Political Capital

" And that made it very difficult to be isolated war -- essentially three months. And to think you know. All selling what happened or not knowing what's going to happen old the it's really the fear of the unknown and also. These two reporters know how bad north Koreans they've been talking to refugees. Some of the most for real stories you know it -- all of this is playing through -- their -- if journalists suddenly coming -- today. It was odd that the president the former President Bill Clinton to speak easily. I actually think that was probably smart play because people would criticize him for hot dogging and you know what you know so -- he he finally fill out. -- Yeah I mean there's nothing that bill could've said that would of you know would have even matched the emotion in the intensity you -- see in her face and hear her voice so you know. Clinton sort of looks really great from all of this you know there's no point for him to -- the --"

" There is a formal statement coming out from Bill Clinton again he chose not to speak there on the tarmac. Vice former vice president Al Gore did speak -- with more of a political thank you on behalf of the family. -- way. Spoke on behalf of herself and the -- and very very eloquently. But. President Bill Clinton issuing this statement quote I'm very happy. That after this long ordeal Laura -- you -- are now home -- reunited with their loved ones. When their families vice president gore in the White House asked if I would undertake this humanitarian mission I agree I share a deep sense of relief with Laura and you know. And their families that they are safely home in quote. This story I think -- cigarette soon because. We started we had started to report. The potential for them being moved from this guest house. To a labor camp and knowing that we probably wouldn't hear it. Doesn't fit because we certainly would -- because they would be in such bad form from Livni and labor camp that those pictures with apple. Okay President Obama to address Americans. Released shortly. And perhaps. You know I wonder if there was some sort of an agreement -- that Bill Clinton wouldn't speak based on what."

" He would've been peppered with questions from reporters that's that's a no win situation. What really interesting back stories -- is that Hillary Clinton has been trying to undermine President Obama and for the last two weeks I -- her aides have been out talking about -- how bad times reported think. You're right it's been more widespread and in the report my friends have been getting phone calls from senior State Department aides close to her. Saying how bad Obama's diplomacy with regard to the Russians was how bad it is with regard to the Chinese. And you know here you have Obama needing Bill Clinton to clinch the deal. And so this has all sorts of possibilities for going long for the White House. Because mrs. Clinton is not going to let this opportunity go wasted."

" Wanna read some emails now thank god there home apologized for the nasty things I've said about Clinton and -- over the years -- almost -- New York says. It -- in San Diego writes. Absolutely well this is a great time for both the US and North Korea which is interesting yeah. I don't care how or who made this happen. We need to look at the positive light it is a great thing these weather home I'm here making breakfast listening and watching with tears is absolutely wonderful thank you -- I can I get -- tissue to. Every thank you. This is a pure federal -- these women and their family should not have been put in front of the camera so soon after coming home give them at least a week or something like this. This is Johnny -- it's -- very protective of them to an end don't we see hostages come home. From places like Iran and other places around the world. I did you hear that -- that's militaries that did these people some space already they've been through hell. -- very interest -- gun from you. I wouldn't. -- assistance we Stephen. And Charlotte, North Carolina thank you for watching I appreciate -- so so very much. But let's talk a little bit about why this might be good for North Korea. What North -- see why we should care that anything would be good for."

