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I don’t see it that way. A picture taken with Bill C. would have him towering over Sowonrey. He still does. It seems like pandering to the base that tried to convince the populace that the Clinton White House had some acceptance and agreeance through M Bright. This guy (KjI), well both, are craving attention.
This is a no brainer: They just released the GPS coordinates of the Registrar’s office in Hawaii. We’re about to get a direct hit on Ob’s BC….

I still think we can block it. Thank You Ronald Reagan!!

At first glance, I couldn’t help but notice that the floral mats (?) underneath the two leaders’ chairs are similar in shape to the atomic symbol. Maybe Kim is suggesting the two powers are equal nuclear powers. Of course, sometimes a flower is just a flower.

Actually if you look at the position of the chairs, Jong’s is farther forward than Clinton’s. But what struck me when I first saw this picture is how far apart the chairs are.

Looks like Jong has dyed his hair again.

George W Bush was a tough hombre. Didn’t kowtow. Rough, tough, hard to bluff.

Succeeded in denuclearizing … Iran? North Korea? Iraq?

Well, he did drive the nukes out of Iraq, but now they are in Syria, according to true believers.

Ambassador Bolton is livid. Well, I never (he says, with hands on hips and a look of stern reproach on his face).

We’ll see where this all leads.

Would former Iranian Presidents and prominent Iranian Islamic revolutionaries be challenging the Supreme Leader today, were Bush still spending his days in the Oval Office?

The 44th President did promise change.

The GOP bet the ranch against him on the economy.

Now we are seeing a double down on foreign policy.

Interesting times, politically-speaking. Very interesting.

– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA

@Steele, I didn’t notice Kim’s chair was placed farther forward because Clinton’s FEET are! I guess since Kim is a sitting “president” and Clinton is a former president the message is that Kim outranks Clinton. Unfortunately, Kim didn’t allow for Clinton’s huge clodhoppers. Too funny!

So let’s all thank Bill Clinton for his contribution in helping free those two US reporters.

Does Jon Podesta live in a tanning salon? Homeboy needs to lay off the fake-bake.

Splice line ?

Can anyone identify the people in the back row?

Bolton is Livid is correct! I wonder how he is going to get the EGG off of his face now that Bill Clinton has returned with the jailed American Journalists.

It sure isn’t a happy picture, no one is smiling. Clinton has his hands guarding his loins and the midget well…..he has no loins.

Civilians dont need to interfere with world politics. these idiots damaged the US negotiation stance. they broke the rules and should be held accountable. not have a high profil president come beg for them and the US

@openid.aol.com/runnswim: Good ole Larry… He just can’t stop bashing President Bush for FIVE SECONDS! And yet he’ll get all huffy if one of us dumps on Obama.

Well pal, by brining President Bush up you invite the comparision.

And while you did manage to credit Bush for ending the threat of Iraq’s nuclear weapons, which Democrats called an “imminent threat” you forgot the Libyan nuke program which Bush dismantled and is currently stored somewhere in Oak Ridge, TN.

Meanwhile, it was CLINTON who faciliated North Korea’s nuclear development and Obama seems clueles on how to stop it anymore than he has a clue on how to stop Iran.

Yes, give me a cowboy president anyday over a weak, moron who has so little faith in his country that he can’t even hide it.

There is no egg on Bolton’s face. I suspect this was more than a photo op. Why was Clinton met by North Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye Gwan, at the airport? That raises some disturbing implications.

It is very likely that the Obama administration is bargaining with terrorists and rewarding them for criminal behavior. This only brings about more criminal behavior.

No matter how you feel about him, you can’t take away what Bill Clinton accomplished yesterday. Yesterday he was a hero.

@ Cary
Really? To me it looks like Clinton had to take one for the team.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad the ladies are free. Thing is, there are reasons the US has travel restrictions. If you decide to venture off on your own…

@Aqua:

Well, we mostly agree. 🙂

So Horndog Clinton rides to the rescue for two attractive Asian females. I’ll bet he expects a cuddle and a poke or two on that long plane ride home.

Clinton is a Political Hack, not a Diplomat. Clinton did not send the right gear and enough resources in 1993, Heroes Died…..You of Short Memory and Clinton Fans can kiss my ass. I was with 75th Rangers there.

Clinton has American Blood on his Hands from ignorance, negligence and apathy.

