Turning a New Leaf?

" His wife as the secretary of state but today Bill Clinton is working the diplomatic channels overseas. The former president is in North Korea right now he's already met with the rogue nations leader Kim Jong Il. And we're learning that a deal essentially has been hammered out to free those two American journalists in jail there. Laura Ling and you know leave worked for current TV which was founded by Clinton's vice president Al Gore. The two were arrested on the North Korea China border back in March accused of illegal entry. The two women were convicted and sentenced to twelve years at hard labor back in June. The White House is not saying much about mr. Clinton's trip but issued this statement. 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. So let's talk about it now with Jim Walsh Massachusetts institute of technology's research associate and international security expert. Specializing. In Iran and North Korea. How things like this worked Jim I mean Bill Clinton just doesn't hop on a plane and go over -- North Korea without some guarantee of success right."

" You're absolutely right John what I've heard this morning is that this has been in the works for at least a couple of weeks. And you're you're right President Clinton is the careful politician even if he's retired and he's not gonna set himself up for failure so he -- wanted assurances in advance some signal from the north Koreans that it would be worth his while to go readers -- wanna show up and then. I have nothing to show -- return so. My guess is that it may not be guaranteed absolutely done deal but this was close enough. That he felt confident ago and that means we're gonna have some good news I think about these -- OK but what to the north Koreans get out of it is it just another moment in the sun on the world stage with the former leader of the free world. Yeah I think that's essentially yet but that counts for them. They're concerned about their own prestige their status. Their domestic audience. You know the people North Korea -- weak leadership especially during a time of transition. You know most of us have been talking about the fact that Kim Jong -- may not be on the stage much longer and his youngest son may be taking over this is something that's useful. For the domestic politics in North Korea and it and somewhat their isolation they can say look we've got -- a visit from an important god let me. I hasten to add John that. This is important for the journalists but it's also important because Clinton and Kim Jong Il had a face to face meeting today. I don't expect North -- to roll over and suddenly be a different sort regime but. If Kim Jong Il wants to change the trajectory. US Korean relations he's -- powerful enough -- they can do it with a wave of the hand so this meeting this face to face very unusual between Clinton and Kim Jong -- that may be important in and of itself. Now interesting to having you've got his wife. Mr. Clinton wife the secretary of state she's not over there. You've got his former on UN ambassador Bill Richardson he's not over there. It's you know mr. Clinton himself why not send a Bill Richardson. Well first of all I think you're right to say this there are layers of irony here you'll remember Bill Clinton early -- his first time confronted the first. With Korean crisis and former president Jimmy Carter went over and -- it was sort of miffed about that but all it all worked out the end. Bill Richardson governor of New Mexico has been good North Korea on more than one occasion and I thought he was going to be the one to go. But you know what's Hillary being secretary of state and maybe some bad blood between the clintons and Bill Richardson right and hit an -- also there's the Richardson endorsing Barack Obama exactly even though it were exactly an administration. That that's right but also there's also report that the north Koreans. A wanted Bill Clinton in particular and let's face it -- as you know a rock star of sorts and that they probably get the most sort of payback or pay off if you will from having a visit from him as compared to the other candidates so how long as it's all gonna take would you expect. How long before we hear some -- well that's. Yeah I think that's the thing to watch. If this was a short one off meeting between Kim Jong -- and Bill Clinton. Then I don't expect much to come from this but -- they have repeated meetings if these meetings go on for you on our two hours. That's -- that that's the prelude to something more significant perhaps later on the road but I don't expect him to -- more than a couple of days at most. Before returning will know that because he will certainly have a press conference in the ground. Will likely stop in South Korea maybe even China on the way back that's what you do when you go to north greased up. These places on the way back so what plenty of opportunity -- more details in the ensuing day."

" And just one more level of irony of course these two journalists were working for Al Gore. Al Gore and Bill Clinton -- splits -- at the end of their term over the whole Monica Lewinsky thing. Anyway we'll will open for president bring them home Jim Walsh from my teeth yet absolutely that."