Laura Ling and Euna Lee -- A Foreign Policy Crisis

On the face of it, North Korea's sentencing yesterday of Laura Ling and Euna Lee to 12 years of hard labor in one of their infamous labor camps is a devastating blow to all of those hoping for their rapid release and return home. Considering the unprecedented stakes and circumstances surrounding their case, Laura and Euna's predicament is fast evolving into a tricky political situation for President Barack Obama who has made clear his steadfast belief that smart diplomacy can be a panacea for almost all problems facing nations around the planet. It would appear now more than at any prior time in his presidency, Mr. Obama's covenant will be tested.

In the three months since Laura Ling and Euna Lee were initially detained by North Korea, the administration and other nations have watched as the secluded communist regime tested a long range missile (April), detonated a nuclear bomb (May), and renounced the truce that ended the Korean War. All the while, from various press accounts, it seems no high level US envoy has engaged their North Korean counterparts and has depended on a Swedish diplomat for information and access to the young women. Fortunately, we do know now that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made a direct appeal to the N. Korean's to release the girls on humanitarian grounds.

No American, nor any global citizen for that matter should be detained for a period of time without access to information or contact with the rest of the world, tried without representation and sentenced for political purposes. Sadly -- to state the obvious -- the United States has no moral ground on this situation -- just today, Lakhdar Boumediene's story is featured on the Huffington Post. Held for more than 7 years at Guantanomo, he recounts torture and abuse, before charges against him were dropped, and cries over not knowing the daughter whose upbringing missed while being wrongfully imprisoned.

Now is the time for President Obama to show true leadership on this issue, not outsource it to assorted diplomats and envoys that too often rely on failed policies and politics of the past. Like presidents in the past -- notably FDR and Nixon -- who successfully forged new ground on foreign policy, President Obama should pave the way for direct, bilateral talks with North Korea and insure a senior member of his cabinet is assigned to this evolving crisis. Direct talks would demonstrate the US commitment not only to protecting Americans like Laura and Euna but also creating greater stability and security in the region, all the while providing the North Korean regime with the sense of importance they so desperately crave.

Likewise we hope that North Korea can show compassion and empathy for two young women who were simply trying to their jobs, never had any intention of committing any crimes, and certainly have already paid dearly for whatever mistakes they may have accidentally made. These are two women who are no doubt terrified, isolated and no matter what will bear the psychological scars of this incident for the remainder of their lives. Euna is a mother, whose four-year-old daughter now realizes that something has happened to her missing mother. Laura has an ulcer that likely has been exacerbated by the situation in which she finds herself. Their trembling voices haunt their families who have received a single phone call from them (as well as a few letters) during this three-month nightmare.

Petitions, vigils, blogs, tweets, and updates -- all of which have been plentiful and powerful in the last few weeks -- are important in continuing to spread awareness of Laura and Euna's situation. But the time for creative diplomacy and real leadership has also come. It was only January that President Obama made history in becoming the first African-American ever to be elected leader of the United States. Along with his pioneering ascension, he bore the weight of great expectations that will now climb to a whole new quantum level as he must bring Laura and Euna home soon. We'll be watching.

Please Sign the Petition to Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

By Gotham Chopra and Mallika Chopra

Gotham and Mallika Chopra regularly blog at www.intent.com

Comments

[whitequeen96]

Hasn't it occured to anyone that these two women might NOT have crossed the border? That perhaps they were simply snatched by the N. Koreans because it was obvious that they could be used as pawns during the nuclear tests, etc. that country is doing? Anyone who dealt with them: their guide, the people at the hotels they stayed in, some of the people they interviewed, anyone could have sold them out and alerted the N.Koreans to their presence. We DON'T know what happened. And I really can't see how your political leanings (conservative or liberal) have anything to do with this. Either way, these are 2 American citizens in a terrible situation, perhaps thru their own fault and perhaps not, but we should all want them to be able to come home.

[Veronica]

It continues to amaze me how many of you freaking geniuses are taking North Korea AT THEIR WORD about what happened and assuming they are telling the truth about these women crossing into North Korea.

The fact that the US GOVERNMENT lacks moral authority on unfair detention, etc., doesn't make North Korea's actions any more justified. To act as if it does makes you look like clueless, cold idiots who don't actually understand the concept behind universal human rights and instead turn absolutely everything into fodder for political argument. Sorry, but it is not Laura Ling or Euna Lee's fault that that the US tortured prisoners and this thing is a whole lot bigger than politics. If many of you really cared about the human rights of those the US tortured, you sure as hell wouldn't be excusing North Korea's actions.