American casualties

; Delta Force operators

MSG Gary Gordon – Medal of Honor
SFC Randy Shughart – Medal of Honor

; Night Stalkers

CW4 Raymond Frank – Silver Star
CW4 Clifton Wolcott – Distinguished Flying Cross
CW3 Donovan Briley
SSG William Cleveland
SSG Thomas Field

Task Force Rangers

SGT James Joyce – Bronze Star
SGT Dominick Pilla
SGT Lorenzo Ruiz
CPL James Cavaco
CPL James ‘Jamie’ Smith
PFC Richard Kowalewski

; Unclassified (not disclosed)

MSG Timothy Martin
SFC Earl Fillmore
SFC Matthew Rierson
SSG Daniel Busch

; Combat Search and Rescue force

SGT Cornell Houston (C Company 41st Engineer Battalion) – Bronze Star with V device & Purple Heart
PFC James Martin (A Company, 2nd Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment) – Purple Heart

No cheers for Clinton ever from me. Clinton, rope, tree, some assembly required.

Cary, Clinton’s accomplishments?

http://www.etherzone.com/body.html

CLINTON BODY COUNT

By: Ether Zone Staff

Here is the latest body count that we have. All of these people have been connected with the Clintons in some form or another. We have not included any deaths that could not be verified or connected to the Clinton scandals. All deaths are listed chronologically by date. This list is current and accurate to the best of our knowledge as of January 13, 1999 August 1, 2000.

Susan Coleman: Rumors were circulating in Arkansas of an affair with Bill Clinton. She was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head at 7 1/2 months pregnant. Death was an apparent suicide.

Larry Guerrin: Was killed in February 1987 while investigating the INSLAW case.

Kevin Ives & Don Henry: Initial cause of death was reported to be the result of falling asleep on a railroad track in Arkansas on August 23, 1987. This ruling was reported by the State medical examiner Fahmy Malak. Later it was determined that Kevin died from a crushed skull prior to being placed on the tracks. Don had been stabbed in the back. Rumors indicate that they might have stumbled upon a Mena drug operation.

Keith Coney: Keith had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. Died in a motorcycle accident in July 1988 with unconfirmed reports of a high speed car chase.

Keith McKaskle: McKaskle has information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He was stabbed to death in November 1988.

Gregory Collins: Greg had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He died from a gunshot wound to the face in January 1989.

Jeff Rhodes: He had information on the deaths of Ives, Henry & McKaskle. His burned body was found in a trash dump in April 1989. He died of a gunshot wound to the head and there was some body mutilation, leading to the probably speculation that he was tortured prior to being killed.

James Milam: Milam had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was decapitated. The state Medical examiner, Fahmy Malak, initially ruled death due to natural causes.

Richard Winters: Winters was a suspect in the deaths of Ives & Henry. He was killed in a “robbery” in July 1989 which was subsequently proven to be a setup.

Jordan Kettleson: Kettleson had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup in June 1990.

Alan Standorf: An employee of the National Security Agency in electronic intelligence. Standorf was a source of information for Danny Casalaro who was investigating INSLAW, BCCI, etc. Standorf’s body was found in the backseat of a car at Washington National Airport on Jan 31, 1991.

Dennis Eisman: An attorney with information on INSLAW. Eisman was found shot to death on April 5, 1991.

Danny Casalaro: Danny was a free-lance reporter and writer who was investigating the “October Surprise”, INSLAW and BCCI. Danny was found dead in a bathtub in a Sheraton Hotel room in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Danny was staying at the hotel while keeping appointments in the DC area pertinent to his investigation. He was found with his wrists slashed. At least one, and possibly both of his wrists were cut 10 times. All of his research materials were missing and have never been recovered.

Victor Raiser: The National Finance Co-Chair for “Clinton for President.” He died in a airplane crash on July 30, 1992.

R. Montgomery Raiser: Also involved in the Clinton presidential campaign. He died in the same plane crash as Victor.

Paul Tully: Tulley was on the Democratic National Committee. He was found dead of unknown causes in his hotel room on September 24, 1992. No autopsy was ever allowed.

Ian Spiro: Spiro had supporting documentation for grand jury proceedings on the INSLAW case. His wife and 3 children were found murdered on November 1, 1992 in their home. They all died of gunshot wounds to the head. Ian’s body was found several days later in a parked car in the Borego Desert. Cause of death? The ingestion of cyanide. FBI report indicated that Ian had murdered his family and then committed suicide.

