Tuesday, August 4, 2009

American Journalists to be Pardoned

Euna Lee and Laura Ling
Former President Bill Clinton meeting
with N. Korean officials

This is a terrific relief...the two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who have been held since March of this year will be given a pardon. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il today in Pyongyang, in an attempt to secure the release of two U.S. journalists. The detained reporters, working for Al Gore's California-based media venture, Current TV, were sentenced in June to 12 years in labor camps for entering the country illegally with "extremely rude political motives."

North Korea is considered a "rogue nation". It has a very closed, fearful and even paranoid sensibility that is carried on the shoulders of this nation's people. Is the dictator Kim Jong Il responsible for the atmosphere in N. Korea? Many defectors (and most everyone else!) would say, "yes". It's often strange and difficult to negotiate, if you will, with a "crazy" megalomaniac. It appears Bill Clinton and Kim Jong Il managed to work through egos and politics in order make sure the right thing was done for these women.

But as a side note? Don't go sniffin' around Communist countries, kids. They don't take kindly to that kind of behavior.

I'm quite the hard news gal, aren't I?


2 comments:

Madd Hadder said...

Tell me, how exactly is Kim Jong Il STILL alive. cant we send in jason bourne or someone to just deal with that PRICK already?!!!

Sven-golly said...

There are those who wonder why the Secretary of State (one Hillary Rodham Clinton) didn't negotiate this release. This was not a US government sanctioned visit, but rather one by a former US president, as a private citizen, appealing to the reason and sensiblilty of Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. Kudos to Mr. Clinton for resolving this issue, and gaining these ladies' pardon. Way to go, Bill.