostages? they were arrested for trespassing\border violation.

Man, the NK's are world class leaders in tackiness, the interior designer should be put in a prison camp.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79100&stc=1&d=1249396881

[California Joe]

Dear leader wears his pants up around his nipples. He probably got them in the kids section.

[Switek]

*** offender springs to mind when I think of Bill Clinton!

Taking into consideration ****** subjugations done by horny Great Leader they have plenty in common... so talks can last long... :)

[jokuvaan]

I wonder who are more happy to meet Bill, prisoners or the Dictator.

(Btw, Kim Jong-Il is dressed like some head villain from old Bond films.)

[Afro-European]

CNN:North Korean leader issues a pardon to US journalists.

[Akuma]

CNN:North Korean leader issues a pardon to US journalists.

If confirmed i wonder what he gets in return.

[Invisigoth]

Monica Lewinsky.

Good job ol' Bill.

[Akuma]

Monica Lewinsky.

Good job ol' Bill.

He would have gotten a better bargain if he gave his wife instead.

[LineDoggie]

not white enough I guess. Do you Normally accuse posters of being Racist?

[Blue387]

******* reports the Norks will be releasing the women:


North Korea's Kim releases U.S. journalists: report
Tue Aug 4, 2009 3:21pm EDT
LONDON (*******) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has granted a "special pardon" to two jailed U.S. journalists which releases them from detention, the official KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

"Kim Jong-il issued an order of the chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with Article 103 of the Socialist Constitution and releasing them," KCNA said in a statement which carried a Pyongyang dateline.

Good job, Bill Clinton.

[SBL]

I wonder what they got in concession?

[wicked_hind]

If confirmed i wonder what he gets in return.

A dozen North Korean women with cankles? Back on topic, that's great news, and job for Clinton.

[Geezah]

I heard that Iran is the next stop for Captain America, after all he needs to secure the release of the backpackers there................

[commanding]

Clinton is the new Carter.

[demotivater]

If there was any chance NK would not release the two prisoners, Clinton wouldn't have made the trip in the first place. I wouldn't shower him with praise just yet.

Ick, Clinton and shower in the same paragraph brings to mind...
Nevermind.

[Hispeed1]

Well, well, well. Aparently Dear Leader Kim has pardoned the reporters and they are to be released soon. I'm glad to hear this. I wonder what Bill promised him...

Bill Clinton: "So I herd you liek Joy Brigades..."

@ BIBS: true, but he's not in any office of the US government right now.

[59Diesel]

So what did this trip and release of prisoners cost us. Sure isn't just to get in the door. NK was basically calling his wife every name in the book. All of a sudden he goes over there and gets them released?

What did it cost us Cigars? Money? Secrets? Nuclear Waste?

Something had to pay for it. Cause he just doesn't release prisoners for a good cause.

[SBL]

What did it cost us Cigars? Money? Secrets? Nuclear Waste?

Let's not get too excited. We won't be giving them any state secrets or nuclear waste. We have them by the balls, not the other way around.

Maybe an ease in restrictions or tacit recognition of Kim's successor.

[LineDoggie]

A dozen North Korean women with cankles? Back on topic, that's great news, and job for Clinton. I dont think there exist a dozen North Korean Women fat enough to have cankles, most likely look like anorexic

[59Diesel]

Let's not get too excited. We won't be giving them any state secrets or nuclear waste. We have them by the balls, not the other way around.

Maybe an ease in restrictions or tacit recognition of Kim's successor.

Yes I was being slightly sarcastic. It's good hes getting them released they shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Yet this is costing us something. Or Clinton maybe is a pimp and can woo people into everythingrofl

Nothing is FREE.

[Invisigoth]

Make sure they show their birth certificates before they cross back into the U.S.!

[SkyUS]

make sure they show their birth certificates before they cross back into the u.s.!

lol....................

[commanding]

I dont think there exist a dozen North Korean Women fat enough to have cankles, most likely look like anorexic

very true!

[Ordie]

Good news on the pardons.

Sending a former US head of state gives North Korea "face" and "legitimacy".

