Yesterday while I had a mouthful, my orthodontist commented, "Did you hear the journalists were released from North Korea?" I said, "A hund oow hinuss heehing narr inni hurs lace." [Translation: They had no business being there in the first place.] She was a tad put out by that and said, "Well, North Korea had no business sentencing them to 12 years of hard labor."
Excuse me? No business? Regardless of my views of North Korea in general and Kim Jong-il in particular, the last time I checked, North Korea was, and I assume still is a sovereign nation. As such, they have every right to govern themselves, create laws, and conduct their political business as the country (i.e. the ruling regime) sees fit. Granted, their existence has been problematic for most of the world for nearly six decades. That, however, does not diminish their rights.
The journalists displayed the height of stupidity by attempting illegal entry into North Korea. Firstly, Kim Jong-il -- who is internationally known for human rights violations -- controls all the media in his country. The last thing he'd want is more unflattering journalistic attention brought to bear against him and his abuses. Secondly, considering all of his recent nuclear saber rattling, having something substantial to hold over the United States would have been -- and turned out to be -- politically judicious for North Korea's Dear Leader.
Excuse me? No business? Regardless of my views of North Korea in general and Kim Jong-il in particular, the last time I checked, North Korea was, and I assume still is a sovereign nation. As such, they have every right to govern themselves, create laws, and conduct their political business as the country (i.e. the ruling regime) sees fit. Granted, their existence has been problematic for most of the world for nearly six decades. That, however, does not diminish their rights.
The journalists displayed the height of stupidity by attempting illegal entry into North Korea. Firstly, Kim Jong-il -- who is internationally known for human rights violations -- controls all the media in his country. The last thing he'd want is more unflattering journalistic attention brought to bear against him and his abuses. Secondly, considering all of his recent nuclear saber rattling, having something substantial to hold over the United States would have been -- and turned out to be -- politically judicious for North Korea's Dear Leader.
If the two women thought they could sneak in and then yell, "We're American citizens!" to get themselves out, they were sadly mistaken. Their arrogance, and that of Current TV, the news organization co-founded by Al Gore that employs them, put their lives in imminent danger. It also gave the Unites States a black eye.
What were the concessions former president Bill Clinton offered to North Korea on the behest of the Obama Administration for the release of these two ill-advised journalists?
Personally, I'd have left them there for 24 months, which is roughly the standard amount of time our military members spend during deployment to the Middle East. Think about that.
Personally, I'd have left them there for 24 months, which is roughly the standard amount of time our military members spend during deployment to the Middle East. Think about that.
Always willing to express my opinion,
Flitter
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