" North Korea. It -- you know this very small receives only about 300 people but within that regime there are very different interest and for Kim -- ill. This is really great because it helps him reassert his authority. He's been losing. Or at least ceding power to the more hardline elements in the military recently. -- because he wants he knows how bad his -- is. He knows he doesn't have that much time to a range of succession to one of his sons. And he's needed the support of the generals to do that and so he's handled he's lost a little bit of clout. And this allows him you know stand next to Bill Clinton you know the greatest man on earth. What should take -- he'd seen they'll -- such a big -- Because he he negotiate he came to power when Clinton was in office he negotiated the agreed framework. He did all sorts of things when Clinton was there any actually tried to come to some terms. With the United States sending his most senior general to Washington. Like that he I mean probably admiration. And in the sense that they know here's another guy who can you know. Draw the crowds and Kim can't do that what do you think if it's Obama Oscar out so he certainly did struck crowds but he sees Obama probably wars an adversary I would guess. But you know. I think I give -- flavor of what's going on now at the nuclear showdown of course but you know there's a lot of -- next administration to deal -- North Korea trying to nuclear arm itself. -- there's been very little interaction between the north Koreans and the White House apart from these this matter well journalists. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton says she wants them. But there was a lot of interaction during the Clinton Years. There was a lot of back and forth. And at some points it looked as almost if there was going to be a grand bargain but it never happened and so I think that's why there is a special place. For Bill Clinton in the minds of north Koreans and that's why it was so important for that photo opportunity to have Kim Jong -- stand next to Bill Clinton. And side by side not in Washington but in the North Korean -- really really important for regime stability."

" Kevin let me know you have that picture and we are moments away now we're watching the president of the United States opponents of the Secret Service -- I like to refer to them him. And the office of the president coming up. Well. Okay here's what what will hold off -- Africa's second let's. Let's bring up the president now -- he makes his remarks about this to Americans who just returned home with former President Bill Clinton good morning everybody."

" I want to just make a brief comment about. The fact that it's the two young journalists. You know Lee and Laura -- Are safely back -- their families. We are obviously. Extraordinarily relieved I had not -- to speak with the families yesterday. -- once we knew that they were on the plane. The reunion that we've all seen on television. I think it is. A source of happiness not only for the families but for the entire country and I want to thank President Bill Clinton -- have a chance to talk to him. For the extraordinary humanitarian effort that. Resulted in the release the -- journalists I want to thank. Vice president Al Gore who worked tirelessly. In order to. Achieve. A positive outcome."

" I think that. Not only is this White House. Obviously extraordinarily happy -- All Americans should be grateful to both -- President Clinton and vice president for. For their extraordinary war. And my hope is is that the families. That have been reunited. Can enjoy. The next several days and weeks. Understanding. That is. Because of the efforts of -- Clinton and gore. They are able to be with each other once again -- we are very pleased with the outcome and I'm hopeful that. The families -- are going to be able to get some good time together in the next few days thank you very much. --"

" Diplomatic opening. Allen and the president will take -- shouted question everywhere not Saudi -- that aside and take any questions. And then -- turn -- back and then all of a sudden he's talking and nobody got that -- on it because it started walkways sometimes welcome back everybody always hangs right there. Because this is -- president -- sometimes in the back of his mind which -- I think that he. Could stay and and soak up a little bit more about at least it would appear that way at times the coming collapse of China. With the first book that you wrote -- by the way. Gordon Chang joining us this morning he's a columnist at Forbes dot com. And his two books that he's written now are are suddenly. Coming into great focus. -- for people there almost like textbooks if you will now that we are looking at a situation with North Korea and nuclear nuclear proliferation. The coming collapse of China which -- first and then most recently nuclear showdown North Korea takes on the world. Why do you think it is there is this renewed curiosity about. North Korea you have as journalists over there looking at the refugee. Situation and that. Reportedly is how they got -- by the North Korean military. Why why are we focusing --"

" there has been somebody provocations from the north Koreans this year used to be every one or two provocations. A year. But now we've sold about one week it started on April 5 with the launch of a long range missile we have -- detonation. The renunciation of the Korean war armistice the cyber attacks against the United States and South Korea the announcement of that. This resumption of plutonium production just one after the that and that means that there's something going on inside that. Capital something like why. Basically I think it has a lot to do with. The military and Kim Jong -- relationship with them. In -- 49596. He consolidated his position as his father's successor. By ceding control of many portions of a policy to the military. -- and he's been trying to get them back since then. And because now he's in really bad health. He needs to cede control again took a hard -- elements in order to ensure succession to one of his sons. Sunday official -- Well that's. The he's chosen all three of them from now do different things well at different times he first chose his eldest son Jong Nam. He's the guy got caught -- Japanese immigration trying to sneak into Disneyland. With wives mistresses lots of cash. And little kids so after that incident Jong Nam was -- them off that's radar. And then they started talking about to control the middle son now it's -- have a -- at all. What he only had a very brief moment in the sun. -- it's very you know gives you an experience it's just that there's intense rivalry among the three kids well."