[BearInBunnySuit]

Great news and well done.

But I wish N. Korea would extend the same "leniency" toward the ROK businessman and fishermen that it is holding hostage.




Edited to add: Clinton has apparently left Pyongyang, according to N. Korean media.

[ronnieraygun]

Awesome news. Clinton picked up two Asians in a constructive way.

[CG51]

Good news. I hope the opens the way for more talks with NK in a constructive manner.

[Jobu]

"Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it"


Apology tour continues.

I wonder what the real cost was.

[CS1.6]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79099&stc=1&d=1249396881



Oh, King Jong II is smiling？？？ usually we could just see his dumb face, man! he's really happy;

look like he kicked Bill's ass, coz he is so happy, and Bill is notrofl

[59Diesel]

He is looking skinnier like he is sicker than everyone thought. He doesn't look to healthy thats for sure.

[SOG]

And the hostages? Hope anything nice for them? Sheesh, like the man or not he IS trying to release US hostages...

Nah. Politics. Clinton is suddenly picked and springs up to visit a hot bed? All worked out before hand. Went too smooth, was covered too easy. Know a stage when you see one.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Awesome news. Clinton picked up two Asians in a constructive way.

rofl Nice. Yeah, he was definitely the man for the job.

[BearInBunnySuit]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79123&stc=1&d=1249437343

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79124&stc=1&d=1249437343

[Origin]

Kim got what he want - to deal with U.S. directly, without Russsian, without China, without anyone else; and then he could pass it through to his son , the little Kim, the 26 years old "National Father";

[Derbedeu]

^^^ Bill Clinton is the man. woot

[INAT]

Kim and Clinton both Illuminati members ? ha ha ha

[RICHICOQUI]

Got to love clinton the man crap!!rofl

[Slouch]

Damn, not a bad job by Clinton. He's become the new Jimmy Carter.

[MaverickCowboy]

Well of course he gave them to Clinton, what are a few women among fellow communists?

[Blue387]

And here's some video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK8HqyAxH6I

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

Apology tour continues.

I wonder what the real cost was.

If it was just an apology, it was worth it to get these two women out.

NK gets what? A little ego trip? And the rest of the world knows the US didn't mean it anyways. On the other hand, these two women get their lives, because I don't think many people last 20 years in North Korean prison camps.

[dave81]

Well of course he gave them to Clinton, what are a few women among fellow communists?Troll much?

My opinion is these chicks deserved to stay imprisoned. As I mentioned in another post elsewhere on the board, the only reason they went to North Korea was to make themselves famous, under the pretense of being "journalists exposing the horrors of North Korea". Everybody and their uncle knows that North Korea is an inhuman society, mentally warped beyond the comprehension of normal people, but they went ahead anyway, determined to get "the real story" and put their names in lights. I mean seriously, before this, who the hell ever heard of these two broads? One chick's claim to fame is that her sister was on The View ten years ago -- I mean, she's not even the one who was on The View, her sister was on The View! -- and the other one nobody knew existed. Going into North Korea illegally, and being journalists on top of that to boot, is tantamount to being a spy to the North Koreans. If these chicks had done any research at all on the topic they would have known that, but they really wanted to be famous. Well, they got it. I'm actually sorry that they're back now, because you can bet these two dunderheads are going to appear on every talk show from here to Comedy Central, 99% chance they're going to write books on their experience, and they'll probably parlay this whole deal into some kind of TV hosting job. And what did we get? A beaming Kim Jong-il, who finally feels validated by the attention, and is more certain than ever that the eyes of the world are focused on North Korea as a major player in world politics.

[INAT]

It's all a big game.



Big deal Jesse Jackson was able to do the same thing with Milosevic but with American soldiers not reporters.Clinton is still an evil vampire in my opinion.

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

Troll much?

