Bill Clinton's Connections: Special Contacts Aided Release

[undeterred]

Source: The Washington Post

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 6, 2009

Former president Bill Clinton's central role in the return of two journalists detained by North Korea has once again cast a spotlight on his vast web of financial and political contacts, a network that troubled senators who weighed whether to confirm his wife as secretary of state.

In the case of the detainees, Clinton tapped wealthy business people to execute a mission that, without a special federal waiver for the aircraft to travel to North Korea, would have been illegal. A few weeks ago, one of his business contacts had the ear of Hillary Rodham Clinton in her role as secretary of state, an uncomfortable reminder of the former president's far-flung interests and associates.
The intersection of power and connections blurred the exact nature of Bill Clinton's trip to North Korea. He agreed to meet with leader Kim Jong Il two days after North Korea called his wife a "primary schoolgirl" because she had likened the country to an unruly child. The Obama administration took pains to distance itself from the mission, though officials conceded they had repeated contact with North Korean officials in the days leading up to the trip to confirm the journalists would be released if the former president traveled to Pyongyang.

Hillary Clinton, who was touring Africa while images of her husband meeting with Kim flashed on television sets around the world, felt compelled to address the conflicting messages when she spoke with NBC from Nairobi on Wednesday. "I want to be sure people don't confuse what Bill did, which was a private humanitarian mission to bring these young women home, with our policy, which continues to be one that gives choices to North Korea," she said. "Our policy remains the same."



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/05/AR2009080504021.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. Team D has talent and chits to call in. And the rest of the world must be greatly relieved nt.

[Justice]

2. I dislike the tone of this piece - what did George Bush's "special" contacts get us?

war in Iraq.

[Xipe Totec]

3. You noticed that?

Back handed grudging compliments.

What a bunch of sell out shills.

[MADem]

5. The WAPO has really fallen down the sewer pipe since the Watergate days.

The only thing they have going for them is that they're better than the Washington Times.

[4lbs]

10. Unless the article is written by someone like Gene Robinson, you have to read it with some wariness.

There are indeed right-leaning columnists on the paper.

[aquart]

14. In what way?

[MADem]

17. In every way. They've lowered their standards and fired half their staff.

This isn't news.

[DCKit]

16. Yet neither is as reliable as the Enquirer.

The NYT and WaPo have lost all credibility - The Times never had any.

[aquart]

11. The tone is totally negative. Suggesting something very bad was going on.

And it's deliberate. WaPo was ever Bill's friend.

[DURHAM D]

4. "a network that troubled senators"

yow right. They are just jealous.

stupid hit piece

[aquart]

12. Cornyn? Hatch? Those kind of senators?

[undeterred]

6. Bill Clinton's enormous network of contacts

should be used for good, and in this situation they certainly were. He accomplished something nobody else could have. The right just doesn't understand the schmoozing plus diplomacy method of getting things done, and it irritates them that its so successful. Bush's ego was too big to let another president help him out- he couldn't even ask his own father's advice.

[aquart]

13. They understand it.

They don't understand it being used to help non-billionaires.

[strategery blunder]

7. Yeah, this is the same with any politician.

Nearly any senator (save a small few) could have called up GE, or Merck, or United Health, or any number of other legalized bribery organizations, to secure transportation for such a trip.

Yet another hit piece that singles out the Clintons for 1)stuff that any DC insider has access to, and 2)adds vague innuendo about "oooh teh ebil corrupt Democrats!" :eyes:

I normally don't defend the Clintons, but I know a hit piece when I see one.

[wroberts189]

8. However it happened.. I am thankful two young women were saved from the gulag.

And while I have a *few* issues with Bill ..I sincerely thank him and everyone else involved for it.

Even North Korea... who may to everyone's amazement start showing some sanity like they did here. ..hopefully

[napi21]

9. It's obvious the Pubs are pissed that the Big Dog is still loved by

many around the world, and Shrub is still hated!

I doubt anyone else could have pulled off this rescue, and I admire and respect BC for doing so.

[KT2000]

15. Hey Kessler!

Evan Bayh has a web of of contacts that roubles me - his wife is on the board of 8 friggin' health companies and he is one of the senators holding up progress in health reform.