Paula Gober: A Clinton speech writer. She died in a car accident on December 9, 1992 with no known witnesses.

Jim Wilhite: Wilhite was an associate of Mack McClarty’s former firm. Wilhite died in a skiing accident on December 21, 1992. He also had extensive ties to Clinton with whom he visited by telephone just hours before his death.

Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeahan & Conway LeBleu: Died Feburary 28, 1993 by gunfire at Waco. All four were examined by a pathologist and died from identical wounds to the left temple. All four had been body guards for Bill Clinton, three while campaigning for President and when he was Governor of Arkansas.They also were the ONLY 4 BATF agents killed at Waco.

Sgt. Brian Haney, Sgt. Tim Sabel, Maj. William Barkley, Capt. Scott Reynolds: Died: May 19, 1993 – All four men died when their helicopter crashed in the woods near Quantico, Va. – Reporters were barred from the site, and the head of the fire department responding to the crash described it by saying, “Security was tight,” with “lots of Marines with guns.” A videotape made by a firefighter was seized by the Marines. All four men had escorted Clinton on his flight to the carrier Roosevelt shortly before their deaths.

John Crawford: An attorney with information on INSLAW. He died from a heart attack in Tacoma in April of 1993.

John Wilson: Found dead from an apparent hanging suicide on May 18, 1993. He was a former Washington DC council member and claimed to have info on Whitewater.

Paul Wilcher: A lawyer who was investigating drug running out of Mena, Arkansas and who also sought to expose the “October Surprise”, BCCI and INSLAW. He was found in his Washington DC apartment dead of unknown causes on June 22, 1993.

Vincent Foster: A White House deputy counsel and long-time personal friend of Bill and Hillary’s. Found on July 20, 1993, dead of a gunshot wound to the mouth — a death ruled suicide. Many different theories on this case! Readers are encouraged to read our report in Strange Deaths.

Jon Parnell Walker: An investigator for the RTC who was looking into the linkage between the Whitewater and Madison S&L bankruptcy. Walker “fell” from the top of the Lincoln Towers Building.

Stanley Heard & Steven Dickson: They were members of the Clinton health care advisory committee. They died in a plane crash on September 10, 1993.

Jerry Luther Parks: Parks was the Chief of Security for Clinton’s national campaign headquarters in Little Rock. Gunned down in his car on September 26, 1993 near the intersection of Chenal Parkway and Highway 10 west of Little Rock. Parks was shot through the rear window of his car. The assailant then pulled around to the driver’s side of Park’s car and shot him three more times with a 9mm pistol. His family reported that shortly before his death, they were being followed by unknown persons, and their home had been broken into (despite a top quality alarm system). Parks had been compiling a dossier on Clinton’s illicit activities. The dossier was stolen.

Ed Willey: A Clinton fundraiser. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 30, 1993. His death came the same day his wife, Kathleen, was sexually assaulted in the White House by Bill Clinton.

Gandy Baugh: Baugh was Lasater’s attorney and committed suicide on January 8, 1994. Baugh’s partner committed suicide exactly one month later on February 8, 1994.

Herschell Friday: A member of the presidential campaign finance committee. He died in an airplane explosion on March 1, 1994.

Ronald Rogers: Rogers died on March 3, 1994 just prior to releasing sensitive information to a London newspaper. Cause of death? Undetermined.

Kathy Furguson: A 38 year old hospital worker whose ex-husband is a co- defendant in the Paula Jones sexual harassment law suit. She had information supporting Paula Jone’s allegations. She died of an apparent suicide on May 11, 1994 from a gunshot wound to the head.

Bill Shelton: Shelton was an Arkansas police officer and was found dead as an apparent suicide on kathy Ferguson’s grave (Kathy was his girl friend), on June 12, 1994. This “suicide” was the result of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Stanley Huggins: Huggins, 46, was a principal in a Memphis law firm which headed a 1987 investigation into the loan practices of Madison Guaranty S&L. Stanley died in Delaware in July 1994 — reported cause of death was viral pneumonia.

Paul Olson: A Federal witness in investigations to drug money corruption in Chicago politics, Paul had just finished 2 days of FBI interviews when his plane ride home crashed, killing Paul and 130 others on Sept 8 1994. The Sept. 15, 1994 Tempe Tribune newspaper reported that the FBI suspected that a bomb had brought down the airplane.