My opinion is these chicks deserved to stay imprisoned. As I mentioned in another post elsewhere on the board, the only reason they went to North Korea was to make themselves famous, under the pretense of being "journalists exposing the horrors of North Korea". Everybody and their uncle knows that North Korea is an inhuman society, mentally warped beyond the comprehension of normal people, but they went ahead anyway, determined to get "the real story" and put their names in lights. I mean seriously, before this, who the hell ever heard of these two broads? One chick's claim to fame is that her sister was on The View ten years ago -- I mean, she's not even the one who was on The View, her sister was on The View! -- and the other one nobody knew existed. Going into North Korea illegally, and being journalists on top of that to boot, is tantamount to being a spy to the North Koreans. If these chicks had done any research at all on the topic they would have known that, but they really wanted to be famous. Well, they got it. I'm actually sorry that they're back now, because you can bet these two dunderheads are going to appear on every talk show from here to Comedy Central, 99% chance they're going to write books on their experience, and they'll probably parlay this whole deal into some kind of TV hosting job. And what did we get? A beaming Kim Jong-il, who finally feels validated by the attention, and is more certain than ever that the eyes of the world are focused on North Korea as a major player in world politics.

Being young, naive and stupid means you deserve to be worked to death in a slave labor camp?

[INAT]

Megaraptor;4315816']Being young, naive and stupid means you deserve to be worked to death in a slave labor camp?


No being young, naive and stupid in North Korea means you deserve to be worked to death in a slave labor camp.



Anywhere else you just sleep it off and hope no one gets pregnant or an STD.

[Jobu]

Megaraptor;4315791']If it was just an apology, it was worth it to get these two women out.

NK gets what? A little ego trip? And the rest of the world knows the US didn't mean it anyways. On the other hand, these two women get their lives, because I don't think many people last 20 years in North Korean prison camps.

There's no way in hell it was just an apology. NK got something tangible, we just don't know what yet.

[Ritual]

Wandering in north korea, you mean that guy who was skinny dipping in the river who later shot himself a month later when he got back to the US?

[StinkyStreet]

There's no way in hell it was just an apology. NK got something tangible, we just don't know what yet.

Food Aid, a loan of US dollars, a chat with some high level US representatives......the DPRK black mail has succeeded as per usual
not that I don't feel sorry for the two girls, they were really in trouble

Do you see the same thing happening with the folk caught in Iran?

[Kippari]

There's no way in hell it was just an apology. NK got something tangible, we just don't know what yet.

What they got was a propaganda victory by catching the U.S. attention directly and forcing them to deal with the NK.

[budgie]

They also got the usual treatment for misbehaving: a former President/Secstate/UN ambassador goes to negotiate, not the leadership. This is one of the nest uses for people who are 'out of politics' and one of the better ways to let brattish regimes know they're not the big players they pretend to be.

[Hispeed1]

I am very happy for the 2 reporters being set free. But its not because of former president Clinton- there was a lot of US State Dept. and N. Korean discussion at the UN, etc. I never heard anything about their male co-worker who was with them at the border when they got caught, he ran away, err got away along with the guide they were with. What a real man... (I don't know why Clinton was sent, all this was already decided even before he got there. It was more of a show, made it look like he went there and negotiated their release himself.)

[budgie]

Again that's usually the way it's done. The plans are made behind the scenes and then some showboat has to go and make a big event of it so the regime doesn't lose face.

[Connaught Ranger]

But at the end of the day the two silly cows should not have been doing what they were, where they were, its all fun and games, until you get caught and slung into the poky. I hope they get handed a big bill for all the time and energy spent to get them out.

[Jobu]

Megaraptor;4315816']Being young, naive and stupid means you deserve to be worked to death in a slave labor camp?

They're both well into their 30's.
Not exactly a couple of kids who got lost on the way to the pool.

These two morons knew exactly what they were getting into.

[Johnny_H02]

I for one don't think these girls "deserve what they get" a favourite author of mine Christopher Hitchens visited N.Korea and did so by being smuggled in and wrote a famous article about his experiences. Only difference is he didn't get caught and these two did.

Article about N.Korea by Christopher Hitchens
http://www.slate.com/id/2117846

[BearInBunnySuit]

I am not at all happy that these women were used as pawns by the North Koreans to further its agenda. However, those of you calling these women naive and stupid need to step back for a second before coming down on them so hard.

