Well of course they did. The whole thing was worked out diplomatically well before Clinton left, you know that. He didn't just show up and save the day.
Great idea. Let's arrest all those who come within sight of the US border, "try" them, and sentence them to 12 years in a place that makes Gitmo look like the Ritz Carlton. That little act of sovereignty should curb our illegal immigration problem a bit, though Gitmo would swell to roughly the size of New York City. But hey! They're daring to tread in a dangerous area. And as such, shouldn't have the protection of any entity, government or otherwise. Just as an aside, wasn't it Perot that launched an attack to free the Iran hostages in 80 with his own money?
I've seen nothing that indicates the administration had anything to do with it. If they did, it gives fodder to the "arms for hostages" type accusations I alluded to in my first post. If they didn't, it's not much different than Ross Perot dealing with terrorists who took some of his employees hostage. The most I've seen is along the lines of Clinton's plane refueled at an air base in Alaska. I've not seen that the US even gave him a plane on which to fly there and back. Seems like if the administration were involved that Clinton wouldn't have had to borrow a plane. I meant what I wrote in my first post. I'm pleased the hostages are home, and I find it shameful that people claim there's some sort of evil deal that made it possible. Hostages. Taken against their will. Charges against them trumped up. Held for some sort of ransom.
i dont think anyone is suggesting that other than right wing lunatics. and obama did all the leg work according to most news outlets like cnn- president bill clinton of course was the courageous dude who brought the two americans back home. kudos to diplomacy!!!
I still see no indication Obama did all the legwork, even on CNN. I expect the administration had to be asked to approve Clinton going over there. But they'll try to take credit for it, no doubt. Meanwhile, diplomacy has kept North Korea from launching a number of rockets on the 4th of July. No it didn't. Diplomacy kept those journalists from being taken in the first place. No it didn't.
john bolton, bush's ambassador to the un has publicly said that the administration shouldnt have done this. bolton doesnt believe in diplomacy with hostile nations and he certainly has a blatant disregard for these americans. u guys have had 8 years of these mad men in charge. now sanity has been restored and u guys might have a chance at legitimate engagement. im not a diplomatic scholar but im almost certain that if u get china on board in the much lauded six party talks and they wield meaningful sanctions in deterrence- lil kim will give up everything and his mother. north korea as u might know is propped by china.
u need to watch cnn more often. their white house correspondent said 99% of the negotiations were complete when clinton arrived in north korea. obama is a superhero!!!
good grief... deeply partisan politics are the only reason those charges were pursued in the first place. Partisan politics completely fueled that ridiculous waste of the President's and Congress's time and taxpayers money. Trying to spin that as BC's fault... wacky STOMP
"The release also amounted to a successful diplomatic foray for the former president, who traveled as an unofficial envoy, with approval and coordination from the administration." - The Associated Press, yesterday Again, he didn't just show up and save the day. I read a report that the administration has been negotiating for months, of course, that they wanted to send Al Gore, N Korea wanted Clinton, etc. It was the Obama admin.
From what I've seen, it's a lot of people working behind the scenes to get the reporters freed, all of them outside the West Wing. John Kerry being one of them. Coordination? What do you think that means? To me it means as little as "sure, you can refuel at an air force base." Or something along the lines of "you may go on Tuesday."
You know, I missed the definition of murdering being changed to "a supply clerk sitting in the back of a convoy which turned the wrong way, being ambushed, wounded and captured." Sure glad that you're here to help point those things out.
Denny - it truly strikes me as odd, and surprisingly naive, that you would think that the State Department has not been working for months to get these high profile women released. I get that you don't like Obama, but it should not be that hard to give credit where credit is due.
It has nothing to do with a perceived dislike of Obama. I actually do like him, but I don't think he's some sort of saviour. More like in over his head and learning the ropes. I would take NKorea's launching of a number of missiles on July 4 as a sign that any diplomacy wasn't happening all along. I also wouldn't put it past any administration to try and take some of the credit here. And I don't think Kerry or Gore or other democrats who were involved would deny the administration their claim to the credit. I do think Clinton played this for all it's worth though.
