Posted on 08/05/2009 12:02:34 AM PDT by Chet 99
6:55am UK, Wednesday August 05, 2009
Peter Sharp, Asia correspondent
The release of the two US television journalists from North Korea may be regarded triumph but the reality is that the United States may have paid a high price to bring the women home.
When Mr Clinton touched down in North Korea the former president was seen as the man who could force the hand of Kim Jong Il and orchestrate the release of the journalists.
In reality it emerged that it was Kim Jong Il himself who had invited Mr Clinton to Pyongyang and had guaranteed freedom for the reporters as long as the visit would not be linked to the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons.
North Korea's propaganda factory - working overtime - claimed Kim Jong Il had received a personal apology from the former US President.
"Clinton expressed words of sincere apology for the hostile acts committed by the two journalists," state media declared.
Mr Clinton's team later denied any apology had been offered but the damage had already been done.
And while the White House continues to insist that this was "purely a private visit" by Bill Clinton it emerged that he had been fully briefed by Mr Obama's staff prior to the trip.
But most worryingly for the US State Department is the potential political fallout from this trip among America's allies in the region.
For nearly ten years North Korea has been demanding one to one talks with the United States.
It has scrapped any plans to re-engage in joint meetings with Russia, Japan, China and South Korea.
Now the leaders of these countries will be waking up to images of a former US President sitting down in private with the leader of the rogue state.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...
KowTow
He sure looks like a cartoonish character...
Caption:
“I coulda sworn Barack said Puntang and Kim Hong will!?”
Funny that it is now the Bill having to go and clean up after Hillary. We can only imagine what exactly old Bill had to take with him to get these gals freed. And it could well be that the mental Il felt old Bill's years long pain of that woman.
Bama is going to have to rethink his plans to talk through international crisis if he plans to be sending Hillary to do the talking.
Wasn’t Clinton the one who arranged for the North Koreans to get nuclear technology to generate electricity in exchange for their promise not to pursue nuclear weapons?
Bill Clinton, suckered again.
I’m trying to remember if it was Carter that was sent over there, at the time (by Clinton).... was that it?
This is a huge propaganda coup for the NorKs! Don’t underestimate it. I guess this means they can’t be part of the “Axis of Evil” anymore, why would a former President go to an evil nation?
What will the WH do when the NorKs and the media start asking this?
This is a huge propaganda coup for the NorKs! Don’t underestimate it. I guess this means they can’t be part of the “Axis of Evil” anymore, why would a former President go to an evil nation? What will the WH do when the NorKs and the media start asking this?
I have described the 'new' relationship the US entered during the Clintons presidency as them adopting N.Korea off Boris when Russia could no longer keep them in wares.
Now I cannot help but chuckle to read that Hillary is berating them as unruly children given how it sure appeared that the Clintons adopted the needs (nuclear) to Stalin's stepchildren.
I am not taking anything for granted. But come on are we going to hold the mental Il to a higher standard than our very own 'red' Bama and crew?
Good grief. Made a public fool by NK.
Embarassing and dangerous national defense effects.
Epic fail.
A has been and a been had.
Talk about birds of a feather.
This can,t be true.
The breathlessly giddy news reporterette just informed me that it was "President Clinton's fabled negotiation prowess"
Now I don't know what to believe.
Who to believe.
Where is Walter Cronkheit when we need him.
/sarc
“he sure looks like a cartoonish character,”
Kim or Clinton?
I have a question — not about the “cost” to the US in the terms this article discusses, but what about the physical COST of the trip itself?
If these two women weren’t journalists for Gore’s company, and one related to a “famous” person would the money have been spent? Do the women who were rescued have to pay the government back for the costs incurred?
This is really just a curiousity on my part. I know that Clinton has to travel with a lot of people though — who foots the bill?
Mind you — I AM glad they are back in the US and all that — but with the deficit going through the roof, who pays?
I think a bit of both, actually... LOL..
Okay then..., was Carter ever involved in any diplomacy with North Korea during the Clinton Administration? I seem to remember something about him being over there and I’m trying to remember what it was about...
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