BREAKING: Two journalists freed from North Korea

[HopeOverFear]

CNN is reporting that the two journalists have been given a special pardon from L'il Kim himself. I'll find the link.

Seems L'il Kim wanted to save face, and by pardoning them, he wasn't admitting much. Former Clinton likelye worked a deal in advance of the trip, CNN is saying, because this couldn't have happened so quickly otherwise

[tekisui]

1. Job well done, President Clinton!

[Liberalynn]

2. Good to know they will be coming home.

Good job President Clinton.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Yep. Sounds like the game was already played before we heard Clinton was going...

Well played, Mr. Obama.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. That is what Thom Hartmann said today on his show...

this trip would NOT have happened unless there was a pre-determined outcome. WTG all participants in this effort!!:toast:

[Still Sensible]

24. I can't imagine the President would have put him

in position to lose face. And I can't imagine Bill would have put himself in that position... so yes, it pretty much had to be a done deal before Bill got on the plane. In any event, as has been mentioned numerous times, damn I'm glad the adults are in charge again.

[Lord Helmet]

25. Pres Obama knows how to delegate.

[karynnj]

27. True, but it sounds like the price was Bill Clinton going to NK

This is good all around. The women are free. It is one less problem that we have with North Korea.

Congratulations to Obama. HRC, any one at state or elsewhere who worked out the deal and Bill Clinton for going.

[BlooInBloo]

31. Yah - the proverbial stripper jumping out of the cake at the end of the party...

Definitely good work by all involved!

[Clio the Leo]

4. Yay!!! Next stop! Tehran! NT

[karynnj]

28. To free the hikers?

[Clio the Leo]

37. Yep. NT

[dorkulon]

6. Thank God.

I'm so glad this ordeal is almost over for these women.

[Kind of Blue]

7. Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Well-played, Presidents!

Jong-il, the brat, in photos is grinning from ear-to-ear standing next to Clinton. He finally gets the acknowledgment he craves.
Thanks for posting! :toast:

[Mz Pip]

8. I always believed they would be released

It was a lose-lose for NK to keep them. If they were sent to prison and died there it would be a PR nightmare for them. If they went to prison and lived to tell about it, it would be a PR nightmare for NK as well.

Clinton going gave NK an out and a way to come out looking magnanimous.

Good for Clinton to have done this. I can only imagine how pissed off the Clinton haters must be. They don't want to give him credit for anything.

[Zodiak]

13. I can't stand Clinton or his ilk

But he does deserve credit for this. This is one area where he really shines, and he did a great job.

Do you always attribute positions to others that are not stated? Shadow-boxing against strawmen? Because it is not that effective rhetorically, and demonstrably false.

[Mz Pip]

15. Always

Every single time. :eyes:

[kestrel91316]

19. "....or his ilk" - who would THAT be, pray tell? Ex-presidents?

Arkansans? White men of Baptist background?

[whopis01]

33. Oh, I think he is referring specifically to

white men of Baptist background from Arkansas who happen to be ex-presidents.

[Zodiak]

46. I think you are wrong

But thanks for trying to be deliberately obtuse.

Most people on this board that do not like Clinton do not like him because he is a corporate Democrat. Do not feign ignorance for the sake of snark.

[Zodiak]

45. Corporate Democrats who rail more against liberals in their party than Republicans n/t

[iverglas]

38. funny how I knew what you meant

from way up here on the other side of the border. At least, I could guess and hope I was right.

I don't like right-wingers masquerading as "liberals" either. We have more than our share up here; they come with capital "L"s.

But he did and does do some things very well. If only he had put his talents to better use, eh?

[Zodiak]

47. Funny how those above act like they have no idea

As if they have never read a post on DU by a liberal complaining about Clinton.

[karynnj]

29. I have seen no one criticise Clinton for doing this

Why would they? The fact that he was willing to make a long flight to meet with the North Korean as the price to obtain the release of these women shows he is willing to sacrifice his own time and comfort to help end a foreign policy problem.