If you have, even for a second, seriously considered journalism as a career, it will be easier to understand where they come from. For many who want to be reporters, they are motivated by a belief that their work will make a difference. It is a sense of idealism and a sense of mission that at times put them in harm's way. But without people like them, some of the greatest exposes in history will have remained buried and hidden.

And as far as these women are concerned, I really want to stress that it is not certain whether they actually crossed into N. Korea, regardless of what has been reported, or whether the N. Korean guards crossed over into Chinese territory to grab them.

CurrentTV should have also done more to ensure their safety before sending them over. Whether it was due to naivete or budgetary constraints, they clearly did not do enough research about the situation on the N. Korea-Chinese border.

[Stefan850]

Kudos to the Americans for taking care of there own like that.

[BearInBunnySuit]

N. Korea's statement on Clinton's visit. As a country that strictly controls what and how it releases information, it has issued no less than 5 statements about the visit which in itself highlights what a propaganda coup this is.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm



August 5. 2009 Juche 98

Report on Bill Clinton's Visit to DPRK Made Public


Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) --A report on Former U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is as follows:
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his party visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from August 4 to 5.

Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, met with Bill Clinton and his party.

During their stay Clinton and his party paid a courtesy call on Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.

Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it. Clinton courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il an earnest request of the U.S. government to leniently pardon them and send them back home from a humanitarian point of view.

The meetings had candid and in-depth discussions on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S. in a sincere atmosphere and reached a consensus of views on seeking a negotiated settlement of them.

Kim Jong Il issued an order of the Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission on granting a special pardon to the two American journalists who had been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with Article 103 of the Socialist Constitution and releasing them.

Clinton courteously conveyed a verbal message of U.S. President Barack Obama expressing profound thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving the relations between the two countries.

The measure taken to release the American journalists is a manifestation of the DPRK's humanitarian and peaceloving policy.

The DPRK visit of Clinton and his party will contribute to deepening the understanding between the DPRK and the U.S. and building the bilateral confidence.

[Ulytau]

Only seeing this two pics made my day,kudos to him;


http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu327/FokBaligi/Bill/Kurtulu2.jpg


http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu327/FokBaligi/Bill/Kurtulu.jpg

[SBL]

I am not at all happy that these women were used as pawns by the North Koreans to further its agenda. However, those of you calling these women naive and stupid need to step back for a second before coming down on them so hard.

If you have, even for a second, seriously considered journalism as a career, it will be easier to understand where they come from. For many who want to be reporters, they are motivated by a belief that their work will make a difference. It is a sense of idealism and a sense of mission that at times put them in harm's way. But without people like them, some of the greatest exposes in history will have remained buried and hidden.

And as far as these women are concerned, I really want to stress that it is not certain whether they actually crossed into N. Korea, regardless of what has been reported, or whether the N. Korean guards crossed over into Chinese territory to grab them.

CurrentTV should have also done more to ensure their safety before sending them over. Whether it was due to naivete or budgetary constraints, they clearly did not do enough research about the situation on the N. Korea-Chinese border.

Well said.

While I quesiton the wisdom of how they went about getting a story, they took a calculated risk, with the intention of sharing a story that I personally feel needs to be told, and unfortunately the risks didn't pay off. I don't recall them ever making unreasonable demands of the US Government, demanding they bend over backwards on their behalf- I think they understand the implications of their actions very well.

Regardless of what may or may not have been agreed upon in exchange for their release, the fundamental situation has not changed - North Korea is still very much the prisoner of its own disasterous policy, and their survival is still contingent on the world-at-large's unwillingness to trigger a broader crisis. And rightfully so, imo.
Any concession or loss of face due to this incident is, I think, comparatively minor.

You hardcases demanding they should've stayed in prison strike me as being somewhat bitter. Whether it's because they're "journalists" or becasue they happen to be employed by Al Gore, or what I don't know. But I feel like your criticism is unfair and not particularly warranted.
Just my opinion.

