Bill Clinton Gets Journalists Released

A few months ago (March 2009), U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were working on a story about the trafficking of women near the border of China and North Korea. They said they had no intention of crossing that border into North Korea, but they must have inadvertently done so, because they were arrested by North Korean authorities.

In June, North Korea put the two journalists on trial. They were given 12 years each at hard labor. Since they were arrested, the Obama administration has been trying to get them released with no success. Finally, they asked if a "private and non-government mission" would be admitted, and submitted several names to the North Korean government.

Some of the names on the list were Al Gore (who has been working for their release for months), Bill Richardson (who has proven in the past that he can deal with the North Koreans), and Bill Clinton. The North Koreans chose to talk with Bill Clinton, probably because he is an ex-president and his wife is the current Secretary of State. He swings a bit more weight than the other names on the list.

It didn't take Bill Clinton long to prove his worth as a roving private ambassador for the United States. Clinton arrived in North Korea late Monday night (Washington time), and by Tuesday evening, he had procured the release of both Ling and Lee. That was confirmed by both Clinton spokesman, Matt McKenna, and North Korean radio. McKenna said Clinton "has safely left North Korea with Laura Ling and Euna Lee en route to Los Angeles where Laura and Euna will be reunited with their families."

North Korean radio also said Clinton had passed a verbal message to Kim Jong II. The Obama administration denied that, and Obama's press secretary said, "While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment. We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission."

I know the administration didn't want to screw up Clinton's successful mission before it was over, but I have a hard time believing no messages were sent by Obama. Obviously, the Koreans chose Clinton because they wanted someone President Obama would be likely to listen to. And why would President Obama pass up this golden opportunity to get an important message to North Korean leadership?

I don't know what messages were passed. There are many things both countries need to say to the other. But it would take a fool to believe no messages were sent by either side. I just hope they were effective messages.

Meanwhile, President Obama has learned what a valuable diplomatic tool he has at his disposal in Bill Clinton. May he use Mr. Clinton wisely.