It would be silly to think that Bill Clinton's trip to North Korea to release imprisoned journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, would not have any political ramifications. But I am appalled at the way the story is being covered, and worse yet, criticized. For example, former ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, wrote "Despite decades of bipartisan U.S. rhetoric about not negotiating with terrorists for the release of hostages, it seems that the Obama administration not only chose to negotiate, but to send a former president to do so." He sees this as a purely political move, and ignores the fact that is was also a trip to free two innocent journalists.

I am not an expert on Asian politics, or our relationship with any other country, but it doesn't take an expert to know that we are not good friends with North Korea. The journalists may or may not have had a fair trial, but 12 years hard labor is way too harsh a punishment for crossing a border. At the very least, this was a human rights issue. But of course, because of our history with North Korea, politics are going to be involved. And who knows what Clinton had to say to have the women freed. Even the choice of sending Clinton was very strategic - he is still a very respected figure in world politics, because of policies he began during his administration. In addition, his arm's length relationship with Obama and his administration was also a selling point - presumably, Kim Jong Il didn't feel as threatened by the former President since it wasn't a trip from the White House. However, precisely because of his distance from the current administration, I think that we should look at this mission as primarily to help the journalists and not to talk politics with Kim Jong Il.

I also think it's a shame that this trip took away from his wife's official trip to Africa, politics-wise. At least many countries in Africa are willing to speak to us without first taking prisoners. Let's focus on the politics of countries that are working with us, and focus on the positives of a country that is using innocent people as pawns in the politics game, like North Korea did.

Oh and Euna and Laura? You're Welcome.

Related Links

Zakaria: Clinton Says Husband's Trip Has Precedents, CNN

Letter From Washington: Bill Clinton Shows What He's Good At, The New York Times

Laura Lina and Euna Lee Say 'Thanks', SFist.com