Calvin Walraven: 24 year on Walraven was a key witness against Jocelyn Elder’s son’s drug case. Walraven was found dead in his apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. Tim Hover, a Little Rock police spokesman says no foul play is suspected.

Alan G. Whicher: Oversaw Clinton’s Secret Service detail. In October 1994 Whicher was transferred to the Secret Service field office in the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Whatever warning was given to the BATF agents in that building did not reach Alan Whicher, who died in the bomb blast of April 19th 1995.

Duane Garrett: Died July 26, 1995-A lawyer and a talk show host for KGO-AM in San Fransisco, Duane was the campaign finance chairman for Diane Fienstien’s run for the senate, and was a friend and fundraiser for Al Gore. Garrett was under investigation for defrauding investors in Garrett’s failed sports memorabilia venture. There was talk of a deal to evade prosecution. On July 26th, Garrett canceled an afternoon meeting with his lawyer because he had to meet some people at the San Fransisco airport. Three hours later he was found floating in the bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Ron Brown:. The Commerce Secretary died on April 3, 1996, in an Air Force jet carrying Brown and 34 others, including 14 business executives on a trade mission to Croatia, crashed into a mountainside. The Air Force, in a 22-volume report issued in June of 1996, confirmed its initial judgment that the crash resulted from pilot errors and faulty navigation equipment At the time of Brown’s death, Independent Counsel Daniel Pearson was seeking to determine whether Brown had engaged in several sham financial transactions with longtime business partner Nolanda Hill shortly before he became secretary of commerce.

Charles Meissner: died: UNK – Following Ron Brown’s death, John Huang was placed on a Commerce Department contract that allowed him to retain his security clearance
by Charles Meissner. Shortly thereafter, Meissner died in the crash of a small plane. He was an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Economic Policy.

William Colby: Retired CIA director was found dead on May 6,1996 after his wife reported him missing on April 27,1996. Apparently, Colby decided to go on a impromptu canoeing excursion and never returned. Colby who had just started writing for Strategic Investment newsletter, worried many in the intelligent community. Colby’s past history of divulging CIA secrets in the past were well known. Strategic Investor had covered the Vince Foster suicide and had hired handwriting experts to review Foster’s suicide note.

Admiral Jeremy Boorda: Died on May 16,1996 after he went home for lunch and decided to shoot himself in the chest (by one report, twice) rather than be interviewed by Newsweek magazine that afternoon. Explanations for Boorda’s suicide focused on a claim that he was embarrassed over two “Valor” pins he was not authorized to wear.

Lance Herndon: Herndon a 41 year old computer specialist and a prominent entrepreneur who received a presidential appointment in 1995 died August 10, 1996 under suspicious circumstances. He appeared to have died from a blow to the head. Police said no weapons were found at his mansion, adding that Mr. Herndon had not been shot or stabbed and there was no evidence of forced entry or theft.

Neil Moody: Died -August 25, 1996 Following Vincent Foster’s murder, Lisa Foster married James Moody, a judge in Arkansas, on Jan 1, 1996. Near the time Susan McDougal first went to jail for contempt, Judge Moor’s son, Neil died in a car crash. There were other reports that Neil Moody had discovered something very unsettling among his stepmother’s private papers and was threatening to go public with it just prior to the beginning of the Democratic National Convention. He was alleged to have been talking to Bob Woodward of the Washington Post about a blockbuster story. Witnesses said they saw Neil Moody sitting in his car arguing with another person just prior to His car suddenly speeding off out of control and hitting a brick wall.

Barbara Wise: Wise a 14-year Commerce Department employee found dead and partially naked in her office following a long weekend. She worked in the same section as John Huang. Officially, she is said to have died of natural causes.

Doug Adams: Died January 7, 1997- A lawyer in Arkansas who got involved trying to help the people who were being swindled out of their life savings. Adams was found in his vehicle with a gunshot wound to his head in a Springfield Mo. hospital parking lot.

Mary C. Mahoney: 25, murdered at the Georgetown Starbuck’s coffee bar over the 4th of July ’97 weekend. She was a former White House intern who worked with John Huang. Apparently she knew Monica Lewinsky and her sexual encounters with Bill Clinton. Although not verified, it has been said that Lewinsky told Linda Tripp that she did not want to end up like Mahoney.

