Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to be released

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee from North Korea, following the intervention of former President Bill Clinton. Participants explore the implications of this diplomatic move, the reactions from various political figures, and the historical context of U.S. relations with North Korea.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express approval of Bill Clinton's role in securing the release, suggesting it was a necessary diplomatic action.
  • Others criticize the Obama administration's approach, arguing that it rewards North Korea's behavior and undermines negotiation efforts regarding nuclear weapons.
  • A few participants reference historical precedents, such as the Reagan administration's alleged tactics of trading weapons for hostages, questioning whether similar strategies are being employed now.
  • Some comments highlight the absurdity of political reactions, particularly from figures like John Bolton, who is portrayed as opposing any conciliatory measures towards North Korea.
  • There are mentions of the logistical aspects of the release, including the role of the Swedish Ambassador and the communication between the captives and their families.
  • One participant suggests that the publicity gained by North Korea from Clinton's visit is a minor price to pay for the safety of the journalists.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the appropriateness and implications of Clinton's intervention, with multiple competing views on the effectiveness and morality of the U.S. approach to North Korea. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the long-term consequences of this diplomatic action.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference the historical context of U.S.-North Korea relations and the effectiveness of past strategies, but these points are not universally accepted and remain contentious.

Ivan Seeking
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The story is breaking just now.

Way to go Bill Clinton! Of course, it must have all been arranged already. He was only there a few hours.
 
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Predictably, John Bolton is crowing about the Obama administration "rewarding" NK's bad behavior by sending a high-profile statesman to gain their release. He gives the impression that the neo-cons would prefer to threaten NK, and harden their resistance to releasing the journalists. Why do news organizations bother to interview that blowhard?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090804/pl_afp/nkoreausmediaclintonnuclearweaponsbolton;_ylt=AgqY5ohqMcDZPkdcIH3AogCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNuNzJvcDRtBGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDA5MDgwNC9ua29yZWF1c21lZGlhY2xpbnRvbm51Y2xlYXJ3ZWFwb25zYm9sdG9uBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDYm9sdG9uYmlsbGNs
 
Last edited by a moderator:
turbo-1 said:
Predictably, John Bolton is crowing about the Obama administration "rewarding" NK's bad behavior by sending a high-profile statesman to gain their release. He gives the impression that the neo-cons would prefer to threaten NK, and harden their resistance to releasing the journalists. Why do news organizations bother to interview that blowhard?

Yes, we all know how well isolation worked out. :rolleyes: And we all know that the best way to handle a scared, wild dog, is to kick him until he starts to obey.
 
So Bolton says sending Bill Clinton will irreparably harm the negotiation process over nuclear weapons, then goes on to say such a policy is doomed to fail anyway? Basically, this was the right move?
 
turbo-1 said:
Predictably, John Bolton is crowing about the Obama administration "rewarding" NK's bad behavior by sending a high-profile statesman to gain their release.
Isn't SOP in this situation to secretly sell them them weapons in return for the hostages and use the money to fund terrorists in another country?
 
mgb_phys said:
Isn't SOP in this situation to secretly sell them them weapons in return for the hostages and use the money to fund terrorists in another country?
That was the Reagan model. Not that we've progressed much beyond that.
 
turbo-1 said:
That was the Reagan model.
So it was GOP SOP ?
 
Oh, Carter must have been livid! Doesn't Clinton know that bowing to North Korea's insane demands is the exclusive domain of former President James Earl Carter? How dare he!
 
Interesting artice from Bloomberg:

The U.S., which doesn’t have diplomatic relations with North Korea, relied on Swedish Ambassador Mats Foyer to look out for the two Americans, arranging for delivery of medicine and mail, according to an administration official who briefed reporters after their release.

Lee and Ling eventually were allowed periodic calls to their families. In those conversations, they relayed information from their North Korean captors, which the families passed on to the State Department.

In mid-July, the official said, the two women shared some news: their captors would consider amnesty and a release from prison if a special envoy would come to Pyongyang.

The envoy they wanted was Bill Clinton.


Obama’s national security adviser, Jim Jones, worked to ensure that the offer was legitimate and would result in the journalists being released, the administration official said.

Jones asked Clinton during the weekend of July 24-25 if he was willing to undertake the mission. Clinton, 62, said he was.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aCto8iwv7uaw
 
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  • #10
To Ling and Lee welcome back to the Land of the Free, well done by frm Pres. Clinton. I'm happy to see them safe and sound, and happy to see action take to retrieve them. As far as we know no money or nuclear reactors were traded away to get them. Maybe the NK received some free publicity that we usually want to avoid, but at least in this particular case it seems to me churlish to huff and puff about giving NK some some sit down shots with Clinton. These ladies lives are worth at least that.
 
  • #11
mheslep said:
giving NK some some sit down shots with Clinton. These ladies lives are worth at least that.
Seems an excellent use for an ex-president.
Congratualtions.
 

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