So all it took to get two American journalists “convicted” of espionage home was Bill Clinton’s star power? Kim Jung Il just wanted to feel that we felt that North Korea is important enough to send a world-famous, charismatic former President of the United States there to pick up Laura Ling and Euna Lee from the ball and bring them home in his coach?
Bill Clinton most definitely is a hero for agreeing to play this part — even though it’s not exactly a difficult part for him — but still, it’s pretty pathetic, not to say bizarre, that North Korea’s leaders are in such dire need of psychological validation that just stepping on North Korean soil was enough to secure these two women’s release. I mean, I guess it didn’t occur to them that they could get the international attention simply by ceasing to be the scariest place on the planet. If this entire situation were not so deadly serious, it would almost be funny. “You belong to me,” I can hear Carly Simon singing. “Can it be, honey, you’re not sure?”
PAST CONTRIBUTOR.