Why the North Koreans Picked Bill
05 August 2009 7:06 pm by Taylor Marsh
“I want to thank President Bill Clinton — I had a chance to talk to him — for the extraordinary humanitarian effort that resulted in the release of the two journalists.” – Pres. Obama
“Thirty hours ago, Una Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea. We feared that at any moment we could be sent to a hard labor camp. And then suddenly we were told that we were told that we were going to a meeting. [pauses, tearing up] We were taken to a location. [pause] When we walked in –[pause, tearing up]– through the doors we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton. (applause) We were shocked. But we knew instantly in our hearts that [pause] the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end. And now we stand here, home and free. Una and I would just like to express our deepest gratitude to President Clinton and his wonderful, amazing, not to mention super cool team [laughter] including John Podesta, Doug Band… .. .. and the United States Secret Service who traveled half-way around the world and then some to secure our release. We’d also like to thank Pres. Obama, Sect. Clinton, Vice Pres. Gore, who we also call Al, the Swedish ambassador… people at the U.S. State Dept., Steve Bing and his crew… and I know I’m forgetting a bunch of instrumental people right now. .. .. The past 140 days have been the most difficult, heart wrenching time of our lives. We are very grateful that we were granted amnesty by the government of North Korea, and we are so happy to be home. .. …” – Laura Ling
The plane carrying Euna Lee and Laura Ling, as well as Bill Clinton and his team, arrived in Hangar 25 at Burbank Airport where it was taxied inside. The first people to leave the plane were Laura Ling and Una Lee, both of whom were greeted by their families, as well as Vice President Al Gore, who the moment this tragic story began has worked endlessly to get his reporters released.
When former President Bill Clinton finally emerged from the plane it was to applause, with Al Gore embracing Clinton in a tight bear hug the second he hit the ground. The families quickly surrounded him, thanking him, as he beamed with pride that this adventure had indeed ended in a very happy ending.
Laura Ling spoke movingly, then Al Gore spoke for the families, while William Jefferson Clinton stayed in the background, not offering comments, proudly watching the scene unfold, then quietly walked away with the families.
Since Hillary Clinton ran for president, there has been a determined group of people inside the Democratic Party ready to diminish the Clintons relevancy, hoping beyond all hopes that both Clintons can be pushed aside as if they never held sway in American politics. This continued during the time when Hillary was being considered for secretary of state, many progressives even openly writing they just didn’t get why Obama would choose her, quick to concoct fictional scenarios of Clinton back-channeling her own agenda around her President boss. I’ve said it before, but I’ll reiterate it again. You cannot diminish pure star power and unadulterated political talent earned through years and years of strife, setbacks, great glories, humiliation and comebacks, no matter how much people want to try. Though there will no doubt be the small who delight in squealing about Pres. Clinton supposedly upstaging Sect. Clinton on this one, forgetting that he couldn’t have gone if the Secretary hadn’t sanctioned it, but also that two lives were at stake, so political pettiness over prowess simply wasn’t part of this mix.
So, once again Pres. Bill Clinton got the call. Working with his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with Pres. Obama’s blessing for this humanitarian mission, as his Administration no doubt did all they could while staying out of anything diplomatically explosive; following Vice Pres. Al Gore’s lead, as he helped pull it all together, while playing liaison with the families. But it was Bill Clinton whom the North Koreans called upon, proving that when things go bad in far away lands, the one person who can still break through where others cannot remains William Jefferson Clinton. The North Koreans told the journalists they’d give them amnesty and release them if Bill Clinton specifically came to North Korea.
Maybe this will convince the professional Clinton haters, those people who always delight in making less of WJC, but also Hillary. Thinking either of them can be replaced, understanding that Barack Obama stands on Bill Clinton’s shoulders, just as Clinton stands on Carter, to Kennedy and on and on. Democrats are stronger because of the Clintons, not in spite of them.
To prove the point, let’s ask the question: Why did the North Koreans ask specifically for former Pres. Bill Clinton? During Clinton’s presidency, diplomacy reined, with containment the smart policy, especially when compared to Republican preemption, which even smart Democrats like Hillary Clinton mistakenly bought into, against what her husband had taught. Obama was smart enough to learn early. Today, what Clinton left Bush can be seen in direct contrast to what Barack Obama inherited from George W. Bush, as Obama mimics much of what Bill Clinton represented in reaching out to all nations, particularly when it comes to Middle East “peace,” able to take it one step further because of who Barack Obama is. But no one worked more tirelessly than Bill, some would say to a fault, to manifest an agreement between Israelis and the Palestinians, but also the Syrians, Jordanians and other Middle East nations. Many errors were made in the mix, particularly caving to Arafat’s demands time and again, while believing the notorious terrorist would keep his word, but no effort was spared through Clinton’s work, which continued throughout his presidency, even to the last weeks. Ireland is another example, with Clinton’s unparalleled diplomatic commitments a hallmark of his presidency whether you’re talking about the Middle East, Russia or North Korea, amidst the horrific mistakes like Rwanda, which Clinton has admitted himself. So that as Obama comes into office he understands even more fully how he can utilize, build on and expand the work Bill Clinton began before him. In time, learning from former President Bill Clinton, I truly pray that Barack Obama will take the lessons taught through Clinton’s Middle East efforts, as well as the bridges built, to finally forge true equilibrium in a region crying out loudly for it today. All of this stands in direct contrast to what George W. Bush and the Republicans pushed, instead instituting the Anything But Clinton policy, which has proven to always come back to bite the politician who ignores the lessons of what Clinton ventured to manifest. John Bolton being the latest crazed George W. Bush alumni to make a fool of himself when trying to criticize Bill Clinton’s brilliant rescue of the journalists, which happened because of what Bill Clinton still represents to most of the world. Today, he is a statesman without equal.
It continues to be a wild ride for the Big Dawg, with this latest triumph making him a hero once again.
