"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Monday, August 3, 2009
For Once, I Wish Bill Clinton Luck
He is heading to North Korea to negotiate the freedom of the two American journalists who have been "detained."
Hillary would probably not care about Bill getting sidetracked as long as it happened after he successfully negotiated the release, so she could claim partial credit.
I doubt Bubba strongarmed anyone, Retread. The Norks have wanted a one-on-one discussion with the US for years, in order to cut out the other regional powers. That was the one thing that Bush never gave Kim.
But now Bubba, an ex-president married to the current Secretary of State (whom the Norks openly mocked), waltzes in, and frees the hostages (not prisoners, hostages, I've no doubt about that) almost immediately.
Unless Clinton gave Kim a list of nuclear targets in NoKo, or maybe compromising photos of Kim and goats, Obama had to make some concessions here.
Given Obama's dealings with Chavez, Imadinnerjacket, and Hamas, I'd bet on the concessions.
At the very least, Kim got little, but saved considerable face by having Clinton, an ex-president married to the current Secretary of State (whom the Norks openly mocked) carry the message. Face is all important in the Far East.
BillyBoy was sent to suck up (!) to NorK. With OUR economy in the toilet, BarryO's gotta get some good press somewhere! Whatever he said, I don't believe either the Administration that says he didn't deliver a message from BarryO, or NorK, who says he did. My guess is JeffS has it on the nose.
I also agree with JeffS, that Clinton probably made some promises from Obama in order to get the journalists freed. Although I'm glad the girls are safe, I'm pretty sure we're going to hate whatever the promises were.
He'll probably get sidetracked at Dear Leader's porn collection and forget why he went over there in the first place.
ReplyDeleteHillary would probably not care about Bill getting sidetracked as long as it happened after he successfully negotiated the release, so she could claim partial credit.
ReplyDeleteRetread
TW: ovesseep: there's a joke in there somewhere
There is a report, via Don Surber from MSNBC, that Bill succeeded in strong arming Dear Leader into freeing the journalists.
ReplyDeleteRetread
I doubt Bubba strongarmed anyone, Retread. The Norks have wanted a one-on-one discussion with the US for years, in order to cut out the other regional powers. That was the one thing that Bush never gave Kim.
ReplyDeleteBut now Bubba, an ex-president married to the current Secretary of State (whom the Norks openly mocked), waltzes in, and frees the hostages (not prisoners, hostages, I've no doubt about that) almost immediately.
Unless Clinton gave Kim a list of nuclear targets in NoKo, or maybe compromising photos of Kim and goats, Obama had to make some concessions here.
Given Obama's dealings with Chavez, Imadinnerjacket, and Hamas, I'd bet on the concessions.
At the very least, Kim got little, but saved considerable face by having Clinton, an ex-president married to the current Secretary of State (whom the Norks openly mocked) carry the message. Face is all important in the Far East.
BillyBoy was sent to suck up (!) to NorK. With OUR economy in the toilet, BarryO's gotta get some good press somewhere! Whatever he said, I don't believe either the Administration that says he didn't deliver a message from BarryO, or NorK, who says he did. My guess is JeffS has it on the nose.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with JeffS, that Clinton probably made some promises from Obama in order to get the journalists freed. Although I'm glad the girls are safe, I'm pretty sure we're going to hate whatever the promises were.
ReplyDeleteThis is a thoughtful analysis of Bill Clinton's interactions with the Norks Beloved Leader.
ReplyDeleteAnd I must admit, I'm impressed with Bubba. He pulled through on this one.