[smalandian]

Swedish envoy meets US journalists held in North Korea

Published: 2 Jun 09 07:59 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19810/20090602/
Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation (http://www.thelocal.se/15662/20081113/)
Sweden’s envoy in North Korea (http://www.thelocal.se/tag/north_korea) met on Monday with two US reporters being held in the country as one of the women’s sister urged Washington and Pyongyang to discuss the issue.



Sweden seeks EU-South Korea trade deal by 2010 (http://www.thelocal.se/20642/20090714/) (14 Jul 09)
Ericsson pours funds into South Korea (http://www.thelocal.se/20622/20090713/) (13 Jul 09)
Bildt 'alarmed' by North Korea nuke test (http://www.thelocal.se/19644/20090525/) (25 May 09)

Swedish Ambassador Mats Foyer (http://www.thelocal.se/tag/mats_foyer), who represents US interests in North Korea in the absence of diplomatic relations, met separately with journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

The two reporters, who work for California-based Current TV, were detained in March on the border with China while working on a story about refugees fleeing the North. They are set to go on trial Thursday.

Wood said the case was a "high priority" for President Barack Obama (http://www.thelocal.se/tag/barack_obama) and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"We're going to continue to do all we can to see them back with their families," he said.

Wood said North Korea should not use the two reporters as pawns in the crisis with Pyongyang, which last month tested a nuclear bomb and is believed by US and South Korean officials to be preparing a fresh long-range missile launch.

"The whole nuclear issue is a separate one," Wood said.

It was the third time that Foyer met with the two reporters since their arrest.

Through an earlier meeting, Foyer was able to send a letter from Ling to her family. In it, Ling wrote that she had turned to meditation to stay positive during her ordeal.

Ling's sister, Lisa Ling, appealed for the reporters' release as the family appeared Monday on NBC's "The Today Show," a popular talk-show.

"Now is the time to try and urge both governments to communicate," Ling told the program.

"We had not heard their voices in over two and a half months," Ling said.

"They are very scared -- they're very, very scared."

North Korea -- which according to the State Department is one of the world's worst violators of human rights -- has not revealed the charges against the pair but said they illegally entered the country.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

[dave81]

they took a calculated risk, with the intention of sharing a story that I personally feel needs to be told
It's been told, told, and re-told. What new information did they think they were going to uncover? I think this whole thing was for their personal glory.
Although I do admit the picture of the one chick (does anyone even know the difference between Euna Lee and Lisa Ling's sister?) reuniting with her daughter was sweet, it still doesn't take away from their (in my opinion) stupidity.

[EMP]

http://i26.tinypic.com/muhpva.jpg

I don't know if this has been answered, but I am curious on who are the "delagations" that Bill Clinton brought along?

[SBL]

It's been told, told, and re-told. What new information did they think they were going to uncover? I think this whole thing was for their personal glory.


They are investigative reporters-it happens to be their job.

[Jobu]

It's been told, told, and re-told. What new information did they think they were going to uncover? I think this whole thing was for their personal glory.
Although I do admit the picture of the one chick (does anyone even know the difference between Euna Lee and Lisa Ling's sister?) reuniting with her daughter was sweet, it still doesn't take away from their (in my opinion) stupidity.

I think they snuck into North Korea to investigate whether things there really are bad. You know, we're all so unsure of it. Who knows? It may actually be a worker's paradise. Maybe all those other stories were untrue. Faked, like the moon landings.

Lisa Ling's sister had to uncover the truth!
You know that other little Asian chick was dragged into it. There's no way she wanted to take such a stupid risk with a loving husband and adorable toddler waiting for her at home but when Lisa Ling's sister asks for a favor, you can't say no.

[cmill]

http://i26.tinypic.com/muhpva.jpg

I don't know if this has been answered, but I am curious on who are the "delagations" that Bill Clinton brought along?


"Euna and I would just like to express our deepest gratitude to President Clinton and his wonderful, amazing -- not to mention super- cool -- team, including John Podesta, Doug Band, Justin Cooper, Dr. Roger Band, David Straub -- and the United States Secret Service, who traveled halfway around the world and then some to secure our release. names are not in order of the picture of course. I wonder if the woman is the translator?

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/08/clinton-gore_back_imprisoned_j.html