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August 5, 2009
Bill Clinton shows that diplomacy works
Posted: 03:02 PM ET
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Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore greets freed U.S. journalist Laura Ling.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore greets freed U.S. journalist Laura Ling.

Joseph Cirincione
Special to CNN

President Clinton did more than free two unjustly jailed journalists. He jump-started the successful diplomacy he had begun 15 years earlier.

In October 2000, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang. During Bill Clinton's presidency, the administration had locked down North Korea's plutonium production program, which had created enough deadly material for two bombs during the Reagan years. They had stopped all missile tests. They were a few details away from concluding a deal to end these programs completely.

But Clinton ran out of time. Enmeshed in Middle East peace talks, Clinton could not get assurances that a presidential visit to North Korea would seal the deal. He passed off the almost completed process to the incoming George W. Bush administration.

On March 6, 2001, new Secretary of State Colin Powell said, "We do plan to engage with North Korea to pick up where President Clinton and his administration left off." But Bush had different ideas. On March 7, Bush kneecapped Powell.

With South Korean President Kim Dae-jung sitting next to him in embarrassed silence, Bush said, "We look forward to, at some point in the future, having a dialogue with the North Koreans, but any negotiation would require complete verification of the terms of a potential agreement."

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10 Comments
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10 Comments
Mari   August 5th, 2009 4:13 pm ET

Bravo, Bill Clinton!

Heather,ca   August 5th, 2009 4:16 pm ET

I would not call this diplomacy. If the ladies had not been in the wrong place to begin with , none of this would have happened. The truth is, the nutjob that runs North korea used them as leverage to get what he wanted. He is far from a diplomat or a head of state. He is a nutjob with nukes. As if Clinton had a choice. The only way the ladies would be let go is if Clinton personally flew there to beg. He did not look happy to be there. Think about the lovely remarks made about his wife. This was the only wat to get them free. I would not call it diplomacy. You can't be diplomatic with bullies who make threats.

Amir   August 5th, 2009 4:37 pm ET

Mad respect to President Clinton for not only going to get Laura and Euna, but for allowing them to have their moment with their families upon returning to the US. It was very gracious of him to stay on the plane and not upstage the reunion. With as much scrutiny that was given to his role post Obama, he demonstrated that he is still a player on the world stage. (No pun intended)

Jonathan   August 5th, 2009 4:38 pm ET

A very special Welcome Home to Laura and Euna! It was a well executed humanitarian mission. As to John Bolton's comments that it was a negotiation with terrorists, enough already! Any negotiation that took place was with a legitimate nation and involved a request for amnesty for two American citizens. There was no political agenda. Mr. Bolton is a shining example of the reason that the Bush Administration failed so miserably in the foreign affairs venue. Mr. Clinton was right to go to North Korea. Let us hope that this trip will open a new dialouge into other areas with North Korea.

joe   August 5th, 2009 5:23 pm ET

CONGRATS, but wasn't this Hillary's job?

Saveena, Pennsylvania   August 5th, 2009 5:45 pm ET

This is a very good and admirable action that was accomplished by President Bill Clinton and all of the individuals involved in rescuing Euna and Laura from North Korea.
But now my question is, "What impact does President Clinton's action have on our country's Secretary of State department and will there be any implications on Foreign Policy?"

Jean F Colin   August 5th, 2009 6:52 pm ET

Bravo !!! and who said that President Bill Clinton can not do miracles?
I now look forward to his performance and miracles in Haiti, with greater anticipation as the United Nations Special envoy and hope that the haitian people and its leaders will learn to appreciate his leadership, kindness and take full advantage of his extraordinary service on behalf of our very dysfunctional country of 8 millions dislocated maroons. May God bless Bill Clinton and his family.

Carlyle   August 5th, 2009 6:56 pm ET

I would love you to do a segment on why is it that when it comes to former Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are active in world affairs and human rights. Yes, Ronald Reagan is deceased, but you still have the former Presidents George Bush "41" and the George Bush II. Does anyone see where I am going with this. I feel certain that President Barak Obama will follow in the footsteps of his Democratic predecessors. All Americans should look into the mirror if we intend to move forward as leaders in the 21st century.

Brian from LA   August 5th, 2009 7:38 pm ET

I think Laura Ling and Euna Lee owe the American people an apology for putting our country is such a compromised situation.

Annie Kate   August 5th, 2009 8:18 pm ET

Bill Clinton has shown in spades what a great generous spirit he has and that he shares with us in this country. He did so many good things in his administration that Bush later repudiated and lost the ground Clinton had gained for our nation. Hopefully, Obama will regain the ground Bush lost for us. But, even with all the work behind the scenes for this release, it was Bill Clinton that North Korea deemed influential enough and important enough to deal with to release Euna and Laura to. Lets hope that President Clinton has advanced the US – North Korea dialogue back to where we can talk and not rattle bombs at each other.

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