Bill Clinton goes to Korea to pick up Chicks

pauldun170 · 08-05-2009, 11:24 AM

Chicks man....

Freed journalists home in US after NKorea pardon
By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer Robert Jablon, Associated Press Writer 18 mins ago

BURBANK, Calif. – Two American journalists freed by North Korea returned home to the United States on Wednesday for a jubilant, emotional reunion with family members and friends they hadn't seen in nearly five months.

The jet carrying Euna Lee and Laura Ling, reporters for Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV, and former President Bill Clinton arrived at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport at dawn. Clinton met with communist leader Kim Jong Il on Tuesday to secure the women's release.

Lee emerged from the jetliner first and was greeted by husband Michael Saldage and 4-year-old daughter Hanna. She hugged the girl and picked her up before all three embraced in a crushing hug.

Ling embraced her husband Iain Clayton as teary family members crowded around.

Thirty hours ago, Ling said, "We feared that any moment we could be sent to a hard labor camp."

Then, she said, they were taken to another location.

"When we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton," she said to applause. "We were shocked but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end, and now we stand here, home and free."

Clinton came down the stairs to applause. He hugged Gore at the foot of the stairs, then chatted with family members.

Gore described the families of the two women as "unbelievable, passionate, involved, committed, innovative."

"Hanna's been a great girl while you were gone," he told Lee. "And Laura, your mom's been making your special soup for two days now."

He also thanked the State Department for its help in the release.

"It speaks well of our country that when two American citizens are in harms way, that so many people will just put things aside and just go to work to make sure that this has had a happy ending," he said.

The reporters were granted a pardon by North Korea on Tuesday, following rare talks between Clinton and the reclusive North Korea leader. They had been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for entering the country illegally.

In Washington, the White House said it's "enormously pleased" with the release.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs made the comment Lee and Ling emerged from the plane.

Gibbs, speaking to reporters at the White House, said Clinton will fill in President Barack Obama's national security team on what transpired during his trip as a private envoy to Pyongyang.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hailed the release of the journalists.

"I spoke to my husband on the airplane and everything went well," she told reporters in Nairobi, Kenya. "They are extremely excited to be reunited soon when they touch down in California. It was just a good day to be able to see this happen."

Ling, a 32-year-old California native, is the younger sister of Lisa Ling, a correspondent for CNN as well as "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "National Geographic Explorer." Lee, 36, is a South Korean-born U.S. citizen.

They were arrested near the North Korean-Chinese border in March while on a reporting trip for Current TV.

Homeslice · 08-05-2009, 12:28 PM

Just a grandstanding opportunity, as their release had already been negotiated before he arrived.

askmrjesus · 08-05-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Just a grandstanding opportunity, as their release had already been negotiated before he arrived.

Really?

By whom?

JC

defector · 08-05-2009, 01:45 PM

Kim [I'm so ronery] Jong Il just wanted a photo with slick Willy to put on his wall of fame.
Well played.

marko138 · 08-05-2009, 02:06 PM

Bill Clinton: Still the Man.

Dave · 08-05-2009, 02:20 PM

its a bit well timed. Id like to think our government wouldnt leave its citizens up shit creek until they can gain the most political capitol from it. Really dont wanna believe that but with these clowns i really wonder. Good to hear they are home though, good luck with them trying that with the mullahs

karl_1052 · 08-05-2009, 03:17 PM

I hope they were skinnier than the last lady he picked up.

pauldun170 · 08-05-2009, 03:28 PM

defector · 08-05-2009, 03:46 PM

Quick headline:
Bill Clinton saves two Asian women from prison, thus gets happy ending.

Anybody else think Hillary's face now looks like the mask from the Saw movies?

goof2 · 08-05-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko138

Bill Clinton: Still the Man.

I don't know about that, but he did do a good job this time.

08-05-2009, 03:17 PM	#7
karl_1052 sergeant hatred Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa Moto: The bus Posts: 2,723	I hope they were skinnier than the last lady he picked up. __________________ My wife was afraid of the dark...then she saw me naked and now she's afraid of the light.

08-05-2009, 12:28 PM	#2
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Just a grandstanding opportunity, as their release had already been negotiated before he arrived.

08-05-2009, 01:45 PM	#4
defector My balls, your chin Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The desert of Az Moto: 929, SV650, YZ250 Posts: 1,917	Kim [I'm so ronery] Jong Il just wanted a photo with slick Willy to put on his wall of fame. Well played.

08-05-2009, 02:20 PM	#6
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	its a bit well timed. Id like to think our government wouldnt leave its citizens up shit creek until they can gain the most political capitol from it. Really dont wanna believe that but with these clowns i really wonder. Good to hear they are home though, good luck with them trying that with the mullahs

08-05-2009, 03:46 PM	#9
defector My balls, your chin Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The desert of Az Moto: 929, SV650, YZ250 Posts: 1,917	Quick headline: Bill Clinton saves two Asian women from prison, thus gets happy ending. Anybody else think Hillary's face now looks like the mask from the Saw movies?