Ronald Miller: Suddenly took ill on October 3rd,1997 and steadily worsened until his death 9 days later. (This pattern fits Ricin poisoning.) Owing to the strangeness of the illness, doctors at the Integris Baptist Medical Center referred the matter to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office promptly ran tests on samples of Ron Miller’s blood, but has refused to release the results or even to confirm that the tests were ever completed.

Had been investigated by authorities over the sale of his company, Gage Corp. to Dynamic Energy Resources, Inc. was the man who tape recorded Gene and Nora Lum and turned those tapes (and other records) over to congressional oversight investigators. The Lums were sentenced to prison for campaign finance violations, using “straw donors” to conceal the size of their contributions to various candidates. Indeed, Dynamic Energy Resources, Inc. had hired Ron Brown’s son Michael solely for the purpose of funneling $60,000 through him to the Commerce Secretary, according to Nolanda Hill’s testimony.

Sandy Hume: On Sunday, February 22nd, 1998, Sandy Hume, the 28 year old son of journalist Britt Hume, was reportedly found dead in his Arlington, Virginia home. Aside from the statement that this was an “apparent” suicide, there remains in place a total media blackout on this story, possibly out of concern that the actual facts will not withstand public scrutiny. Worked for Hill magazine, about Congress for Congress.

Jim McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally, sent to prison for eighteen felony convictions. A key whitewater witness, dies of a heart attack on March, 8 1998. As of this writing allegations that he was given an injection of the diuretic lasix has not been denied or confirmed.
Died on March 8, 1998

Johnny Lawhon: 29, died March 29, 1998- The Arkansas transmission specialist who discovered a pile of Whitewater documents in the trunk of an abandoned car on his property and turned them over to Starr, was killed in a car wreck two weeks after the McDougal death.. Details of the “accident” have been sketchy — even from the local Little Rock newspaper.

Charles Wilbourne Miller: 63, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on November 17, 1998 in a shallow pit about 300 yards from his ranch house near Little Rock. Police found a .410 gauge shotgun near Miller’s body and a Ruger .357-caliber revolver submerged in water. Investigators concluded the Ruger was the weapon used by Miller to kill himself. Yet, two rounds in the handgun’s cylinder had been spent.

He had long served as executive vice president and member of the board of directors for a company called Alltel and was deeply involved in his own software engineering company until the day he died. Alltel is the successor to Jackson Stephens’ Systematics, the company that provided the software for the White House’s “Big Brother” data base system and that was behind the administration’s plan to develop the secret computer “Clipper” chip to bug every phone, fax and email transmission in America.

Carlos Ghigliotti: 42, was found dead in his home just outside of Washington D.C. on April 28, 2000. There was no sign of a break-in or struggle at the firm of Infrared Technology where the badly decomposed body of Ghigliotti was found. Ghigliotti had not been seen for several weeks.

Ghigliotti, a thermal imaging analyst hired by the House Government Reform Committee to review tape of the siege, said he determined the FBI fired shots on April 19, 1993. The FBI has explained the light bursts on infrared footage as reflections of sun rays on shards of glass or other debris that littered the scene.

“I conclude this based on the groundview videotapes taken from several different angles simultaneously and based on the overhead thermal tape,” Ghigliotti told The Washington Post last October. “The gunfire from the ground is there, without a doubt.”

Ghigliotti said the tapes also confirm the Davidians fired repeatedly at FBI agents during the assault, which ended when flames raced through the compound. About 80 Branch Davidians perished that day, some from the fire, others from gunshot wounds.

Mark Corallo, a spokesman for the congressional committee chaired by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said that police found the business card of a committee investigator in Ghigliotti’s office. Corallo said Ghigliotti’s work for the committee ended some time ago.

Tony Moser: 41, was killed as he crossed a street in Pine Bluff, Ark on on June 10, 2000. Killed 10 days after being named a columnist for the Democrat-Gazette newspaper and two days after penning a stinging indictment of political corruption in Little Rock.

Police have concluded that no charges will be filed against the unnamed driver of a 1995 Chevrolet pickup, which hit Moser as he was walking alone in the middle of unlit Rhinehart Road about 10:10 p.m

Police say they have ruled out foul play and will file no charges against the driver because he was not intoxicated and there was no sign of excessive speed.
***********************************************************

My last comment was marked as Spam. Thanks FA!

