2009-08-04, 10:15 | Link #3462 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: China
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North Korea is not that stupid, IMHO, to take Clinton hostage. There are already a number of ways for it to take advantage of its situation. Doing the hostage thing is asinine when it can "negotiate" in a stronger position than "hostage taker".
I actually see Clinton being able to take those 2 journalists back and North Korea coming up if not smelling of roses, then at least like it had just taken a bath. It's a good PR move for it and the U.S.
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2009-08-04, 10:57 | Link #3463 | |
Senior Member
Author
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 47
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When Wednesday is over, when the mausoleum is finally sealed, well... back to the usual programming with presidential wannabes preparing for next year, and the usual Con-Ass (Constitutional Assembly) debate (which naturally isn't going anywhere except it's a ploy to extend term limits), while the commoners will be worrying about the daily budget. OBTW, I think you're very much annoyed with the bulk of local media attention focused during much of the funeral wake.
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2009-08-04, 19:03 | Link #3465 | |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Either way, US stands to lose something to negotiate for the hostages.
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2009-08-04, 20:06 | Link #3468 | ||||
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PMB Headquarters
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Clinton leaves N. Korea after winning pardons for 2 U.S. reporters
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Totally not possible.. North Korea isn't entirely stupid as that taking Bill Clinton as hostage would be an official declaration of war as that the guy is the former US President. North Korea is more interested in expanding bilateral ties with the United States as that they don't like to be bossed around by China, negotiate with the South Koreans, and also deal with the abduction issue with Japan. Generally, Kim Jong Il actually wants to strengthen ties and thus, taking Bill Clinton as hostage would be going against their own intentions which makes absolutely no sense. However, I doubt Clinton will manage to succeed in rescuing two journalists who ended up in labor camps for the next 12 years if mission failed. Nonetheless, it is a surprise for Clinton to make a high-profile visit out of the blue. Perhaps, this was planned all along.. Last edited by Shadow Kira01; 2009-08-04 at 21:02. Reason: updated. |
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2009-08-05, 13:34 | Link #3469 | |
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Age: 74
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Earlier this morning I heard (on the BBC I believe) that Kim specifically requested that Clinton visit the DPRK. Nor was the Obama administration uninformed about the visit, either. Some of the Korea "hands" in the Administration are worried that this might look like a renunciation of the Six-Party talks and an acceptance of bilateral negotiations,* or that it might look like acceptance of the DPRK's nuclear programs. I'm pretty sure Clinton had a well-prepared list of items that he could speak about and ones where he had to tell the Koreans that it wasn't within his purview. This segment on last night's PBS Newshour gives some insight into what official Washington might be thinking about Clinton's visit. Mostly I think this gave the DPRK regime some fodder to tell its people how it had made the US apologize for the journalists' "crimes," and an apology by someone with the stature of Bill Clinton to boot. I'm actually especially curious about whether Clinton and his aides could have read some tea leaves about who might next be leading the DPRK. Apparently their military are not too keen on yet a third generation of Kims running the country as a personal fiefdom. _________ *Apparently the Japanese in particular are fearful that this is the beginning of the end of their role in diplomacy concerning the DPRK.
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2009-08-05, 15:47 | Link #3470 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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We don't lose a thing by sending superstar Clinton in to pump up Kim's ego or give their state press some nonsense to spew. We do rescue two American citizens. The North Koreans remember Clinton's administration during which the US seemed to have more clues about 'dancing with the enemy' than any other period.
The regime has always wanted two-way talks with the US (I don't know, it enlarges their peen or whatever) rather than having to deal with China or Japan in a '6 way' conference. It may be that a series of visits that aren't actually labeled 'talks' may amount to the same thing. I do wish the Japanese abduction issues could be resolved but that may end up happening with a 'disinterested 3rd party' pursuing it. Of course, I also wish the Chinese would realize their own interests may over-ride their compulsion to 'avoid interfering with another country's internal affairs'. They really don't want a zillion refugees pouring into their country. The North Korean's labor camps and treatment of their citizenry also give great pause and nausea. Meh...
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2009-08-06, 03:03 | Link #3471 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PMB Headquarters
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Hiroshima mayor calls for abolishing nuke weapons
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2009-08-06, 03:10 | Link #3472 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Probably more realistic to simply get arsenals to a "won't end humanity" level. Easier to keep track of and less costly to maintain. The genie just won't go away though. A missile will probably NOT be the next delivery agent for a nuke :P
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2009-08-06, 03:39 | Link #3475 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Heck... a Chevy pickup truck with a camper top will do it. The tiny tacs require too many 'magic shit' microparts ... a modest truck reduces that requirement.
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2009-08-06, 08:25 | Link #3478 |
I don't give a damn, dude
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In Despair
Age: 37
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As much as it sounds like a great idea, the cynical side of me believes that the day the US gets rid of nukes is the day the US makes them obsolete in favour of a newly-developed orbital Ion Cannon Network.
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2009-08-06, 08:57 | Link #3479 | ||||
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PMB Headquarters
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Hiroshima mayor calls for support for Obama's nuke free world appeal
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2009-08-06, 09:27 | Link #3480 |
Aspiring Aspirer
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We can only hope. Remember, if all the nukes are gone, terrorists can't get them .
I'm actually quite happy that Putin is agreeing to the denuclearization, this is probably because wisely, Obama has also lowered US' weapon stockpiles, which of course was an act of good faith and a bit of "We can do it, so can you" for the Russians. of course closer ties with the Russians may also finally break the long and frankly stupid cold-war attitude towards them.
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current affairs, discussion, international |
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