Bill Clinton: Rescuing Leader or Reckless Negotiator?

Published in Ziare
(Romania) on 5 August 2009
by Ana Ilie (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Veronica Pascarel. Edited by .

Edited by Robin Silberman

Proofread by Katy Burtner

The unexpected visit to North Korea by Bill Clinton, the former American president, which ended up with the liberation of two American journalists, has surprised the whole world.

Opinions concerning the demonstration of diplomacy and negotiations are divided among the population. The majority admits that Clinton’s visit had an impact on Obama’s administration, even though the White House’s current leader has denied any connection to Clinton’s initiative.

Clinton’s presence in Pyongyang in a time where there is practically no diplomacy in American-North Korean relations raises the question of whether there is a possible “warming” and simultaneous “yielding” of America to the North Korean communists.

Clinton’s visit should be looked upon in context: the former president shares a long history with the North Koreans.

In 1994, North Korea had intentions of producing enriched plutonium at Yongbyon. This objective was stopped by Clinton’s administration, which unleashed a series of negotiations in a time when both countries seemed to be prepared to go to war.

At Clinton’s request, another former American president, Jimmy Carter, intervened as an independent negotiator. Carter helped the Pyongyang leader at that time, Kim II Sung, find a way out from the deadlock.

Even at the current meeting, Clinton was not viewed by the North Koreans as an “uninterested” negotiator. His wife, Hillary, is the secretary of state in the current administration, and many of his former collaborators are Obama’s counselors. At the same time, no one doubts that the former president didn’t receive permission from Obama’s administration to engage in such a meeting.

It is clear, in spite of multiple denials, that Clinton was perceived as directly sent from the White House and also as a representative of American external policy. However, the meeting was a victory for the leader Kim Jong-il.

It is true, the “rescuing” intervention style of America’s former presidents is practiced frequently at the White House, where former leaders continue to exert influence and act in American foreign policy.

The White House has tried to portray Clinton’s quick visit (less than 24 hours) as a “humanitarian mission” regarding the liberation of the two journalists; a visit made only on Clinton’s own initiative, with no consulting from the current administration.

The release of the two women was truly a strong accomplishment, a successful humanitarian effort.

What about other American journalists who are detained around the world? Should Roxana Saberi, a detained journalist in Iran, one of the countries in the “Axis of Evil,” also be expecting a rescue visit from Clinton?

And what kind of message does this humanitarian action send to all the dictatorships throughout the world? When Pyongyang uses Clinton’s humanitarian mission as state propaganda to convey a message such as “our foreign policy is offering results and the Americans need us more,” what kind of idea does that suggest to Iran and other dictatorships throughout the world?

Should the leaders of these countries understand that they can force Washington’s hand just by kidnapping American citizens and later asking for concessions in return for their liberation?

It is clear that Clinton’s quick visit to North Korea will have more serious consequences than initially assumed.

However, in the case that Pyongyang signs the non-proliferation act, then a different outcome might result from this meeting and we will be able to talk about Clinton’s success (and the American administration’s) in North Korea.


Vizita neasteptata a fostului presedinte american Bill Clinton in Coreea de Nord, sfarsita prin eliberarea, de catre regimul comunist, a doua jurnaliste americane, a luat intreaga lume prin surprindere.

Parerile sunt impartite in ceea ce priveste aceasta demonstratie de diplomatie si negociere, insa majoritatea admit ca se va rasfange asupra Administratiei Obama - chiar daca actualul lider de la Casa Alba a negat ca ar avea vreo legatura cu initiativa lui Clinton.

Prezenta lui Clinton la Phenian, in plin inghet al relatilor americano-nord-coreene, pune o serie de intrebari cu privire la un eventual "dezghet" dar si despre o "cedare" in fata cererilor comunistilor nord-coreeni.

Vizita lui trebuie inteleasa in context: Clinton are o lunga istorie cu nord-coreenii.

In 1994, Coreea de Nord intentiona sa produca plutoniu imbogatit la reactorul Yongbyon, insa Administratia Clinton i-a dat un raspuns in forta, declansand o serie de negocieri, in vreme ce ambele parti pareau pregatite de razboi.

La cererea lui Clinton, un alt fort presedinte american, Jimmy Carter, a actionat drept un negociator oarecum independent, ajutandu-l pe liderul de la Phenian de atunci, Kim Il Sung, sa gaseasca o "portita" de iesire din impas.

Nici de aceasta data, Clinton nu a fost privit de catre nord-coreeni drept un negociator "neinteresat" - in definitiv, sotia lui, Hillary, este Secretar de Stat in noua Administratie, iar fostii colaboratori au primit slujbe de consilieri ai lui Obama. Si nimeni nu are vreun dubiu ca fostul presedinte nu a primit acceptul Administratiei inainte de a se angaja intr-o astfel de intreprindere.

Este limpede insa ca, in pofida negarilor repetate, Clinton a fost perceput drept un trimis direct al Casei Albe si un reprezentant al politicii externe americane. A fost, de fapt, o victorie a liderului Kim Jong-il.

E drept, interventia "salvatoare" a fostilor presedinti este o practica frecventa in SUA, unde fostii lideri continua sa-si exercite influenta si sa actioneze pe liniile directoare ale politicii externe americane.

Casa Alba s-a straduit ca vizita-fulger a lui Clinton (mai putin de 24 de ore de la inceput la sfarsit) sa fie prezentata drept o "misiune umanitara" in vederea eliberarii celor doua jurnaliste, la initiativa fostului presedinte si intrumentata doar de acesta.

Eliberarea celor doua femei a fost, intr-adevar, o lovitura extraordinara, un efort umanitar de succes.

Cum ramane insa cu alti jurnalisti americani retinuti prin alte colturi ale lumii? Roxana Saberi, intremnitata intr-o alta tara din "axa raului", Iran, ar trebui sa se astepte si ea la o vizita salvatoare din partea lui Clinton?

Si ce mesaj transmite aceasta actiune regimurilor paria din intreaga lume? Cand Phenianul se serveste de misiunea "umanitara" a lui Clinton pentru a-si alimenta propaganda de stat cu mesaje de genul "iata ca politica noastra externa da rezultate si americanii au mai multa nevoie de noi", ce idei le da asta Iranului si altor dictaturi din intreaga lume?

Sa inteleaga liderii acestor state ca pot forta mana Washingtonului dupa pofta, rapind pe diverse motive cetateni americani pentru a-i elibera apoi in urma unor concesii serioase?

E limpede ca vizita intempestiva, gandita in graba, a lui Clinton, in Coreea de Nord, ar putea avea consecinte mult mai serioase decat s-a banuit in prima faza.

Abia dupa si mai ales daca Phenianul va fi de acord cu o renuntare la proliferarea nucleara, se va putea vorbi despre un succes al lui Clinton (si al Administratiei americane) in Coreea de Nord.
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