I think the picture behind them says more, except for the look on Clintons face..smurky!
We shall see.

@Aqua: I, too, am glad the women are home but I’d like to see a policy put forward that if you’re a hiker, tourist and faux journalist and get caught too close to a hostile border, you’re on your own. The three little twerps now in the hands of the Iranians supposedly wanted to see some fabulous waterfalls. Costs the country too much in international hell. Did they not watch Midnight Express as to what can happen when you violate laws in countries with governments living in the stone age? I think Gore’s organization should reimburse the expenses for this debacle.

I do see that the Dear Leader is wearing his wedgies. Makes him about as tall as Madeline Albright with them on. And, I think the hair has been photoshopped. In the videos on TV it was very sparse and looked like it is missing in spots…from his shoe polish hair dye or chemo?

Thank you for identifying the two people in the front row as Bill Clinton (seated left)and Kim Jong-il (seated right). You have the insight and realize that if you showed this picture to people on the streets of NY many of them would not know who the h ell these people are.

Before I write my comment I want to be clear and say this: I am THRILLED that these women are back safely with their families. Having researched hard labor camps in Korea (a good day is finding a rat to eat), I wouldn’t wish that hell on anyone. I’d be a lot more thrilled if all of the innocent people really doing the hard labor were also set free.

All said, it’s a bit of a stretch to call these women ‘journalists’, and if I remember correctly, it was the first assignment for one of them, I think the one with the little girl. Speaking of, why would any mother of a 5 year old take that kind of risk? At best, they were going for a sensation story for left wing politics.

I know I prayed for them, but just as much as for their safe return I prayed that when they were “returned”, they would see and appreciate America as a returning solider sees America. One has to wonder, after 5 months of hell and no freedom, how fond they remain of left wing politics.

They sure look scared, (and skinny). I’m sure good old Larry King will grab the first interview. Let’s hope, that at the very least, our military gets some credit on this.

AnnM I agree that fat cat Al Gore should pick up the tab (and Midnight Express was one of my favs). Having traveled in many dangerous places myself over the years, and often alone, I agree that thrill seekers need to know the risks, and not expect “government bailouts.” As for Bill Clinton, he’s not one of my favorite guys, but I’d be hard pressed not to admit if he ever came for me in that situation, I’d be one grateful American, deserving or not. He’s too smart not to know how those photos are going to be used. He’s also one of the few if any who could have pulled this off, and for that, I say hats off to Bill Clinton. He did a good thing, I think.

In these pictures it appears that BJ isn’t wearing a wedding ring. Does he not even bother anymore with the charade or did he just slip it in his pocket to impress the babes on his rescue mission? I must admit I was hoping Dear Leader would keep him for a while.

@pdill: Yes, I’d be happy to see a presidential rescue too if I found myself in that horrible position though I do credit myself with being smarter than they were. They will be on Larry King and then The View. Lisa Ling (sister of Laura) was one of the gang of four at one time. The women didn’t look as if they had suffered physically. They were fashionably skinny before the arrest. I don’t like people being turned into celebrities for being stupid.

My grandson and his HS friend were itching to travel the world after their graduation. In Indonesia they took a guide along to help keep them oriented when hiking into remote regions. Borneo the same. Much of his other travel adventures were to islands so borders not so much an issue. Adventurous…good. Common sense and internal radar indispensable when traveling.

When I traveled alone to Israel in 1968, I had been told that a woman could walk on any street at midnight unmolested. My first overnight stay was in Jerusalem and it immediately became clear as to just why: an Israeli soldier on every street corner with an Uzi. Hahaha. Since I was a peacenik at the time, it was a total attitude changer! Thankfully, I’ve since grown up.

Had to uncheck follow up box sorry.

I’m quite sure the two women would have been happy had Mickey Mouse come to the rescue. I celebrate they are free… no matter who got them out.

INRE the politics, it’s fascinating speculation. Obama remains mute on Clinton’s official role, and the WH calls it a “private humanitarian mission”. However – unlike the renegard Carter who dashed off to NK when Clinton was the newbie POTUS, and returned announcing diplomatic and policy suggestions on CNN – Obama’s admin did run Clinton thru briefings.

A quiet “message” as speculated? Or the appearance of control over a renegate ex POTUS?

What was the promises exchanged? We’re not going to know for a while yet, but time may reveal all. Meantime, it’s great to see two terrified young women so happy to be free. And maybe next time they won’t be so stupid as to wander into the lion’s den.

