Aijalon Mahli Gomes
I have my doubts that Carter had much to do with the release, but if he did, good for him.
Posted on 08/26/2010 9:58:58 PM PDT by lbryce
Former President Jimmy Carter is leaving North Korea Friday with a U.S. citizen who was imprisoned in the communist country after entering it illegally in January, according to the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Aijalon Mahli Gomes was imprisoned in January of this year and later sentenced to eight years of hard labor with a fine of about $600,000 for the crime of illegal entry into North Korea.
"At the request of President Carter, and for humanitarian purposes, Mr. Gomes was granted amnesty by the chairman of the National Defense Commission, Kim Jong-Il," the Carter Center said in a statement. "It is expected that Mr. Gomes will be returned to Boston, Mass., early Friday afternoon, to be reunited with his mother and other members of his family."
Two American journalists -- Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who had crossed the border into North Korea in March 2009 and were arrested and sentenced to 12 years hard labor -- were released in August after an intervention by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Carter arrived in Pyongyang Wednesday on a humanitarian mission to negotiate the release of Gomes, believed to be a Christian activist. His visit was a private mission, and was not endorsed by the Obama administration.
Carter was greeted by Kim Gye Gwan, North Korea's chief negotiator at the six-party nuclear talks, and has also met the country's titular head of state, Kim Jong Nam, according to Seoul's Yonhap News agency, quoting North Korean media.
There have been hopes of some breakthrough in tense Pyongyang-Washington relations with Carter's visit. Carter's 1994 talks with the late Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il's father, paved the way for the "Agreed Framework" the same year, an agreement designed to reign in Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
For your absolute viewing pleasure you must view the videos presented here. The first one "Jimmy Carter Says Yes" is one of the most god-awful songs ever, featured in one of Jimmy's election campaigns, probably for governor that is 'must see' followed by the Obama version
Looks like he’s going after another Nobel before they give it to Barry again.
I was hoping we were working on a trade.
This would be two Nobels for Carter based on things Carter actually did.
As opposed to the one Obama got for what they hoped he was going to do.
I hate to say it, but even Carter’s stature dwarfs Obama’s.
NK probably owes Carter many favors.
What did that communist pile of crap give North Korea?
Should have let the illegal aliens rot in prison!
I think everyone agrees Jimmy Carter was an awful president and one of the world’s dumbest smart people. But I can’t besmirch the man for saving an American from a horrible fate, even if that American was a dumbass for going to NK in the first place.
It was a done deal before Gramps even showed up.
I have my doubts that Carter had much to do with the release, but if he did, good for him.
Leave him alone. He’s buying shrimp.
I was hoping for a swap.
Why doesn’t Carter go to Iran and win the release of those three -— uh, yeah, NEVERMIND.
Good to see that old guys can still do some good.
I seem to recall the Carter administration being officially upset with Jesse Jackson when he made a similar unauthorized trip to Syria to gain the release of an American from Jesse’s Muslim buddies.
I dunno, maybe Jimmuh is trying to relive his life, plaaying everyone else’s roles or something.
You mean like anti-Semitism.
Interesting you should mention it, being that Jimmy is the “Jesse Jackson” of present times.
Total smoke in mirrors. Totally staged. This was kabuki theatre. Next time, for flavor, they should have Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock come in from the top ropes.
And just what does the US have to give N Korea in exchange for this prisoner?
Everything has a price...
I find it hard to believe Carter went over there with such conviction he could get this man out of such an oppressive regime. Based on what? His charisma? That alone, would require courage. Why would North Korea acquiesce to such terms?
Anyone remembering this incident with Carter is familiar with his non-macho personality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4p6_G4gQpk
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.