N. Korea Court Convicts US Journalists
I am very bothered knowing that yes North Korea is once again playing their standard game of taking Americans as hostage and exchanging them for fuel and food so they can put their entire effort behind their Military. There are no surprises here despite so called experts thinking the quick finding was too harsh. There are no surprises here! Lee and Ling were sentenced behind closed doors to 10 years in a labor camp plus 2 more years for extreme crimes against North Korea. Asinine but perfect timing to be used as a bargaining chip. N. Korea Convicts 2 US Journalists
What bothers me about their capture and no one, no one has mentioned or brought up is that they were where they were in the first place. I knew that in the past China has been if not helping North Korea mess with us and the rest of the world they were turning a blind eye. Since this began I kept saying that China can not do that this time and must take an active roll because if this does end up as a Military confrontation between North and South Korea they are in a lose, lose situation.
China is our Banker as well as North Korea's immediate neighbor. They hold more than 2 trillion dollars in our Bonds.They have more at stake here than anyone. Maybe more than both Korea's. Stakes are now enormous! China has to be a key partner in whatever happens here. We can not do this unilaterally.
China does not seem to have the leverage they use to or I thought they had. They do have an abstract leverage! They should want to be key players here. They are our banker and we owe them trillions. Being North Korea's immediate neighbor they would be the recipient of hundreds of thousands of refugees if not more. Regardless of the past that is gone. We have to be concerned with the future now.
* With our economic problems and North Korea's antics China is very much in the balance. Believe it or not it more than appears a little suspicious as far as Lee and Ling's capture go. No one mentions the fact that those two reporters were escorted from China by a Government guide and a linguist. You can not convince me they did not know where the border was or that they were in North Korean territory.
* They were set up! It is no coincidence that the two Chinese got away "back over the border" "we don't even know was crossed and never will while the two Americans conveniently fell into North Korean hands to be used as bargaining chips. I really am stunned that those two reporters went anywhere beyond an obvious border point. They only had to show the border and nothing else. I do not believe anything involving their capture. This is ramping up to the demise of the citizens once again.
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I do not believe anything is going to make a difference at this point. I do have to wonder what his 26 year old son would do if he was the leader right now. I have yet to learn anything about him. I have to believe that his stance will be the same or a unproven youngster would not have been chosen as successor. We are between a rock and a hard place. I do not believe we can at this point continue to allow North Korean ships to go unchecked.
There have been missile threats from both Korea's. It is not the missiles that would concern me. One way or the other boarding North Korea's ships will get this going. It is not North Korea's navy I would be worried about. It is the 7 million man army heading south that should be the big concern. That and our definite involvement should be China's big concern and her motivation to stop playing games and make sure that this is put to an end!
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com
I am very bothered knowing that yes North Korea is once again playing their standard game of taking Americans as hostage and exchanging them for fuel and food so they can put their entire effort behind their Military. There are no surprises here despite so called experts thinking the quick finding was too harsh. There are no surprises here! Lee and Ling were sentenced behind closed doors to 10 years in a labor camp plus 2 more years for extreme crimes against North Korea. Asinine but perfect timing to be used as a bargaining chip. N. Korea Convicts 2 US Journalists
What bothers me about their capture and no one, no one has mentioned or brought up is that they were where they were in the first place. I knew that in the past China has been if not helping North Korea mess with us and the rest of the world they were turning a blind eye. Since this began I kept saying that China can not do that this time and must take an active roll because if this does end up as a Military confrontation between North and South Korea they are in a lose, lose situation.
China is our Banker as well as North Korea's immediate neighbor. They hold more than 2 trillion dollars in our Bonds.They have more at stake here than anyone. Maybe more than both Korea's. Stakes are now enormous! China has to be a key partner in whatever happens here. We can not do this unilaterally.
China does not seem to have the leverage they use to or I thought they had. They do have an abstract leverage! They should want to be key players here. They are our banker and we owe them trillions. Being North Korea's immediate neighbor they would be the recipient of hundreds of thousands of refugees if not more. Regardless of the past that is gone. We have to be concerned with the future now.
* With our economic problems and North Korea's antics China is very much in the balance. Believe it or not it more than appears a little suspicious as far as Lee and Ling's capture go. No one mentions the fact that those two reporters were escorted from China by a Government guide and a linguist. You can not convince me they did not know where the border was or that they were in North Korean territory.
* They were set up! It is no coincidence that the two Chinese got away "back over the border" "we don't even know was crossed and never will while the two Americans conveniently fell into North Korean hands to be used as bargaining chips. I really am stunned that those two reporters went anywhere beyond an obvious border point. They only had to show the border and nothing else. I do not believe anything involving their capture. This is ramping up to the demise of the citizens once again.