[bighat]

Makes one wonder if we want liberals running our country. Or at least the Blame America First crowd. Wake up. People are not perfect and people run countries. Sadly few run their country on their own principles but get advice on how to look good for media. Reelect me is the mantra no principle

[S1m0n]

It doesn't make North Korea's actions any less justified, either.

[MarenS]

Great article.
But, I think there are issues we dwell on that NK has simply overlooked. I don't believe the women's status as journalists are at issue there. Journalism is not a defense when you've violated a law. The NKs assert that they have simply violated a law (which is arguable) at the border and NK has stricter border rules than anyone else. I can't defend a country that treats people as inhumanely as NK has, however, as Americans we live in a country with an open border and a system that recognizes border crossers as illegals, but then doesn't enforce the law. As a country with these liberal, un-enforced border policies, we set a dysfunctional example and I am afraid the rest of world looks at the women in this situation as victims of their own choices by not recognizing NK border laws.

And, yes, I would also agree that their judicial system is not fair and open, but that is another issue as well.

[langej]

Granted, our moral authroity was eroded, but there is a difference: Ling and Lee are being held to as a political bargaining chip. NK thinks we are soft enough that we will give in to irrational and destabilising demands if they threaten innocents


Mr Boumediene fell victim to a Kafka-esque bureaucracy that did not have a procedure for finding innocent anyone declared an enemy combatant. The Iraqi journalist in question violated Iraqi (not American) security laws. Netiher are being held to make another nation do anything.

[jmpurser]

Meanwhile the USA I believe continues to hold an Iraqi journalist prisoner in Iraq without due process for simply doing his job.

No moral authority indeed.

[Yermammy]

This is only another case of utter hypocrisy on America's part. Two journalist trespass in a fourth world nation that has a psychopath for emperor and they expect things to run smoothly? We got Hillary chiding China on their civil rights abuses and now we're scolding North Korea, yet we detain people with NO charges and torture them for seven years, we deny them habeas corpus, we decide to use military commissions when courts have worked for national threats for decades and we pay Afghanis and Iraqis $5000 bounty for "terrorists" which most of them are innocent.
To top it all off, we allow the war criminals that ordered these crimes to walk freely about and spew lies on the corporate run airwaves!
I think we better get our own house in order before we start throwing stones. I don't know how NK and China keep from laughing in our faces. I would.

[Truthosaurus]

It’s quite unbelievable the number of commenters acting like shills for NK and suddenly enamored with authority, ready to toss these reporters overboard because they supposedly didn’t follow the edicts of the “authorities”. You moderates here should really do some soul searching, and consider who it is you want to work with to achieve things and improve this world. You might find that the far left is not much better than the far right, and they are both creepy, and you don’t want any part of either of them. I mean really, with “friends” like some of these commenters, if you get into trouble, who needs enemies. But thankfully in word and deed President Obama is not one of them.

[bighat]

What should we do about the 2 women arrested in NKorea

[Yermammy]

I suggest you move to North Korea or China then. They have very authoritarian practices of censorship. You'd fit right in, comrade!

[Truthosaurus]

Who said anything about censorship? Lay off the meds.

[bighat]

Yes, this is a huge crisis. These women were sent to NKorea and they work for Al Gore. Why is Al not mentioned in the article. Where is the media. Why are they not asking Al why would he send women to the most dangerous country in the world.

What is Al's endgame. He might as well sentenced them to death. Why Al Why

[KevinHallShow]

I say that these two women sound as if they violated the law and went to that area with the express intent to highlight the shortcomings of the North Korean regime. As horrible as the North Koreans are, if the reporters trespassed into the country the reporters should be held accountable for their actions. We may not agree with the severity of the punishment, and the North Koreans are most likely doing this for leverage in negotiations, but we can't allow the foolishness of either these reporters or of the North Koreans to dictate our policy and our ultimate goals. This should not be handled by the Obama administration, it should be handled by private citizens.

http://kevinhallshow.com/?p=185

[marco01]

Reporters have throughout our history have placed themselves in grave danger to highlight injustice going on in the world. They were investigating human trafficking for crissakes!

They deserve our support and admiration for what they are doing.

[S1m0n]

Don't forget that the United States is still in a state of war with North Korea; the two are citizens of a belligerant nation in wartime.

[Dolmance]

There are hundreds of thousands of people who are just as innocent and just as worthy as those two. I don't understand why South Korea doesn't just bite the bullet once and for all and invade the North. Just go in there, casualties be damned and hang that odious little bastard and all his friends and free their tens of millions of countrymen living under what is essentially a cousin in spirit with Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge.

[j mcdouglas]

Because most of the time, the North Koreans hurt nobody but themselves.

Don't forget that a large number of North Koreans are hopelessly brainwashed as to actually support their Dear Leader. They hate the South and America so vehemently because of the Korean War that they'll believe anything Kim tells them.

Just like Fox News viewers in their support of Bush. Their hatred of gays, liberals, women, minorities, Arabs, Jews, etc... it allows them to be easily brainwashed to follow dictators.

If/when North Korea hurts anybody outside their borders in any serious way, what you're talking about may very well happen.

But as it is, the only people that really suffer are the North Koreans themselves and the stray people who try to antagonize Kim by sneaking into his country and breaking his laws.

[bighat]

These 2 women were journalists. Who employed these 2 women. NY Times, USA Today, Reuters. Against the law for the CIA to cloak people as journalists. Whoever is responsible for sending these 2 women to NKorea should be brought forward. Possibly prosecuted. Who in their right mind would send anyone to NKorea after their nuclear tests.

Why doesn't the US ask the head of the UN to go in person. We pay 25% of all costs to the UN. Can we not get a favor.

[lilian101]

Sing a petition for what? Didn't these journalists run an international border to get a high ticket story?
The high ticket story was at the risk of imprisonment in a labor camp. They knew the risk. They wanted the money and the notoriety.

[noweknow]

When is Hollywood going to send Rambo and/or Bond to rescue these women?
We all have faith in Rambo and Bond.
They are the two most qualified people to do the job.

[bighat]

Rambo is american but is a little long in the tooth. Bond is British. We do have a cult leader (possibly american) that can hypnotize everyone in the room. He even has his own boat and submarine and could probably show up in Kim Jong II palace w/o any problem

[marco01]

You're forgetting Austin Powers

[bighat]

British

[Christian]

I for one am tired of individual citizens getting our country into problems like this. We have enough to deal with without individuals for their own concerns, making things more difficult. They may be on an honorable quest, but their motives should not be create such waves that our government has to get involved.

[j mcdouglas]

Amen.

I'm tired of the American arrogance.

These activists in the Ling family put South Koreans in more danger.

If anybody's going to be an activist in North Korea and get arrested, it should be a South Korean, because South Koreans are the ones who will suffer the consequences of a war.

It's time for the chip on Americans' shoulders to get knocked off and for them to stop causing problems for other people.

If anyone, this is South Korea's battle to fight, and barring that, it's the business of the international community to come up with a group effort.

I resent rogue activists like the Lings going out there and forcing us to get involved saving them from the trouble they get themselves into. I say let these two do their time. Maybe it will get Laura's sister Lisa to stop stirring up trouble and putting South Koreans and her own family in danger.

[marco01]

Yet Americans where freaking out when another journalist knowingly put himself in extreme danger and paid the price, Daniel Pearl.

Double standard? Should I be surprised?They are both women AND Asian after all.

[j mcdouglas]

It doesn't have to be an international situation.

These are activists we're talking about. They went to North Korea, a dictatorship, and knowingly broke the law.

So they got arrested and sentenced.

End of story. They knowingly did the crime. Now they have to do their time.

Lisa Ling, Laura's sister broke North Korean law too. If it were the other way around, she'd be extradited and sentenced as well.

When Americans go to other countries, the only rights they have are the rights recognized in that country.

Just because they're American doesn't give them any special right to break other people's laws just like when people come here, they don't have the right to sell marijuana just because it's legal to do so in their home country.

That may seem crazy and ridiculous to them, but they don't get a get out of jail free card just because they come from a place where the laws are different.

[LBJ123]

j mcdouglas, what crime did they knowingly commit? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I am curious if you know: was it reporting on human trafficking between China and North Korea? Getting too close to - or aiming a camera at - the NK border? Do you know what their crime was?

[Truthosaurus]

Nice to know "j mcdouglas" has your back if you get into trouble;)