Let’s Not Forget The Two Americans In North Korea
Current TV reporters Euna Lee (left) and Laura Ling (right) must not be forgotten with all the other issues taking our attention. They just welcomed their first visitor since being incarcerated, Mats Foyer, the Swedish ambassadodr to North Korea.
His meeting with Euna Lee and Laura Ling was the first since the pair were jailed for 12 years in a labour camp for entering the country illegally.
The two women were also reportedly allowed to call their US-based husbands on Sunday.
Sweden serves as the US protecting power in North Korea, as the US lacks diplomatic relations with the country.
[Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Ian] Kelly said the US was “pursuing many different avenues” to secure the women’s release, but he would not elaborate.
Against the backdrop of the detaining of the two reporters is the transition of power likely soon to take place in North Korea, with the 26-year-old son of the current leader (right) poised to take control.
South Korean media is meanwhile reporting that the youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, is overseeing the case of the two detained journalists.
He has also reportedly been appointed as head of the North’s secret police and spy agency.
In a world where I run the show I would have these women out of that pit by the end of the day.
I can only hope the State Dept and others are working hard on this…
flap Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
What does “working hard” mean? “Pleeeeeease, Kim Jong Il, give them back or we’ll pass MORE testicle-free UN resolutions!”
Nevertheless, I do agree that we can’t forget these two poor ladies. I hope we are doing whatever we can. It’d be nice if we could send in Seals or Rangers or something to recapture them. We need to get them back from that insane asylum of a state.
Maybe we should use NUCULER weapons on them…
average james Reply:
June 26th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Ha ha ha ha
Nuculer weapons that’ll show em.
Good one Flap
EricG Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Flap -
Stay away from diplomatic affairs. They obviously confound and confuse you to a point that you start drooling on your keyboard and making it short out and give me stupid statements that fail to make sense.
The words “working hard” mean they are tryin to get whatever influence they can and pull whatever strings their are and so on. Negotiation and diplomacy. Ever heard of them? They are part of the sane dialogue we are going to start having now that a war-monger is no longer in the Executive Branch.
“We need to get them back from that insane asylum of a state.”
So if you hate the State Dept and hate Obama giving speeches and hate using our intelligence … what is left?
Bombs and violence. Yup. that’s all you got.
You’d get those ladies killed and I’d save them.
Your a Republican and I’m a Democrat.
Just wanted to point out something there … I see a pattern here …
goliath43 Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Eric
Don’t know how old you are but if you can remember the Iran Hostage Crisis at the end of the Carter administration and the begining of the Reagan one. 444 days under a democrat but upon Reagan taking the oath they were flown home the same day. “Speak softly but carry a big stick” to quote Teddy
“Let him who desires peace prepare for war.”
I believe in using all avenues available to get these girls released but you have to be able to back up what you say.
OldLefty Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
goliath43 said,
“but upon Reagan taking the oath they were flown home the same day.’
……………………..
Funny that Reagan had promised to sell the Iranians TOW missiles.
Reagan did not really carry a big stick at all.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I am generally anti-war, especially needless and never-ending war(ahem), but KJ-Il’s current actions and threats may actually wake this sleeping giant again. I could imagine a draft, taxes at the 90% range(like during WWII), the entire manufacturing capability of this country(what’s left of it) geared for war, etc. Not the ideal situation, but no one questions whether WWII was necessary. War should be a last resort, but it may be time to show the world we what we can do. God save us all.
michael Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Kim Jung Il is not a serious threat in my opinion. He wouldn’t dare attack the United States, as we would easily destroy his country in a week.
EricG Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
DJ – “KJ-Il’s current actions and threats may actually wake this sleeping giant again”
You have been listening to too much right wing radio.
No, we won’t be ‘waking up’ anytime soon.
NK has pounded it’s chest every time their is a change in power in the US.
This means nothing. Kim will not take any actions against us or any one else for that matter.
We would destroy him before he could wipe his nose and chances are the US wouldn’t do a thing. China would wipe him off the map so fast we would forget about NK in about a year.
So … get real.
The threat from NK could be measured in microscopic levels.
DJ Dalek Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I take insult from that remark. I’m a lefty- always have been. The only time I listen to right wing radio is the hour between Ed Schultz and Thom Hartman, and then it’s only Michael Savage. He’s more “crazy-kill-the-mexicans-and-muslims-before-they-force-us-to-be-gay-and-communist-and-have-abortions” wing. In other words, he’s slightly left of Hannity.
June 27th, 2009 at 1:39 am
nuculer weapons never gets old. lol
this is a good post, although i find it unfortunate (and quite telling abt our society’s priorities) that we need a reminder that mj’s passing isn’t the only matter of import.
EricG Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Someone needs to remind us of the real stuff going on.
The sudden death of celebrities is tragic but reality waits for no man…
June 27th, 2009 at 2:53 am
I haven’t really followed this case…but my question is…did they break the law? if so I don’t think I can support any action to free them. Just because they are part of the media it doesn’t mean they have diplomatic immunity. 12 years hard labor seems a bit much, but N. Korea seems to think it is an appropriate punishment for the crime.
It reminds me of that kid that got caught tagging in Singapore back in the 90’s and got caned…did he do it? Yes….
think of it from our perspective, if 2 Iranian illegally entered the country we’d probably lock them up or otherwise follow our rule of law. Just because our rule of law doesn’t include 12 years of hard labor doesn’t mean we have to complain about other countries that do.
June 28th, 2009 at 1:10 am