North Korea Nuclear Program Undercuts UN Relief Efforts
S.Korea makes plans to counter North missile attack
US Mulling Options on North Korea Nukes,warns N Korea over terror list
I do not believe anything is going to make a difference at this point. I do have to wonder what his 26 year old son would do if he was the leader right now. I have yet to learn anything about him. I have to believe that his stance will be the same or a unproven youngster would not have been chosen as successor. We are between a rock and a hard place. I do not believe we can at this point continue to allow North Korean ships to go unchecked.
There have been missile threats from both Korea's. It is not the missiles that would concern me. One way or the other boarding North Korea's ships will get this going. It is not North Korea's navy I would be worried about. It is the 7 million man army heading south that should be the big concern. That and our definite involvement should be China's big concern and her motivation to stop playing games and make sure that this is put to an end!
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com
20 comments:
I've got mixed feelings on this one. Those 'reporters' were in North Korea illegally. Are we taking the stance that if someone says they are a 'reporter', they should not be bound by International law? Or if someone says they are a 'reporter', they need not respect another country's sovereignity?
In actuality, those two women were more guilty of a crime than the vast majority of the people we are holding in Gitmo. At least they were given sentences and not held under indeterminate incarceration with no charges or trials.
I'm sick and tired of people seeking fame and fortune using risky behavior, and when things go awry, seeking sympathy for their stupidity. They would have made 'big bucks' and got all sorts of airtime and publicity for defying North Korea's laws. They would have been hailed as 'heroes' and had their careers boosted.
Well, they got caught. Tough sh*t! It's a risk they took.
Maybe Kim should use some Enhanced Interrogation Techniques on them to see what their plans were. It's OK for us to do that to others, what's the difference?
If the truth were to be known, the CIA, or other black-ops of the U.S. Government probably had their dirty hands in it.
Let this serve as a lesson to all 'reporters', if you play with fire, sooner or later, you will end up getting burned.
Sorry, Jim, I feel no outrage on this one. Our chickens are coming home to roost. North Korea has every right to do what they did. Their sentences were really just a 'slap on the wrist' compared to what we would do if a couple of North Korean 'reporters' were found in a similar situation here.
Brother
I only have outrage because the fools were there and I still say the Chinese set them up. You can not convince me the Chinese Government guide and the translator did not know where the Border was. They also "got away" Come on!
Let me play devil's advocate and remind everyone that we have a bunch of guys locked up at Gitmo and I'm sure some of them did nothing wrong. They were set up when the U.S. military offered a $1000 bounty for suspected terrorists at the end of bombing in Iraq.
It was a million dollar bounty for members of Al Queada.
I'm sure we got a few goat thieves that were mistaken for terrorists, in that deal.
Don't like the skinny kid that's hanging around your daughter? Turn him in and get a million dollars.
Demeur--
I would say you are playing God's advocate in reminding everyone of that.
Jim--
I find it quite amusing. If it WAS a Chinese set-up, it is even more amusing. WE have set the precedent for despicable, black-hearted, nefarious, and under-handed operations and abuses.
When you create a monster, you have no right to complain when it tramples your city.
*Got to get to work on the new house. I'll try to get a post up on the progress tomorrow. :(
That's an interesting analysis Jim.
You may well be on to something.
Demeur
They kept everyone they found at Gitmo. They let go a bit back a 91 yyear old guy and a little kid. At this point if they weren't a threat they are now.
Guys
I would hope it was not the Chinese Government but some that are sympathetic to North Korea.
Can't believe it!
I've just posted a comment and now it seems to be gone...!
Okay here we go again:
interesting post and interesting comments!
I have no idea who is right, if they were set up or just bloody naive and stupid to end up in the situation!
But I must tell you that it always really pisses be off, when a rescue mission gets mounted because somebody was so irresponsible to put himself into a situation that he estimated wrongly, and lots of guys end up either wounded or dead on his behalf.
That is not what freedom of speech is about!
Saw some bloggers talking "Kim looks a little pale, I think he's in need of a little sunshine...!" -meaning send over a nuke or two!
That's not my opinion, but i also don't think that it sets a good example to reward either naivity, stupidity or to fall for blackmail.
You're right James, they could also have been set up, but since you write youself that China should have other interests... where is the motivation? Then it would have to be private interests or N.Korea behind that...
However, it should get investigated why and how the guides got away. But I also know female reporters... so it isn't really that unlikely that the guides told them "to here and no farther", they payed them and they parted.
Anyway reading just how much the US owes China... really scary!
Would be interesting to know who owns China then!
Hi Sarah Sofia
Not to be an ass hole but those girls should be slapped if they do get released. They should not have been there especially at this time period.
