The Hill: President Obama Took A "Calculated Gamble" In Sending Bill To NoKo...

BlooInBloo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 06:30 PM
Original message

The Hill: President Obama Took A "Calculated Gamble" In Sending Bill To NoKo...

Hmmm - I had assumed it was more-or-less "in the bag" upon Bill being sent over there. This makes me wonder just how certain it was. Maybe it's just a case of the media sexing things up for popular consumption - certainly the article makes no mention of the weeks of diplomatic effort that went into today's exciting hours.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-administration-asked-clinton-to-go-to-n.-korea-2009-08-04.html

"You don't deploy somebody of that magnitude without an understanding of what's going on," said Robert Hunter, a senior adviser at RAND Corp. who served as NATO ambassador under Clinton. "Clinton didn't show up in an airplane and just land; that's not something you do.

"The former president wouldn't go unless he had the backing of the president and there was a clear understanding that the journalists would be released," Hunter said. "The risk of embarrassment is too great if he came back empty-handed."

Risking criticism for engaging with North Korea soon after it undertook a series of belligerent actions, President Barack Obama took a calculated gamble and won Tuesday afternoon when North Korean officials announced they would pardon the two journalists.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Mass

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 06:35 PM
Response to Original message

1. Reporters reporting. They probably have no clue.

Edited on Tue Aug-04-09 06:51 PM by Mass

Also, with North Korea, you are never sure what could happen at the last minute. However, there is no doubt that the diplomatic legwork was done before he left. As Hunter says, it was a deal mostly done.

Which does not mean Clinton was not important.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

BlooInBloo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 06:57 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Yah - probably. Just seems like a pretty specific thing to say, if there wasn't...

a specific reason to say it. (shrugs)

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

maxsolomon

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 06:51 PM
Response to Original message

2. Kim required public acknowledgement of his power.

It couldn't be a US official so Hillary couldn't do it. Bill is the next biggest thing we've got. It makes sense, and Bill & Obama took one for the team - the team being the 2 foolhardy reporters.

Next Bill gets to go to Iran to get the 3 stupid adventure tourists.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Doctor_J

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 07:25 PM
Response to Original message

4. Big Media wanted this to fail, just like all of the Repukes did

they're pissed that there was

1. No bloodshed, and
2. A thundering diplomatic success for Obama and Big Dog

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

BlooInBloo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 07:29 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Ah - that has some plausibility. Painting Obama as "reckless"...

That would also explain why that article has no mention of the weeks of planning that led up to today's excitement.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Cha

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Aug-04-09 09:43 PM
Response to Original message

6. One thing's for sure..Obama

wouldn't care about any "risks"..only results.

Diplomacy and negotiations are his bag and Senator Kerry was out there helping moving it forward for weeks.

One thing the puke heads can't whine about that the Dems did so very well. I think there's nothing but I wouldn't be shocked if they come up with something negative on this.

Especially fathead limpbaugh and all the hatemongers.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Sat May 04th 2024, 08:07 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.