Al Gore Possible Envoy To North Korea
Al Gore may be sent by President Obama to North Korea to negotiate the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee (being remembered at vigil (r), in Santa Monica). Both reporters work for Gore’s Current TV. The State Department says it’s “a very, very sensitive” issue, and won’t discuss plans.
North Korea’s official news agency said the trial would begin by mid-afternoon Thursday, but nearly one day later, there was no word on the status of the proceedings. A State Department spokesman said American officials had seen no independent confirmation that the case was under way.
North Korea could respond positively to someone of Gore’s stature being utilized to negotiate an end to the crisis. Washington and Pyongyang don’t have diplomatic relations, and this is being viewed as a way to get the attention of the United States.
Hey, I say go for it.
Daddio Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
North Korea did this for one purpose only. THEY WANT something, some concession, from the US.
I’d much rather see someone like John Bolton go, but I hope Al Gore will stand firm and relay a tough messege to Kim Jong Il from the US government. We cannot and should not tolerate such behavior.
jasperjava Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Sending John Bolton would be like pouring gasoline into the fire. The man has all the diplomatic skills of a hand grenade.
But you’re right that the North Koreans are holding these women as pawns for negotiations. We need to tell them in no uncertain terms that if anything happens to them, there will be hell to pay.
Daddio Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I can’t see Gore telling the North Koreans that Jasperjava. But you could bet you bottom dollar Bolten would.
We need to take a very hard line with the North Koreans. No more pussy-footing around.
OldLefty Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Bolton comes off as the “kick down, kiss up cowardly bully.
Other bullys love that, because they feed off of each other, which is why Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah have become so much stronger in the last 8 years.
June 9th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I agree, get Al over there as fast as possible. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll lock him up too. Think of the reduction in our carbon footprint.
jasperjava Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Here we go with the gratuitous Al Gore-hatred. Way to support American journalists who are unjustly detained.
Methinks a person like John G., who favors imprisoning people with whom he disagrees politically, would be much happier living in a totalitarian regime like North Korea.
Daddio Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Maybe Rocky would be happier living over there also jasperjava.
June 9th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hey guys I love to joke as much as anyone, but this is no laughing matter. Save the Al Gore jokes for another time please.
Daddio Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
What is Obama’s response to this incident? I haven’t heard any thing yet from him, but then I haven’t watched any news today.
No this isn’t a laughing matter. Wasn’t poking fun at Algore. Poking fun at Rocky who seems to prefer that type of government in N. Korea.
jasperjava Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I did hear a forceful statement from Obama.
North Korea has the potential of being a serious thorn in his side. I wonder if there’s a way to isolate them even further, with the help of their on-again, off-again sponsors in China, and bring about some regime change. We need to see a 1989-style popular overthrow.
The problem is that Beijing is nervous about that, especially with the Tiananmen massacre so fresh in people’s mind because of the anniversary.
I don’t think the military option is viable. We could try our old tried-and-true approach: convince a general to mount a military coup, and promise him aid in exchange for cooperation.
I’m sick and tired of North Korea thumbing its nose at the world. If anyplace deserves “regime change”, this is it.
jasperjava Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Obama has issued a forceful statement, and I hope we see a forceful follow-up.
The trouble is that these are not just Somali pirates. There are no good military options. We need to bring more diplomatic pressure. We need to get China on-side: they have been Pyong-yang’s on-again, off-again sponsors.
The DPRK’s actions lately have been a provocative affront to the international community. They need to be isolated and stopped.
Personally, I’d like to see “regime change”. This won’t happen militarily, but hopefully through a 1989-style popular overthrow. The trouble is that China would hate to see that – it might give its own citizens ideas, especially with the memory of Tiananmen Square fresh in everybody’s minds.
Maybe the ideal would be to cultivate a coup by a general, and promise him aid in exchange for cooperation. It’s worked before. We may have to wait until the death of Kim Jong Il before we see a North Korean Gorbachev open up to the West.
GuidoVanHorn Reply:
June 10th, 2009 at 1:58 am
hopefully we’ve learned our lesson and don’t side with a general and promise aid for a coup. Most generals that would take that deal become as bad or worse than the regime they are taking over.
I say send Al over (heck he should want to, they are his reporters after all) then see what happens.
June 9th, 2009 at 12:44 pm