# US Journalists held in North Korea Freed
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 4, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344 "2009-08-04T21:50:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/41 "2009-08-05T16:43:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> If it’s the guy North Korea wanted, it doesn’t really matter. It’s true that this is a reward for bad behavior, even if the reward is only a photo op for Kim before he kicks off, but it’s the first time Kim’s gotten a reward for psychotic behavior and I don’t know what the alternative solution was in this case.
It’s not a political reward and that is an important distinction. It could just as easily have been Madonna.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/42 "2009-08-05T16:47:35Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> It’s not a political reward and that is an important distinction. It could just as easily have been Madonna.
I don’t have any problem with Bill Clinton or anybody else being sent over there to negotiate. There were no alternatives and these women needed to be released. I do think it qualifies as a reward, strictly speaking, but you make a good point about the distinction.
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### Author:  [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/43 "2009-08-05T16:58:16Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> It has nothing to do with being a conservative or a liberal. We do not negotiate with terrorists (or any other “ists”) in situations that amount to blackmail. Nothing Bill Clinton did represented the United States. This was a function of Al Gore asking him for a favor.
>
> There was certainly contact between President Obama and Former President Clinton as a matter of procedure but not in the sense that anything was given in exchange or directed by the White House.
And you know all this how?
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### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/44 "2009-08-05T17:13:33Z")
I’m sure Lee and Ling’s family is REALLY impressed by GOP’s whines about “rewarding” bad behavior. :dubious:
If Bolton really believes what he says, maybe he should surrender himself to Kim and demand that a military raid, not a diplomat, secures his release.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/45 "2009-08-05T17:14:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> it’s the first time Kim’s gotten a reward for psychotic behavior and I don’t know what the alternative solution was in this case.
Maybe raise the terror threat level to Orange ?
If this was a reward, it was a reward without a price.
Chatting people up so as to get what you want essentially for free is pretty much the definition of _good_ diplomacy.
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### Author:  [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/46 "2009-08-05T17:29:59Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#):
>
> The question for discussion is does this help the Obama administration, or do nothing at all?
1. A high level discussion and the following debriefing of Bill Clinton will add insight into the North Korean situation.
2. ditto for the debriefing of the hostages.
3. No matter how you slice and dice it the easy success of the US response to the Korean offer reveals the value of access to top US government figures, a fact that can be employed in the future.
4. Its a good news national story. When America feels good about the nation they are more likely to support their current administration.
5. Long term, it shows another example of the benefits of western democracy when the world sees the value America places on their citizens.
6. Republican responses like Bolten’s will only further erode the credibility of the opposition party.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/47 "2009-08-05T19:02:01Z")
[**Mission Accomplished**](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2009/08/freed-us-journalists-come-home.php?img=6&ref=fpblg)
> [@](#):
>
> “Thirty hours ago, Euna Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea. We feared that at any moment we could be prisoners in a hard labor camp. Then suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting. We were taken to a location and when we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton. We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end. And now we stand here home and free.”
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/48 "2009-08-05T19:42:01Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#):
>
> 1. Long term, it shows another example of the benefits of western democracy when the world sees the value America places on their citizens.
That would be a terrible message to send to terrorists which is why this was not done through political channels. At best, Kim Jong got a non-smiling picture of a famouse American to frame on his wall.
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#):
>
> 1. Republican responses like Bolten’s will only further erode the credibility of the opposition party.
Bolton doesn’t speek for the GOP, he speaks for Bolton.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/49 "2009-08-05T22:35:45Z")
I anticipate my local nutjobs ranting about this in the paper, tomorrow.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/50 "2009-08-05T23:06:41Z")
The important thing is that Jessie Jackson managed to get airtime over this.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/51 "2009-08-05T23:31:45Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Bolton doesn’t speek for the GOP, he speaks for Bolton.
How’s Rush taking the prisoner release?
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### Author:  [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/52 "2009-08-06T16:51:29Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#):
>
> I’m waiting for the inevitable spin by Republicans, either dismissing the success as unimportant, or decrying the act as a show of America’s weakness. After all, a self respecting and strong nation doesn’t talk to North Korea, it bombs them off the face of the Earth. That’ll learn 'em.
Wait no more:
[http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/05/clinton-nk-journalists/](http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/05/clinton-nk-journalists/)
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### Author:  [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-journalists-held-in-north-korea-freed/505344/53 "2009-08-06T16:58:39Z")
According to Dick Morris (R - Toesucker), we should’ve let the 2 rot in prison, to presumably to teach them a lesson.
> **[Dick Morris Thinks The Two Freed Hostages Should Still Be Back In Pyongyang](https://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/dick-morris-thinks-two-freed-hostage)**
>
> Everyone but Fox analysts pretty much celebrated yesterday's release of the two American women held hostage in North Korea, thanks to Bill Clinton's d
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