Bill Clinton Off to N. Korea to Discuss U.S. Journalists (To Negotiate Release)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Bill Clinton off to North Korea to discuss U.S. journalists

12 mins ago
SEOUL (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is on his way to North Korea to try to negotiate the release of two American journalists convicted by the communist state of "grave crimes," South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Tuesday.

Clinton had already left for the North but had not yet arrived in Pyongyang, Yonhap said in a report from Washington quoting a source familiar with the issue.

"As soon as he arrives, he will be entering negotiations with the North for the release of the female journalists," the source was quoted as saying.

South Korean Foreign Ministry officials declined to comment, saying any announcement would come from Washington or Pyongyang.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090804/pl_nm/us_korea_north_clinton

[lisa58]

1. He is the perfect right-hand-man for the Secretary of State...

...Good luck Bill - bring 'em home.

[Autumn]

2. Awesome. I so hope they are

released.:woohoo:

[IndianaGreen]

3. Is he going of his own volition or did he get the okay from the President?

Sending someone like Bill Clinton to North Korea will merely inflate the already inflated egos of the crazy Kim family.

[brooklynite]

4. He was supposed to appear At a campaign event I was at tonight

This makes a lot more sense than the reason they gave for his no-show

[lisa58]

6. what excuse did they give?

[brooklynite]

8. His plane was "out of position"

[DURHAM D]

5. What? Why not Bill Richardson?

He is the guy they used to always send. poor guy...

[lisa58]

7. I was thinking the same thing

[troubledamerican]

14. Because Kim Jong Il has

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/merrill-markoe/i-know-what-to-do-about-k_b_208210.html


...Narcissistic Personality Disorder

[Beacool]

9. Wow, Bill is on a roll!!!

First with his email about health care and now mediating the release of these two women.

Good luck, Bigdawg!!!!

:woohoo:

[cal04]

10. Bill Clinton arrives in N.Korea to discuss US journalists

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP478804.htm

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in North Korea on Tuesday to try to negotiate the release of two U.S. journalists convicted by the communist state of "grave crimes", South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

The visit comes at a time of increasing militancy in the reclusive North which analysts say is in the midst of resolving leadership succession in Asia's only dynastic state as it refuses to return to multilateral talks on ending its nuclear ambitions.

(snip)
Some analysts have held out hope that Clinton's visit could end a cycle of provocative military action and lead to Pyongyang's return to fresh dialogue.


Bill Clinton Arrives Here
http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm
Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, and his party arrived here Tuesday by air.

They were greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton.

[Endangered Specie]

11. shoot, they should send Jesse Jackson again!

[Hissyspit]

12. .

[cal04]

13. Bill Clinton begins rescue mission

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25775.html

Former President Bill Clinton headed to North Korea to try to win the release of two women journalists who have been detained since March 17, a Washington source told POLITICO.

North Korean officials told one family that they would release the women to Clinton, the source said. The family then approached the former president.

The source said the White House approved the mission, which began Tuesday, North Korea time. The delicate journey comes amid increasing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, which continues to pursue and test nuclear capabilities. Administration officials declined to comment.


Bill Clinton in North Korea to Seek Release of U.S. Reporters
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/asia/05korea.html?hp


Former President Bill Clinton shook hands with a North Korean official in Pyongyang.



In this image taken from a footage shot by APTN, Former U.S. President Bill Clinton receives a bouquet of flowers upon his arrival at an airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009. Clinton made a surprise trip to North Korea on Tuesday amid an international standoff over the country's nuclear program and concerns about two U.S. reporters imprisoned in Pyongyang since March. (AP Photo/APTN)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090804/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_journalists_held

[FVZA_Colonel]

15. I know this is silly, but on another forum I saw this posted with the headline

"Bill Clinton Heads To North Korea To Release Hostages" and got the image of some sort of Rambo style rescue.

In all seriousness, I think he can make this happen, and I wish him well.

