Bill worked his magic and The Journalists are pardoned!

[legalsea]

Of course, when former-president Clinton arrives back in the USA the Obama administration will be very interested to talk to him and get a first-hand report on how that dictator looks, acts, etc. So little information comes out of the Hermit Kingdom that any impressions, etc., Mr. Clinton obtained will be reviewed for months.

I realize that the two women were at the border investigating human traflicking (sic?), etc. However, I think some good, general advice is needed here: when you are walking the border between China and North Korea, know where you are at all times. That also goes for strolling along the border of Iran.

 

[shortbun]

For those of you wondering what the hikers were doing in Iran-some people love to travel and see the world on foot. As a travel agent who dealt with loads of international travellers over my career, I had people who planned to hop on trucks, people who walked, people who biked, people who slept in hammocks on banana boats and on and on. These were the curious people, the people who loved other cultures and seeing things that were uncommon. These were the people who were most interesting to talk to and had the richest lives - money aside. I had one of them tell me once that they'd rather die doing something interesting and perhaps contraversial than of a stroke, fat on their couch. lol! I've done some pretty risky things, trekked for gorillas and been chased by elephants and toured Egypt just after a huge terrorist attack on tourists there, marched in protest and so forth. It's just not in some people's make up to be all safe and calculated in the living of their lives. I guess it's ok for you to judge them in their pursuits because you can count on them mildly judging you in your slothfull lifestyles(I'm living that way now too). But you can bank on one thing - they are not stupid, they are among the smartest, the most intellectual and the most curious people on the face of the earth.

 

[shortbun]

Of course, when former-president Clinton arrives back in the USA the Obama administration will be very interested to talk to him and get a first-hand report on how that dictator looks, acts, etc. So little information comes out of the Hermit Kingdom that any impressions, etc., Mr. Clinton obtained will be reviewed for months.

I realize that the two women were at the border investigating human traflicking (sic?), etc. However, I think some good, general advice is needed here: when you are walking the border between China and North Korea, know where you are at all times. That also goes for strolling along the border of Iran.

LOL, not like there's a line drawn on the ground AND it's possible that they were in China and the North Koreans/Iranians came after them for political gain, eh? Anyway, the Korean drama had a good outcome and I hope the Iranian one does as well. Seems that the hikers are only being held at the border and interrogated; they have not been moved and that's great.

 

[legalsea]

LOL, not like there's a line drawn on the ground AND it's possible that they were in China and the North Koreans/Iranians came after them for political gain, eh? Anyway, the Korean drama had a good outcome and I hope the Iranian one does as well. Seems that the hikers are only being held at the border and interrogated; they have not been moved and that's great.

I bet you this: that border between China and North Korea is heavily guarded by both sides. I doubt a dog (well, maybe a little dog) can cross that border without someone knowing.

The Koreans guard that border to keep people from escaping into China (some dozen were able to do so last year). The Chinese also guard the border to keep the Koreans out (strangely, almost no Chinese person tries to escape from China into North Korea).

 

[bookgirl]

I'm very glad they are free but should not have been there in the first place. How much time and tax payer money went to get the women out which would have been saved if they didn't go into NK in the first place.

No money. Clinton went over on his own time, and the plane was donated by a buisness man in California who is a friend of Clintons, they asked and he footed the bill.

 

[ols386]

For those of you wondering what the hikers were doing in Iran-some people love to travel and see the world on foot. As a travel agent who dealt with loads of international travellers over my career, I had people who planned to hop on trucks, people who walked, people who biked, people who slept in hammocks on banana boats and on and on. These were the curious people, the people who loved other cultures and seeing things that were uncommon. These were the people who were most interesting to talk to and had the richest lives - money aside. I had one of them tell me once that they'd rather die doing something interesting and perhaps contraversial than of a stroke, fat on their couch. lol! I've done some pretty risky things, trekked for gorillas and been chased by elephants and toured Egypt just after a huge terrorist attack on tourists there, marched in protest and so forth. It's just not in some people's make up to be all safe and calculated in the living of their lives. I guess it's ok for you to judge them in their pursuits because you can count on them mildly judging you in your slothfull lifestyles(I'm living that way now too). But you can bank on one thing - they are not stupid, they are among the smartest, the most intellectual and the most curious people on the face of the earth.

I'm not trying to judge them...and if they want to do risky things, that's their business. I guess all I'm trying to say is that, I would not be hiking through the middle east....but if someone else wishes to, that's fine.

And I also am not saying that they are stupid. I don't think they are stupid at all.....maybe they just like to live their lives more on the edge than some.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

The headline should have read....

" BILL CLINTON PICKS UP TWO ASIAN CHICKS "

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

I'm very glad they are free but should not have been there in the first place. How much time and tax payer money went to get the women out which would have been saved if they didn't go into NK in the first place.

ITA

 

[mickaholic4077]

The headline should have read....

" BILL CLINTON PICKS UP TWO ASIAN CHICKS "

 

[sbell111]

I'm very glad they are free but should not have been there in the first place. How much time and tax payer money went to get the women out which would have been saved if they didn't go into NK in the first place.

ITA

Still, the answer is 'practically no tax payer money was spent on this'.

While the State Depatment did do some negotiating, nuch of that was done privately. Similarly, the costs related to President Clinton going to get them were all privately absorbed.

Regarding whether they should have been there, or not, that is a subject of much conversation. Certainly, we want journalists to get the story even from places that they are not allowed. Further, if they were, indeed, US spies as North Korea asserts, we want them to go wherever we tell them to go and we darn sure better try to get them back if they are imprisoned.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

Still, the answer is 'practically no tax payer money was spent on this'.

While the State Depatment did do some negotiating, nuch of that was done privately. Similarly, the costs related to President Clinton going to get them were all privately absorbed.

Regarding whether they should have been there, or not, that is a subject of much conversation. Certainly, we want journalists to get the story even from places that they are not allowed. Further, if they were, indeed, US spies as North Korea asserts, we want them to go wherever we tell them to go and we darn sure better try to get them back if they are imprisoned.

Doesn't Mr. Clinton still use Secret Service? If so then yes OUR taxpayer dollars were used.

 

[goofy!]

Doesn't Mr. Clinton still use Secret Service? If so then yes OUR taxpayer dollars were used.

Yes, the women thanked the secret service that accompanied President Clinton.

However, that wouldn't be any extra taxpayer funds just for this mission, as President Clinton would have had secret service protection no matter where he was.

President Clinton's protection, as well as protection for other former presidents, is already in the budget.

Well done President Clinton and all others involved!

 

[ozarkmom]

I agree with that. What the heck were they doing in there anyway? I can only hope they learned a lesson.

I agree.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Glad both reporters are home safe and sound, but I firmly believe that being related to a famous person helped force the issue of bringing them home. I wonder what would have transpired had they not been related to someone famous, or had they both been men.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm thrilled that they were released and am thankful for former President Clinton for his help. I don't think I would characterize it as him working magic, however. The indications are that the North Koreans specifically requested that he come over the for negotiations. It appears that they intended to release the women and Bill was just a prop for their show. Still, it seems a relatively small price to pay to get the women back.

 

[AustinTink]

The headline should have read....

" BILL CLINTON PICKS UP TWO ASIAN CHICKS "

Ah, that one never gets old.