Posted on 08/04/2009 9:18:27 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Obama administration is rewarding North Korea for its bad behavior by sending ex-president Bill Clinton to Pyongyang to win the release of two US journalists, the former US ambassador to the UN said Tuesday.
John Bolton, an outspoken hardliner in the previous administration of George W. Bush, told AFP that Clinton's mission to Pyongyang undermines a number of public stands held by his own wife, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"It comes perilously close to negotiating with terrorists," Bolton told AFP when asked about Bill Clinton's trip to secure the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee.
The pair were sentenced in June to 12 years in a labor camp for an illegal border crossing and an unspecified "grave crime," after they were detained by North Korean border guards on March 17 while working on a story.
"I think this is a very bad signal because it does exactly what we always try and avoid doing with terrorists, or with rogue states in general, and that's encouraging their bad behavior," Bolton said.
In a US television interview here on July 26, Secretary Clinton warned North Korea that even its traditional allies had turned against it and that the communist state's rogue behavior will no longer "be rewarded."
Bolton also scoffed the White House's contention that Bill Clinton's visit is "solely a private mission" when he said "this is a former president who is married to the secretary of state. There's nothing private about this."
The visit also undermines Secretary Clinton's public remarks in which she separates the case of the two journalist from efforts to force North Korea to return to six-party nuclear disarmament talks, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Image taken from video footage shows former U.S. President Bill Clinton (seated, L) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il (seated, R) posing for a picture in Pyongyang August 4, 2009. Clinton made a surprise visit to North Korea on Tuesday to try to win the release of two jailed American journalists, and met the country's reclusive leader Kim. REUTERS/KRT via Reuters TV
Image taken from video footage shows former U.S. President Bill Clinton (R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il posing for a picture in Pyongyang August 4, 2009. Clinton made a surprise visit to North Korea on Tuesday to try to win the release of two jailed American journalists, and met the country's reclusive leader Kim. REUTERS/KRT via Reuters TV
I shudder to think what kind of missile tech the N. Koreans will have after this.....
Yep
Undated pictures of journalists Laura Ling (L) and Euna Lee are displayed during a public vigil in San Francisco, California, June 24, 2009. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton made a surprise visit to North Korea on Tuesday to try to win the release of two jailed American journalists, a move some analysts said could mark the isolated state's return to talks over nuclear weapons. Lee and Ling, of U.S. media outlet Current TV co-founded by Clinton's vice president Al Gore -- were arrested on the North Korea-China border in March, accused of illegal entry and being "bent on slander." REUTERS/Handout
snipped out of a BBC piece
ANALYSIS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8182716.stm
John Sudworth , BBC News , Seoul
According to North Korea’s official state media, Kim Jong-il hosted a dinner for the former US president, before the two men exchanged what is described as a “broad range of opinion”.
Face-to-face time with the North Korean leader is extremely rare for Western politicians, and granting the opportunity to Bill Clinton could be a sign that he is going to be given what he came for, the release of two American journalists.
Mr Clinton is also reported to have delivered a verbal message from President Obama, but the White House is remaining very tight lipped. It says the case of the journalists must remain separate from wider political issues.
what kind of missile tech the N. Koreans will have after this.....
—
dang near as good as the Chinese, I reckun.. ;-)
Kim Jong Il: Hans Brix? Oh no! Oh, herro. Great to see you again, Hans!
Hans Blix: Mr. Il, I was supposed to be allowed to inspect your palace today, but your guards won’t let me enter certain areas.
Kim Jong Il: Hans, Hans, Hans! We’ve been frew this a dozen times. I don’t have any weapons of mass destwuction, OK Hans?
Hans Blix: Then let me look around, so I can ease the UN’s collective mind. I’m sorry, but the UN must be firm with you. Let me in, or else.
Kim Jong Il: Or else what?
Hans Blix: Or else we will be very angry with you... and we will write you a letter, telling you how angry we are.
Kim Jong Il: OK, Hans. I’ll show you. Stand to your reft.
Hans Blix: [Moves to the left]
Kim Jong Il: A rittle more.
Hans Blix: [Moves to the left again]
Kim Jong Il: Good.
[Opens up trap, Hans falls in]
Why? Is Lil Kim so ronery that he wants the toon to give him a lap dance that makes him forget all about maddy halfbright?
IIRC, Clinton started the problem with the NORKs by sending Jimmuh over there to give them a gazillion reactors NOT to develop nukes ( . . . ???), now he's there trying to get two political pawns freed in exchange for . . . . . . a Lewinsky??
Kim jong nut would do us all a big favor if he would arrest Bubba for something and hold him with the other 2 people then, when HitLIARy shows up to get Bubba free, toss her in the prison and make her share a cell with Bubba!! The irony would be too delicious!!
Man!! Is that a happy looking group in that photo or what?? They all look as though they are trying not to laugh at the person whose fart they’re smelling . . . . . . well, except for the person who actually delivered that fart!!
Bubba Clinton will be expecting a little something in return from these ladies if he is sucessful in getting them released.
to me it looks more like that effed-up play where Plaxico Burress spiked the ball at the 20 during his rookie season...
Kim Jong il (and Kim Jong Un, heir-apparant)
Bill Clinton
Women and their families
San Francisco Liberaldom
Any nation who wants to capture Americans at will
Barack Obama
LOSERS
American troops/families in South Korea
American troops/families in Japan
Average Imprisoned Citizens of North Korea
Japan and it's hostage families waiting years for their liberation
American Foreign Policy and Prestige
Residents of Anchorage and/or Honololu facing Taepodong-2 ICBMs
American Influence in East Asia
Good Allies in Seoul and Tokyo
...all in all, I'd say a fairly good deal. Congratulations Mr. President (Clinton) and welcome home Laura and Euna!
If they have the testes.
We need to know EVERYTHING that went on up there, what hand the Administration had in it, if any kind of nuclear issues were discussed, if any word or letter was delivered by Clinton to Kim from Obama. All of this. Out on the table. Now.
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