And so are the two journalists.
Having just visited Korea--the good side--I kind of knew that if anybody could free those two young women Bill Clinton could. His wife Hillary exchanged name calling with their dictator recently (not a good idea with somebody who normally does not have to hear such criticism--mainly because critics are killed.)
But as today's Wall Street Journal points out, you wonder what Slick Willy promised them on nuclear disarmament issues. And what about the thousand or so Japanese and South Korean hostages (some held since the the Korean Conflict was a shooting war) ?
Since the media outlet they represented is led by Al Gore, maybe the two just did it as a PR stunt. Perhaps Air America should send Rachel Maddow over the border.
And Larry, maybe you're just doing THIS all as a PR stunt? Come on. That comment was beneath you.
ReplyDeleteNothing is beneath me, or above me. Exactly why folks come here.
ReplyDeleteHey, Joseph, what Larry's trying to tell you:
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for a standard of decency here, you've come to the wrong place.
I am confused as to what happened. I doubt North Korea let the prisoners free out of the goodness of their hearts. This was a private mission by Clinton and he wasn't acting with official capacity? Why the good will with ex President Clinton and the bad will with Secrectary of State Clinton? Was the ex President authoirzed to do this? Where the prisoners actually quilty of any crime? Was this a simply case of extortion?
ReplyDeleteOh, I would guess it was one of those unofficial/official kind of things like in the opening monologue of 'Mission Impossible' where if anything goes wrong "the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions".
ReplyDeleteBill never would have gone if he did not know in advance the prisoners would be released.
They may have actually crossed over the border into North Korea (a crime) but even if not, they got WAY too close.
should have traded larry for the two reporters.
ReplyDeleteSounds about right: 1 conservative blogger = 2 bricks and mortar liberal media reporters.
ReplyDeleteTake it for what it is. We look after our own. Had a nice ending. Makes you glad to be an American.
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand what went on. What deal was made and was money exchanged? If this was an average American citizen such as Larry would he still be sitting in jail or do you need connections with a former viceprez?
ReplyDeleteIf it were me I'd rot in jail.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, if Czar Awad got her way...
The whole idea is you don't know what went on. The negotiations aren't handled in the press. That let's everyone save face. That's the way it works and I'm glad these women have been freed. This is not the first time this has been done.
ReplyDeleteI am also glad the prisoners were freed. However in the US this is called kidnapping a crime that can be punishable by death. This type of action is usually not rewarded.The Israeli government has a policy of not negotiating with the enemy. We go down a slippery slope when we start plea bargaining with criminals. But maybe it's better than the "axis of evil" rhetoric that only escalates tensions.
ReplyDeleteOh Larry I don't think they could hold you in prison with your martial art skills. I've seen Chuck Norris, and Rambo escape no problem.
This may be a stalinist regime but it wasn't kidnapping. They entered the country illegally. After that their kangaroo court system took over.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't clear to me if they had actually crossed the border. Were they being tried as spies also?
ReplyDeleteWe may never know. If I had to guess, I would say they did.
ReplyDeleteSix weeks ago when I was at the DMZ on a mountaintop close to the North (the furthest outpost of the ROK army) I said half-jokingly to one of the American soldiers that I had seen LOTS of South Korean troops, a few American troops but no North Koreans.
He gave me a serious look and said "They see you right now."
oh good! ANOTHER blog post about all the things we don't know about a event ... not that it should stop us from criticizing how it was handled on ideological basis.
ReplyDeleteHey, at least I did not mention race.
ReplyDelete