I do not think The Government set them up but that the translator and the Government Rep were North Korean sympathizers. I refuse to believe that they would not know where there border was or take chances. They after all conveniently escaped!
We can't war with the entire world as the Bushy's insist but starving them out is a whole lot safer.
Yeah it's a possibility that both were sympathizers. But it also wouldn't be the first time that reporters would be that stupid! Or freedom fighters, students or people who do some completely insane massochistic act which in their minds is heroic behaviour intended to show the world just what an asshole government the opposite side is.
Just to give one example: the late husband of a late friend of mine is such a guy. And as a reward for that act he first of all got a death panalty, then it was changed to a 30-year-sentence in a really cosy political prison and he finally got off after 10 or 15, naturally expecting other nations to save his ass.
People think of guys like him as big heros, but what he did and how he did it was nothing but completely stupid. Didn't bring east and west any closer, didn't solve anything - on the conterary!
So there are just a lot of pretty naive and stupid people around, especially journalists who often anyway live of setting people and nations up against each other, and especially females who think after a quick survival course they can sneak out of anything or charm their way out.
And you've said it: bad timing! That was also the speciality of my friend's husband! Really bad timing - which in itself poses a potential risk to a great deal of people on this planet!
But okay, it shall be intersting to hear what the two guys have to say who got away... or just a picture of the two reporters might do and checking out their background. From that one can also easily tell what they are bound to do. One can just tell so much, predict their actions and conclude their motivation - from things like attitude, the emotional level of the person etc. - no need to do too much digging!
I now watched the video and would say they were stupid little girls, probly with a korean background themselves and who knows perhaps even a little secret mission. And why two of them? Normally it's just one reporter and one camera man...
And isn't it always the same? then they're trying to get an old politicial in who for some reason or another is so unbelievebly willing to help. For what reason? PR? Or what other hidden agenda does he have?
And you know people who have already been involved in that kind of shit keep doing it again and again and again. One should really think they enjoy being martyrers!
Is without doubt something mental, because it can't be about the results since theose do really suck!
Sorry, if I appear a little too much on the pissed side here, but I'm just a little touchy on the subject, when somebody seems to be oh so heroic, but in fact really puts the lives of a whole lot of other people at stake!
Honest to God Lar I feel so bad for the citizen's. Not just there but also here and everywhere. They are trusting and simply sacrificed. It really sucks!
Sarah Sofia
It has always angered me that peope took risks and some poor innocent family man or woman had to risk life and limb to save them.
One of the reporters sister works fo I think it is CNN. They are Korean Americans. I was pissed when I heard they were going to the border.
I thought some sense would be exercised because they were working for Al Gore. Now that is the kicker.
Kim needed someone with some clout to go to North Korea so he could feel important and point out his power to the poor people. I hate it that the innocent naive citizens are just sacrificed.
yes, I hate that too.
so, I'm finally going to bed, my son's telling me off that I have stayed up that long again...
Brother Tim says, "I've got mixed feelings on this one. Those 'reporters' were in North Korea illegally. Are we taking the stance that if someone says they are a 'reporter', they should not be bound by International law? Or if someone says they are a 'reporter', they need not respect another country's sovereignity?'
I'm afraid Brother Tim is right. The folks who sent them there on whatever mission are also responsible for this idiotic debacle -- did they really think that the North Koreans had gone gaga because they're hungry and so would not detect the unwanted foreign intrusion?
Why couldn't those folks who absolutely wanted info about N Korea have just waited until the more seasoned South Korean spies were ready with the goods?
Dumb, dumb, dumb... There are some folks that are prepared to provoke a 3rd world war for the sake of "glory"... Reminds me of W Randolph Hearst, you know, the way he manipulated public opinion on the Cuban War (or Revolution, was it? Dang, can't remember anymore. Need to go to sleep.)
Cheers.
Hi Anna
Of course Brother is right! They had no right to be there especially with what is going on.
What bugs me is that Gore is their boss ans should know better.
It is no coincidence that the Gov't rep and the translator did not know where their border was and they conveniently got away. They should slap those girls when they get them back!
Absolutely not. Attacking the DPRK would make our involvement in Iraq look like a child's game. The DPRK has tens of thousands of artillery pieces in hardened settings, and those artillery pieces will reduce Seoul to rubble within minutes of an attack on any part of the DPRK. There is no way that this incident justifies a war in which the ROK will be set back 100 years.
While I am sickened by what the DPRK has done, the sad truth is we're going to have to wait to see what the ransom is this time. That, or move Seoul to an area outside the range of DPRK artillery.
JR
It is an armed to the teeth Fort. While we keep their citizens alive with donations they just keep fortifying and instigating to get more free food and oil! I happen to agree but especially with a 26 year old kid coming it may not be up to us!
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