[Mass]

9. Not surprising. They would not have sent somebody like Clinton if it was not nearly a done deal.

Very happy to hear that and great job.

[Phx_Dem]

17. Agreed. Really nice job to all involved! Looking forward to the WH comments

as soon as President Clinton and the ladies are "wheels up."

:toast:

[NoSheep]

10. This is a relief. Amazing.

[mscuedawg]

11. Wonderful news!

So who starts the poll thread that says "Who will the right wingers say REALLY rescued the American journalists in N. Korea"

[Born_A_Truman]

12. Link to CNN story

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/04/nkorea.clinton/index.html

[Aristus]

14. Dang!!11! I wuz hopin' sumhm was gonna git blowed up, 'stead of folks talkin'.

Ecksploshuns 'r' purty!1!!

:+

[PlanetBev]

16. Plumes of jealous steam emitting from right wing ears

Well done, Big Doggie! You still got what it takes!

[HopeOverFear]

20. GOP: "Curses! Foiled again!"

[kestrel91316]

18. The Big Dog still has his good ol' boy mojo. Way to go!!

[bunny planet]

21. Dang Bill, all is forgiven

Great job!!!!!

:woohoo: :applause: :fistbump: :headbang: :yourock: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Berry Cool]

22. Woo-hoo!!!!!!

You go, Bill and Barack!!!!! :applause:

[flyarm]

23. Thank you President Clinton! You are one of a kind!! and still the best this nation has seen in my

lifetime..next to Kennedy...

[ObamaKerryDem]

26. See what can happen with a little bit of diplomacy? This NEVER would've happened under Bush..

Kudos to President Clinton for pulling this off! (I'm guessing with the administration's blessing, in which case, mad props to them, too!) EPIC WIN. :D

[Wetzelbill]

30. Score one for Presidents Obama and Clinton

and probably Secretary Clinton too. Glad they are released.

[karynnj]

41. From CNN, it looks like John Kerry was very involved in brokering the deal

Secretary Clinton helped by issuing the statement asking for a pardon and tacitly accepting some fault on the part of the women - who did illegally cross the border.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8569429

(It will be interesting to see if Obama or Clinton give credit to anyone else.)

[Wetzelbill]

42. that's good news

I like the sum of all the parts here. I may not agree with every individual but I think Obama put together a good foreign policy team. I think they will give some credit to everyone, that seems like a fair thing to do.

[Arrowhead2k1]

32. See GOP, wasn't this better than setting up to bomb and invade NK?

[YvonneCa]

43. I know you are kidding, but that IS probably what they...

...would have done. What a difference an election makes... :)

[rasputin1952]

34. Fantastic news!

A lot goes on behind the scenes, but when diplomacy works, it is a beautiful thing...:D

During the Cuban Missle Crisis, the thing that got everyone out of a possible nuclear holocaust, was the guy in the meetings who said, "Give Kruschev a way out where he can save face"...thankfully, JFK and others listened...:)

[Doctor_J]

35. hoo-boy. How is Big Media going to use this to bash Clinton?

Tune in tomorrow when Rove has faxed everyone their talking points.

[laugle]

36. Great job from the Big Dawg!

Kudos to Hillary as well......

Obama gets a great foreign policy success, it's a win,win,& win situation that the RW will spin into some sort of BS. But they will lose, the women are safe and sound and coming home.

I like good news!

MSNBC is just as bad, trying to pit the Clinton's against Obama for their pitiful ratings...........yuk

[karynnj]

40. Actually great job from John Kerry and Bill Clinton

and to everyone in the state department that helped.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8569429

[BlooInBloo]

39. What a scene we're going to have on the American tarmac when the plane lands!

:) :) :)

[mimitabby]

44. i am so proud and happy for bill clinton

and for the two journalists too. What a wonderful thing he did, what a great opportunity!
It is so rare anymore that i open the morning paper and read something that makes me smile!!

THANKS BILL