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Bill Clinton arrives in North Korea to free journalists
The Times ^ | 8/4/2009 | Leo Lewis

Posted on 08/04/2009 12:02:52 AM PDT by bruinbirdman

Former US president Bill Clinton is understood to have landed in Pyongyang earlier today for a surprise visit to North Korea as relations between the United States and the regime continue to sour and mystery surrounds the health of its enigmatic "Dear Leader".

The regime's mouthpiece, the Korean Central News Agency, said in a bulletin this afternoon that Mr Clinton had been greeted at Pyongyang's airport by two senior government figures - the vice president of the presidium of North Korea's parliament and the vice foreign minister.

"A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton," ran the rest of the report.

Diplomatic sources suggest that Mr Clinton, who is the highest-profile American to visit North Korea since Madeleine Albright's trip nine years ago, may be granted an audience with Kim Jong Il as early as today.

Reports from Seoul based on South Korean intelligence suggest that the former US president will use the two-day trip to "negotiate robustly" for the release of two American journalists currently serving 12 years of hard labour in a North Korean prison.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were both working for a television company run by Mr Clinton's former vice president, Al Gore, were arrested for a "grave", though unspecified, crime on the North Korea-China border earlier this year.

The two were imprisoned on a charge of committing "hostile acts" and for plotting to produce a smear campaign over human rights issues.

Although the visit is thought to have taken place with the blessing of the White House, Mr Clinton's party is not thought to include government officials from Washington.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: currenttv; eunalee; lauraling; x42
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"Mr Clinton's wife Hillary, the US Secretary of State, is under increasing domestic pressure to harden her stance on North Korea and said in June that she would consider returning the regime to the official list of state sponsors of terrorism. The nuclear-armed "hermit state" was only removed from the list in 2008."

No slap in the face that The Obammunist sends Wee Willie to visit Lil' Kim instead of Pilloried?

1 posted on 08/04/2009 12:02:52 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
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To: bruinbirdman

More likely Bill arrived for a pay check.


2 posted on 08/04/2009 12:04:44 AM PDT by Hoosier-Daddy ("It does no good to be a super power if you have to worry what the neighbors think." BuffaloJack)
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To: bruinbirdman

This is bill’s game. obama is bill’s boy. o didn’t “send” billy jeff. billy jeff told o he was going.


3 posted on 08/04/2009 12:06:47 AM PDT by MestaMachine (OREO, Milk's favorite cookie. At least that's what my TV said.)
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To: bruinbirdman

I never thought I would be thankful for Beezlebubba for anything, but if he manages to get those gals out, I will get down on my hands and knees and give prayers of thanks.


4 posted on 08/04/2009 12:08:31 AM PDT by Ronin (It will be helpful if Geithner can show us some arithmetic.)
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To: bruinbirdman

I hope he didn’t have to dodge any sniper bullets after he landed.


5 posted on 08/04/2009 12:10:42 AM PDT by gigster
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To: Ronin

Yeah, I agree. And yet we’ll never know what he gave in exchange will we.


6 posted on 08/04/2009 12:16:47 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Our Founding Fathers were the first birthers: See Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution.)
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To: Ronin

ditto.. agreed.


7 posted on 08/04/2009 12:17:24 AM PDT by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric cartman voice* 'I love you guys')
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To: bruinbirdman

Is this Bill’s basketball and chocolate moment?


8 posted on 08/04/2009 12:18:10 AM PDT by FTJM
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To: bruinbirdman
the former US president will use the two-day trip to "negotiate robustly" for the release of two American journalists...

That account is pure NYT BS!

I heard today on both NPR and Fox radio that Clinton was there for a ceremonial display and would escort the two hostages back to the USA. The release had been successfully "negotiated" prior to Clinton's arrival.

Have a cigar.

9 posted on 08/04/2009 12:18:51 AM PDT by Rudder (The Main Stream Media is Our Enemy---get used to it.)
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To: bruinbirdman

Bill had to go ‘splain to them that his wife lectures him as if he is a child... just like she did to them... they need to ignore her... just like he does.


10 posted on 08/04/2009 12:26:50 AM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have mercy on us and protect us from evil.)
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To: Ronin
So, the U.S.A. has no direct diplomatic relations with Communist Red Korea. We negotiate with them in six party talks. Kim wins legitimacy with one on one American talks. He has begged for them. He blows off nukes in the hopes of two party talks with the US.

The so called reporterettes are Al Gore Greenie Commies who went to visit Communist Korea through the back door of Red China.

Reagan, Bush I and Bush II said no one on one talks with N. Korea.

The answer has been no except for the Klintoon administration, and now The Obammunist administration.

Let Red China beg for their journo comrades.

yitbos

11 posted on 08/04/2009 12:27:55 AM PDT by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds.")
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To: bruinbirdman

For accuracy’s sake: NYT is not the same as the London Times, from which this article came. My bad.


12 posted on 08/04/2009 12:31:34 AM PDT by Rudder (The Main Stream Media is Our Enemy---get used to it.)
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To: bruinbirdman

x42 was well paid by chicom money .... this should be interesting.


13 posted on 08/04/2009 12:34:45 AM PDT by knarf
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To: bruinbirdman

Bill Clinton in North Korea.... please keep him!!!!!


14 posted on 08/04/2009 12:41:26 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: Ronin

Bill would not be going to NK unless they already had a deal to free the Americans.


15 posted on 08/04/2009 1:52:34 AM PDT by trumandogz (The Democrats are driving us to Socialism at 100 MPH -The GOP is driving us to Socialism at 97.5 MPH)
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To: trumandogz

and on this note- Hilary wouldn’t be going to Kenya unless the BC were going to be suppressed?

any takers?


16 posted on 08/04/2009 2:14:02 AM PDT by MissDairyGoodnessVT ("Economy is the method by which we prepare today to afford the improvements of tomorrow"C.Coolidge)
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To: bruinbirdman

Hide the interns. . . . .


17 posted on 08/04/2009 2:17:15 AM PDT by DeaconRed (BO STINKS)
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To: bruinbirdman

my other thought was Bill & Hil on going abroad was to pre-empt disaster not only from the NK’s but from Kenya (Kenya to become explosively demanding for american $$ if their bammie is not recognized as the original homeboy?)


18 posted on 08/04/2009 2:18:49 AM PDT by MissDairyGoodnessVT ("Economy is the method by which we prepare today to afford the improvements of tomorrow"C.Coolidge)
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To: Hoosier-Daddy

he’s probably there to get a “cheap massage”


19 posted on 08/04/2009 2:22:39 AM PDT by personalaccts (Is George W going to protect the border?)
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To: bruinbirdman

Regardless, I’m sure the trip will conclude with happy ending.


20 posted on 08/04/2009 2:34:25 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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