NY Times: In Release of Journalists, Both Clintons Had Key Roles

[George II]

(note: Laura Ling is the sister of Paul Song's wife)

By MARK LANDLER and PETER BAKERAUG. 4, 2009



WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton left North Korea on Wednesday morning after a dramatic 20-hour visit, 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.

Mr. Clinton departed from Pyongyang, the capital, around 8:30 a.m. local time, along with the journalists, Laura Ling, 32, and Euna Lee, 36, on a private jet bound for Los Angeles, according to a statement from the former president’s office.

The North Korean government, which in June sentenced the women to 12 years of hard labor for illegally entering North Korean territory, announced hours earlier that it had pardoned the women after Mr. Clinton apologized to Mr. Kim for their actions, according to the North Korean state media.

President Obama contacted the families of the women on Tuesday evening, according to administration officials, but the White House said it would withhold public comment until the former president landed on American soil.

Mr. Clinton’s mission to Pyongyang was the most visible by an American in nearly a decade. It came at a time when the United States’ relationship with North Korea had become especially chilled, after North Korea’s test of its second nuclear device in May and a series of missile launchings.

It ended a harrowing ordeal for the two women, who were stopped on March 17 by soldiers near North Korea’s border with China while researching a report about women and human trafficking. They faced years of imprisonment in the gulaglike confines of a North Korean prison camp.

And it catapulted Mr. Clinton back on to the global stage, on behalf of a president who defeated his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a bitter primary campaign last year, and who later asked her to be his secretary of state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/asia/05korea.html?_r=0

I guess this is what "corporate whores" do!

[DFab420]

1. I'm confused, are you saying that all democratic politicans are immune from

criticism because of what one President did?

[tk2kewl]

13. fealty

that is what is expected apparently

and not just to that president... to his wife and all with the same political affiliation/label

[hrmjustin]

2. Talk about an ingrate!

[okasha]

11. You took the words right off my fingertips.

[DemonGoddess]

3. K&R!

[Sheepshank]

4. Clintonian accomplishments continue, for those that know how to get shit done

...then there are other candidates, who seem to talk a lot

[Armstead]

5. I'm touched,. And this has something to do with the issues in the campaign how?

[George II]

7. One of those two women is the sister of Paul Song's wife - the same Paul Song....

....who called Hillary Clinton a "corporate whore" last night.

Got it now?

[Armstead]

8. I know the relationship....It has nothing to do with the issues in the campaign

A distraction, deflection, making mountain out of molehill, grasping at straws, Rovian smear....whatever cliche you choose to use to refer to absolutely meaningless in the context of the primary.

[George II]

9. Well, it's an indication of the character of one of Sanders' most outspoken surrogates.....

....

As they say, you are judged by the company you keep.

[NCTraveler]

10. You really should be blaming Song and no one else.

He was an idiot for not just saying corporatist. We aren't talking some little back hall MRA meeting. This was a rally for someone looking to be President of the United States. Stupid is stupid and his remark is what is taking away from the issues. That is on him and no one else.

I do agree it is being made out to be something bigger than it was. I could have told you that would happen if I knew he was going to make that comment beforehand. You would have as well. He should have as well.

[UtahLib]

6. K&R. nt

[mcar]

12. K&R

[Lucinda]

14. KNR

[Hekate]

15. Sounds like Paul Song is one ungrateful SOB

I guess he won't be applying for any grants from the Clinton Foundation anytime soon.

[seabeyond]

16. I didn't know about this. I think his wife has also worked with Clinton? The man fucked up. Nt

[DesertRat]

17. Both his wife, Lisa and sister-in-law Laura are Hillary supporters. nt