As soon as Bill Clinton secured the freedom of two US journalists imprisoned in North Korea, the question arose: "What was the trade-off?" Clinton himself says that beyond expressing regret for the journalists straying over the North Korean border, "I was not asked for any more, nor did I offer any more."

Conservative commentators, eg the American Enterprise Institute (see Dear Leader stars in Bill and Hillary show, atimes.net members click here), insist that Clinton must have offered all sorts of goodies to Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, from promises of massive aid, to direct bilateral negotiations, to diplomatic recognition and acceptance of the North as a legitimate nuclear power.

Beyond a great photo op for a chirpy-looking Kim, who was supposed to be at death's door, what do you think was in it for him, and what would have been an appropriate trade-off for two navigationally challenged journalists? Have your say.

If you are not one who believe ONLY in apple-pie, motherhood and everything nice, and you believe that Clinton had indulged in a trade-off of some kind, then it is logical to conclude that those two so called "navigationally challenged" journalists are no MERE journalists.

Common sense should tell you that you don't do a deal with someone like Kim over just the release of jailed journalists.

Lets say they are "mere" journalists, and lets suppose there is more to this than a simple "humanitarian mission": It's good domestic politics for the husband of the Secretary of State to secure the freedom of two Americans from the clutches of the West's second-most hated man. Sure, it lets Kim feel good about himself for a couple of days. That's the trade off. It makes the Obama administration look good for a whole lot longer.

Laura Ling is an American born and bred bimbo without an ounce of brains, but a person may think Euna Ling, a naturalized US citizen from S. Korea would at least be aware of the hazards of illegally penetrating the N. Korean border in search of a headline for a story. Apparently not. What's damn certain is that neither of these two hapless babes is going anywhere near the N. Korean border after their all-expenses paid vacation in the 'Hermit Kingdom.'

The US and N.Korea didn't engineer this story as much as both took advantage of the opportunity for saving face out of a difficult geopolitical standoff and potential strategic benefits for both parties.

Bill Clinton's Magical Mystery Tour to North Korea

www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/08/bill_clintons_m/

Bill Clinton Scores Big Points in North Korea and Obama Land

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv...h_olbermann#32291541

Nations don't have souls.

Having dispatched with this pedantic detail, the answer is, "no." NK has a long history of "good cop/bad cop" behavior in pursuit of its perceived interests and recently they've been relying heavily on the bad cop routine. It was time for them to switch it up and the Clinton-to-the-rescue scenario offered a perfect opportunity to show the NK's humanitarian side. (The journalists were a godsend for NK: they could be held until the "good cop" moment was deemed timeliest.)

Dear Leader got a photo op with a major international figure, America got both their citizens back and a diplomatic opening to a reclusive foe. Win-win, you might say.

sums it up


thecomicnews.com/edtoons/current/weekly/korea/01.php



best headline

Bill Clinton Picks Up Two Asian Chicks


calvinscanadiancaveofcool.blogspot.com/2...wo-asian-chicks.html

it's funny because it is true...