" The country. That preaches. You know against western life. Yet they want to try to get it does and you know there'll be edited."

" Well you know can avail himself has or -- anything yeah he's got the basketball thing you know Michael Jordan. All sorts of stuff read the Hennessy as you pointed out that's not exactly. North -- liquor. Now."

" Ballot -- not chipped it to take it there even though it's not a kiss on his third son again. You think he is the chosen one for right now that we went over to China and sound support. And he'll court the hard line."

" Yeah he's he's been courting the hard line he's always had what's called the -- policy military first but now the military's getting even more power. And I think that has resulted in what we saw this spring which was all of these provocations. And then the snatching of these two witness that you -- women in this area Tuesday I think that Kim Jong Il has seen this is an opportunity reassert himself he's always been the supreme leader he's always been by far the most important. But nonetheless you know he has you know he has. Given up some of his -- at times and now this is an opportunity for him to pull back a little."

" This picture. With Bill Clinton. Who think this picture North Korea will everybody figures that today it would not and broadcast a homecoming of these women. But will be North Korean citizens see this."

" The they will certainly see this one and they'll see the other one where just the two of -- Bill Clinton and Karen Delgado and he's smiling he's not Bill Clinton became de L he's -- my biggest smile on -- Cheshire cat and Clinton has that sort of grim look. Because that seem unnatural."

" Neutral he -- it you don't know what I mean hello."

" It until it's gone into the you know you normally see bill with that very engaging smile and we haven't seen those from."

" Well you know he didn't have that big triumph over bringing the women now here's here's another picture and it has got to be one of will be shown -- it almost looks like Kim Jung -- is giving some sort of instruction I mean if you play this politically inside North Korea. "

" It like this picture -- you -- this picture can also and the founder of North Korea and Kim Jong Il's father was famous for going around the country and giving. On the spot guidance Kim Jong Il does the same thing he goes to factories he goes to military bases he gives his advice on farming. On how to produce widgets if you know. No but here he's getting advice. To these Americans so he's getting on the spot -- to Bill Clinton Bill Clinton this is a great photo."

" Well and -- all of this with it probably only took about conveying that who. For about an hour and mr. Clinton described it as exhaustive I didn't happen I that the photo photos take it was just -- brutal hey look couple things you're going to be on tonight. And I wanna get this right -- you were very popular guy at Fox News Channel today we're so happy to stop by your first. Gordon Chang will be on. Live desk at 2:10 PM eastern. -- I heard already. I -- tell my dad okay I can watch we'll all have live messenger but I'll be covering breaking news sell -- unless you managed to trip over something when you come and we may not. Each other if -- accompanying story. I'll probably -- you know it all in all sincerity. Your fabulous and now. We've seen throughout the building here and Greta Van Susteren well liked to have humans and -- well I don't know what -- looks like I didn't realize I'd be telling you this. -- Gordon Chang. The author of nuclear showdown North Korea takes on the world has a wonderful perspective. Like this photo Kevin -- we have more pictures. This photo. That she's able to play -- incredibly around North Korea. The pictures that they will not be seeing it -- return of those two young woman who were kept away from their families if you think that we didn't know any sort of points with -- North Korean people. I would have you back because that was I would love to do not get back to. And that was."

" What the North Korean people would've thought of the taking of these women can you have thirty seconds. Well you know they were you know -- supposedly harming the states so you know and since they might buy into that line but you a lot of people in North -- had. -- sort of -- that are disaffected from the regime so it doesn't really matter too much what the government might say. And that's a very complicated subject but okay."

" We'll have it back Gordon thank you thank you thank you that you're going to be a busy man. Patents that are all right okay well let's."