Two American journalists freed from North Korea after a visit by former president Bill Clinton arrived in California around 8:30 am ET today (August 5) aboard Clinton’s private plane.
Details of the surprise mission are beginning to emerge. Among them: the deal began when the journalists, in phone calls to their families, said North Korea would accept Clinton as a mediator. Although the White House calls the Clinton visit a “private humanitarian” act, the former president met for about three hours with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Meanwhile, Laura Ling was the first to speak at a news conference. She said they were not aware they were going to be released until they were taken to a location 30 hours ago and saw Clinton standing there. She said they were “shocked” but realized they were going to be freed. She added that upon seeing Clinton, “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.”
“We could feel your love all the way in North Korea,” she added. “It is what kept us going in the darkest of hours and sustained our faith that we would come home. The past 140 days have been the most difficult, heartwrenching times 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 and we are so anxious to be able to spend some quiet, private times, getting reacquainted with our families.”
14 Comments
Bet ya they wont take their asses back over there again… These ladies are very lucky.
Yes and Lisa Ling was right there behind her sister of course.. Since this is about her..
NOT This is a chance for her sister to get out
of Lisa’s shadow..But Lisa will be by her side
all the way.. forget that it was her sister that
was with the Al Gore team…It took former President Clinton to get these woman home!! Thanks Clinton..
Though glad they were released, they should not have been captured and sentenced to begin with.
Iran has three American hostages.
Every two bit dictator smells weakness so this will now become a trend.
Kim Jong Il FORCED clinton into a state dinner for PROPAGANDA and a few BILLIONS in exchange for the hostages.
THis was supposed to be Hillary’s JOB.
But the dictator decided only a prez would get their release.
Bill gets it done–(when he was Pres. we had a balanced budget).
Those hikers in Iran were about as stupid as you can get for even being in that region in the first place–what the hell were they thinking???
If Bill was successful it is because REPUBLICAN Majorities in Congress and the Senate kept him in check.
Gov. totally controlled by one party is always dangerous, and that is what we have now.
God Bless President Clinton!
Meanwhile, george w bush spent yesterday trying to figure out how to microwave a HotPocket.
I hope they learn their lesson and stop going to those crazy places.
WHY…fucken WHY do Americans insist on thinking their shit don’t stink and go to these countries for the sake of journalism? You think just because you’re American you’re untouchable? Damn fools. Stay home you stupid morons. Stop having people bail your stupid asses out cause you wanted a thrill in life. And the 3 Americans in Iran- what idiots! Some people are just asking for it. Remember long ago when the dumbass American got caned for graffiti in Singapore and he wanted Clinton to pardon him? Fuck! I’m happy the guy got his ass beat. These stupid people should all get there ass beat.
Appeasement always invites more aggression, for those who choose to stick their collective heads in the sand.
Btw the Media will spin this as an american victory LOL.
I disagree, monkeys. Appeasement would have been helpful in preventing this unnecessary war in Iraq.
the war in iraq freed iranians until the great indonesian appeaser missed his chance. (and in honduras too).
besides, appeasing is what we did from 1992-2003 and that worked out great!
LOL @ the Iraq war chickenhawks.
ooook reg, just leave the health care debate to doctors and nurses ok?
and illegal aliens…like your mother.