Bill Clinton and Journalists in Emotional Return to U.S.

[Beacool]

By MARK LANDLER and PETER BAKER
Published: August 5, 2009



WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton arrived in the United States Wednesday morning after a dramatic 20-hour visit to North Korea, in which he won the freedom of two American journalists, opened a diplomatic channel to North Korea’s reclusive government and dined with the North’s ailing leader, Kim Jong-il.

The private plane carrying Mr. Clinton and the journalists, Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, landed at 5:50 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, just outside Los Angeles.

The two women stepped off the plane in jeans and sweaters, rushing down the stairs to be reunited with their families, who clustered around them. Ms. Lee, in tears, embraced her husband, Michael Saldate, and knelt to hug her 4-year-old daughter, Hana. Ms. Ling kissed her husband, Iain Clayton. Mr. Clinton stepped off the plane a few moments later, embracing former Vice President Al Gore, the founder of the media company that employs the journalists.

“Thirty hours ago, Euna Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea,” Ms. Ling said in brief remarks to reporters, blinking back tears. “We feared that at any moment we could be prisoners in a hard labor camp. Then suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting.

“We were taken to a location and when we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton,” she said, recounting the final moments of her ordeal. “We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end. And now we stand here home and free.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/world/asia/06korea.html?_r=2&hp

Great team effort by everyone!!!

:-)

[spooky3]

1. a great story!

Thank you, both Mr. Presidents!

[Beacool]

2. Yeah, they all came together to make this work:

Obama, the Clintons, Gore and the State Dept. people behind the scenes.

Kudos to all of them!!

:applause:

[Arkansas Granny]

3. A great story with a happy ending.

[Beacool]

5. Goodness knows we can use all the happy stories

we can find in these trying times.

;)

[MoonRiver]

4. I love happy endings!

They are few and far between in the drama of world politics. Thanks goodness for the efforts of Presidents Obama and Clinton and Vice President Gore. :grouphug:

[Beacool]

6. Hey, don't forget Hillary.

She and the gang at State were working their tushies off to get these girls released.

;-)

Now on to Iran for the other 3 dummies who decided to go hiking near the border, despite warnings not to go in that area.

:eyes:

[MoonRiver]

8. Absolutely!

She is a real heroine in this situation! I knew she was working hard on the problem, but I wasn't optimistic. Silly me, underestimating Madame Secretary! :)

[Beacool]

9. Well, they have always been a great team.

Two for the price of one.......

:7

[MoonRiver]

10. Yes, indeed!

We Americans are blessed to have them in our lives.

[Beacool]

11. Amen!!

:pals:

[trueblue2007]

7. Thank you Bill Clinton!!

I wish you were still President !!!!

[laugle]

12. K & R!

[grifter_tm]

13. This may sound like flame-bait...

and I understand that what they did probably wouldn't be possible if Cheney was still active, but Al Gore just loos like he's enjoying that hug just a little too much. I'm sorry, but it just looks that way out of context.

[Avalux]

14. You're right, it does sound like flamebait.

An entirely inappropriate response to what was a happy moment.

[Arkansas Granny]

15. I assumed that Vice-President Gore may have known the women personally since

they are both reporters for Current TV and he is chairman of the organization.

[TexasObserver]

16. Recommend. It's the feel good hit of the summer!

[Beacool]

17. I know, with so many bad news,

we all need a morale boost as a nation and this is a heartwarming story.

:pals: