Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Ling and Lee

Laura Ling and Eura Lee. Two American citizens, journalists, employed by Current TV (Al Gore, cofounder). They were recently sentenced to 12 years in a North Korean work camp for entering the country illegally.

What were they doing on the China- North Korea border? Details are murky, but that doesn't matter. They've been sentenced and the two ladies are international bargaining chips.

They both had to know that the human rights record of both China and NOK is at best, horrible. They both had to know that being in that part of the world, trying to do western journalism isn't the best way to stay in the good graces of the local bureaucrats. They also had to know that those same local bureaucrats can either keep you safe or drop you in a hole.

Well, they've been dropped in a hole. Too bad.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh come on PawPaw, I'm surprised to see you get so weepy and sentimental over a couple of women you've never even met.

Old NFO said...

nK is NOT going to play games, it will be interesting to see who they send as the "negotiator" to get them out... Maybe algore himself, and we can trade him for the ladies!

J said...

Can you say "stupid"?