Personally I think it’s funny. Clinton upstaged Obama, and the POTUS says not a word yet today of their release via Clinton. Odd, don’t you think? He managed a few ill chosen words about Gates and Crowley….

The Clintons? Big score. They have proved themselves to again be relevant and powerful. Makes you wonder about 2012. Positioning themselves for a veep slot, and incumbent 2016 run at the big seat? Or waiting in the wings in case a very unpopular Obama gets kicked to the curb. By then, more will be revealed about the *real* economic factors. ala a man who’s policies are responsible for inflation due to national debt increases (yes Larry, he is spending that much), and a possible death knell to the housing industry further down line with increased mortgage rates to control that inflation.

~~~

Improving economy? Larry… oh my word. Smoke and mirrors. Or are you pointing to that “poll” type indicator? You know, the stock market that Obama dissed as bogus when it was down, and now holds up as flimsy “proof” of success today?

I’ve been holding out on a piece (so many other issues INRE the expedient health care destruction first) from Eric Sprott and David Franklin of Sprott Asset Management released late July that says exactly the opposite. Meaning, forget recession. We are at the early stages of a depression.

I’ve just published this as it’s own post, sans my usual link heavy and long winded commentary, just to get it out there.

But the summary? The “slowing down” of the decline, which Obama, Biden and the media happily proclaim as the light at the end of the tunnel is not equivalent to growth. And that growth is unlikely to happen in Obama’s fantasy timeline with the collapse of industrial capacity; the decreased tax revenue; catastrophic unemployment costs; a housing market that that remains fraught with toxic assets and will only get worse as interest rates rise; and the real, inflation adjusted PE ratio of the stock market.

So dance in the streets, if this pleases you, Larry. I’m sure you’ll prefer listen to Obama and CNN, while discarding Sprott. But I am hoping you will be opening your mind as time moves on. And, in fact, time passing is the only way you’ll see this elephant in the room. But by then, his trunk is right in your face and those tusk may be fatal.

Obama’s economic failure was never going to be obvious instantaneously. All indicators were going to see a slowing of the decline (one can only lose so many jobs before the numbers get smaller proportionately) this year… and that’s if the government did nada, nothing. However the repercussions of adding the debt because of false promises by an economic dunce have yet to become obvious to the short sighted.

@MataHarley: I agree on the economy. When California’s unemployment rate begins to go down from the current 11.6% and Monterey County’s 10.3%, I’ll say something is going on. “As California goes, so goes the nation.” I’ll go with the actual numbers rather than what 0zer0 and his minions put out.

I’ve been delighted recently to hear some previously hard core Bots begin to turn on our Dear Leader. I’d say it happens around the first unemployment extension check and still no job in sight.

I love the spin the media is taking on this “Bill Clinton the negotiator” When in actuality Kim basically is just a Clinton fan and said “Send clinton and ill free them” So basically just by showing up they were free. LOL.

Who woulda saw that comin.. Kim a clinton fan. HA!

Just think of what Angelina Jolie could have gotten from Kim! No doubt an end to the nuclear program! Poor little Kim, he’s such a groupie.

Old Trooper, you left out 9/11. He may not have personally killed the 3K, but he made it much easier for the terrorists to do it.

Wonder what we gave the angry midget to get the women back? I doubt we will like the answer.

Glad these foolish gals are back home and safe.

Curious though – I recall reading Kim was quite ill, perhaps on his death bed not long ago. Look at the distinctive color difference of the backs of his hands and the rest of his visible skin – is this a shadow?

I thought Kim, like Saddam, was paranoid about security and had a number of look-alike impersonators. If so, we never know if we’re looking at Dictator #1, Dictator #2 or Dictator #3. This would explain the differences in hair, height and skin tone.

While the ill Ill can use the picture for propaganda purposes, I could really care less about it. What I want to know is what they gave N.K. to set them free.

While I don’t wish ill for the women or others arrested similarly for their stupidity. I too am beginning to take on the opinion that these idiots should be left to take their medicine for their asinine actions. If you’re dumb enough to do such a jack-ass thing, you deserve what you get. Your pitiful ego be damned. We can not allow a handful of amateurish idiots to affect or alter diplomatic responses and policies. Our professional idiots are doing a bad enough job as it is.

Looks like the Board of Directors of the N.F.D.A.