[Roon]

16. Former President Bill Clinton is going to North Korea to negotiate for the release of 2 U.S. journal

Source: AP

Former President Bill Clinton is going to North Korea to negotiate for the release of 2 U.S. journalists, a source says.


Read more: www.cnn.com

[eleny]

17. K&R It's a huge story developing tonight

[eleny]

18. Pssst ... your link has an extra dot

[Roon]

26. Sorry, I was posting while intoxicated

If news makes me jump while I am drunk, then I know it's BIG!!!

[eleny]

27. No problem - any excuse to kick a good story posting!

:kick:

[Maccagirl]

19. For everyone concerned

He just has to succeed.

:grouphug:

[opihimoimoi]

20. Fraught with danger and rejection...them K's are playing chess.

Rythless and cunning, they perpetuate their Scam w Bullyism...

[knowbody0]

21. I love him for this!

[juajen]

29. Go, Big Dog, Go!!!

That's Hillary's man. Bless his heart. Great choice! Hope he stays safe.

[virgogal]

22. Good news---I pray he succeeds.

[hlthe2b]

23. Wow... his Secret Service contingent will have quite the challenge

One would think no country's leadership would be insane enough to hurt/capture/threaten a former President, but then it is not clear that there is any degree of sane leadership in North Korea.

Good on you, Big Dawg. I certainly hope fervently for your success.

[Hugabear]

24. Uh-oh...

[Renew Deal]

25. Ummmm, I hope we get him back.

:wtf:

[miyazaki]

28. He's doin' what Gore should have done. Alright!

[robinlynne]

30. huh? What does Gore have to do with North Korea?

[steven johnson]

31. He was instrumental in the 'Free Willy' episode NT

[Rhiannon12866]

32. K&R. Huge news! If anybody can do this, it's President Clinton...

I've seen him in person and he's well-spoken, charismatic and persuasive. Also, he's the "empath in chief..." :D :woohoo:

[Vidar]

33. Good for Bill! He can pull it off if anyone can.

[alittlelark]

34. NKorea: ex-President Bill Clinton in Pyongyang AP

Source: AP

SEOUL, South Korea – Former U.S. President Bill Clinton made a surprise trip to North Korea on Tuesday amid an international standoff over the country's nuclear program and concerns about two U.S. reporters imprisoned in Pyongyang since March.

Clinton landed in Pyongyang on Tuesday and was greeted at the airport by North Korean officials, including chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kye Gwan, North Korea's state news agency said in a brief dispatch. "A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton," the report said.

His visit comes amid heightened tensions over North Korea's string of nuclear and missile tests in defiance of U.N. resolutions, and calls from Washington for amnesty for the two reporters.

Ling and Lee, reporters for former Vice President Al Gore's California-based Current TV media venture, were arrested in March while on a reporting trip to the Chinese-North Korean border. They were sentenced in June to 12 years of hard labor for entering the country illegally and engaging in "hostile acts."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090804/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_journalists_held

---

They should have sent NM Governor Bill Richardson - he's the one that negotiated the original N Korea nuclear deal over clay baked trout in Santa Fe.

I wish B. Clinton well and hope he will be returned to us.

[Meldread]

35. I hope he can get them set free.

I am a big fan of Current TV, and love the reporting done by Vanguard. They go to some places that most American journalists simply would never DREAM about going to... they are put in serious danger, but in most cases they manage to get home safely. Vanguard has really opened up my eyes to a lot of what is going on in the world, and not reported by the Mainstream Media.

I believe everyone on DU would love the show. It will really open your eyes to things that you had no idea were going on, or were FAR WORSE than reported.

[hamsterjill]

36. If it were me being held hostage, I couldn't think of anyone better!

If it were me being held hostage over there, I couldn't think of anyone that I'd rather have try to get me out.

Godspeed, Big Dawg. Be safe, be successful and bring those girls home.

And oh by the way, what he's doing takes guts!!! I haven't seen George W. Bush volunteering to do anything since he left office!