From: Oduor Olande
Date: Aug 7, 2009 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: PRESIDENT CLINTON OBAMA?
Hallo
Thanks…I certainly do not belong to the category of Kenyans who dislike questions or those who field them.
My intention was to add a derider to the whole story It occurred to me that there was an assumption that the US was on top of the game. Well people are forgeting that diplomatic channels between North Korea and the US are not exactly on: enters the so called Swedish guy logically with strained diplomatic channels and an apparent desire by both sides to make a move some high profile individuals had to step in…did I not hear that Bill delivered greating from Obama.
I just found something that may possibly she some light to the whole saga.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/08/137_49755.html
08-07-2009 16:48
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Fragile US-NK Ties
By Nehginpao Kipgen
It has been nine years since Bill Clinton, the 42nd and third-youngest president of the United States of America, left the White House.
He is the second former U.S. president to visit North Korea. Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, visited the communist nation during Clinton’s presidency.
The first high-profile visit by a former U.S. president in 1994 was planned by a sitting president. Similarly, the second high-profile former U.S. president’s visit is also most likely to have been arranged by a sitting president.
Clinton’s visit is widely described as a private visit to secure the release of two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea.
“While this solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans is on the ground, we will have no comment. We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton’s mission,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on August 4.
The situation is similar to 1994 when the then-President Clinton recruited Carter, but said the visit was a private mission.
President Carter was sent to negotiate with the then-North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, father of Kim Jong-il, to reach a peace agreement on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
At that time, North Korea was expelling investigators from the International Atomic Energy Agency and was threatening to begin processing spent nuclear fuel. In response to Pyongyang’s action, president Clinton pressured for sanctions and ordered troops built up in the area.
The mission successfully negotiated a deal with North Korea. Under the agreement, Pyongyang agreed to freeze and ultimately dismantle its nuclear program, and to comply with its nonproliferation obligations.
In return, North Korea was to receive oil supplies, construct light water reactors to replace graphite reactors, and start holding discussions to normalize diplomatic relations with the United States.
The fragile bilateral relations collapsed in 2002. In January 2002, former President George W. Bush branded North Korea as part of an “axis of evil,” which further heightened the strained relations.
However, the Bush administration removed North Korea from the list in October 2008 after Pyongyang agreed to allow in atomic experts to inspect declared nuclear facilities and undeclared sites.
In July of this year, there was a war of words flying back and forth between Hillary Clinton, U.S. secretary of state, and the North Korean leadership at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ meeting in Thailand.
The secretary of state compared the leadership in Pyongyang to “small children and unruly teenagers and people who are demanding attention.”
The North Korean foreign ministry spokesman called Hillary Clinton “by no means intelligent” and a “funny lady.” The official added, “Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping.”
Despite Pyongyang’s strained relations with Washington, the North Korean leadership wants to have high-level direct talks on its nuclear program, which Washington has rejected so far.
The Obama administration has expressed its willingness for bilateral talks within the framework of the six-party talks, which includes China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Russia and the United States.
While North Korea is isolated by the international community over its nuclear test in May and the subsequent U.N. Security Council’s unanimously adopted tightened sanctions, Pyongyang is seeking a chance to show its good actions to the world.
The latest development on securing the successful release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee was a sign of seeing room for resolving strained relations between Washington and Pyongyang through diplomatic means.
The pardon and release was described as a “humanitarian and peace-loving policy” by the North Korean leadership.
If there continues to exist a willingness on the part of both Washington and Pyongyang for a negotiated solution, there is hope that the North Korean nuclear crisis can be resolved diplomatically.
Nehginpao Kipgen is a political analyst and general secretary of the U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com). He has written numerous analytical articles on the politics of Asia for many leading international newspapers. He can be reached at nehginpao@yahoo.com.
Reader’s Comments
Subject: Re: PRESIDENT CLINTON OBAMA?
From: moses.edmoses.ed@ . . .
@Od, I dont know about the Swedish guy.I heard them also congratulate the guard who was watching over them for treating them humanely so maybe the swedish guy featured in that sentence and I missed it.
My focus was on Bill.And now, I like the statement you made that politics is not as straight forward.It means that had it been, then maybe I wouldnt have wondered aloud about the back room issues.If you have a thought into what you might be reading, wouldnt have minded hearing that insight.
p.s. no disdain sir, I think the question was valid.Are you in the category of Kenyans who dont like asking questions?
On 8/7/09, Oduor Olande wrote:
Ed Moses,
Ed I guess your latest answer is a manifestation of your disdain of anything that come from the self impossed diaspora spokesperson…politics is not as staight forward as we think How about if I pose this question: Why did the girls thank the Swedish ambassador to North Korea what role did he have in it all?
take care
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 11:36:04 +0300
Subject: Re: PRESIDENT CLINTON OBAMA?
From: moses.edmoses.ed@ . . .
Now, again you missed out on one vital detail, Judy. The fact that the administration in all ways- silence; evasion; body language et al, have not confirmed these randezvous as official.
Could you perhaps be confirming otherwise?
On 8/7/09, Judy Miriga wrote:
That is Hillary’s docket….. if she used her hubby to help her, no sweat, where is the problem. Know Obama delegated abled Team. Each and everyone is doing their best in collaboration. This is putting intelligence to work. smart ait it?
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
— On Fri, 8/7/09, ed moses wrote:
From: ed moses
Subject: PRESIDENT CLINTON OBAMA?
Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 1:16 AM
“There can only be one president at a time”. Does this phrase sound familiar?well, Obama uttered those words a short while before he was sworn in; at a time when he was seen to be showing leadership initiative with issues plaguing the US and for which the sitting president had not been seen to be doing much.
Now, former president Clinton has also uttered the same words verbatim. Occassion? well, he (and former vice-president) successfully master-minded the release of two journalists held in North Korea for the past five or so months.
well, owing to the sensitivity of the matter (remember North Korea & its president is generally a real pain in the American ass), alot has been read into it.
I also wonder, having been an ardent campaigner for dialogue & diplomacy with rogue fellas like Kim Jong and Ahmedinejad, could this have been viewed as a former president showing more initiative and leading from the front where Obama isnt?
Curiously following the back-room stories……..