Life is not always a bed of roses

I am still around

Congrats to Chelsea Clinton and her fiance Marc Mezvinsky! Chelsea and Marc The way they send the news was cute. Shame on Tiger but he and his wife deserve privacy even though he’s a celebrity he and his family deserve privacy . Elin hopefully will stay strong despite all of these different women coming out of the woodwork. I’m sure she’s going through so many different emotions.  Very Happy Reese and Jake are still a couple Reese and Jake are still couple. Thats my roundup of news for the week.

Bill Clinton Meets North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Il to Discuss Detained Journalists - ABC News

I hope and pray Laura Ling and Euna Lee will return to the United States tomorrow safely. I am glad former President Clinton was able to go to North Korea. Laura Ling is the sister to journalist Lisa Ling and was detained last month with follow journalist Eunna Lee. More about Clinton trip to Korea :

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with detained journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee in North Korea today in what was a very emotional meeting, a government source told ABC News.

The source, who has knowledge of the Clinton team's mission, was hopeful that the two will leave North Korea tonight for the United States, possibly even on the same plane as Clinton.

Earlier Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in a surprise trip to the country,aimed at negotiating the release of the two journalists, who were arrested after straying into the country while they were reporting on the Chinese-North Korean border. They were later convicted and sentenced to 12 years hard labor.

The White House today had little to say about the former president's visit except to stress that this is a "private mission."

"It's a little sensitive," said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "We will have more to say on this hopefully later on."

Gibbs denied reports by North Korea's state media that Clinton carried a message from President Obama to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. The Korean Central News Agency said that Clinton 'courteously' conveyed a verbal message from Obama, and that Kim expressed thanks and engaged in "sincere talks" with Clinton. The defense ministry hosted a banquet at the state VIP house for the former president, according to North Korea's state media.

"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," Gibbs said in a statement released earlier toady.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, en route to Africa on a state trip, would not comment until her husband's mission was complete, a senior U.S. official told reporters.

Clinton arrived in Pyongyang early today in a specially chartered, unmarked jet. He was greeted warmly by a young girl bearing flowers and top North Korean officials, including chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kyegwan.

Sources told ABC News that Clinton's trip, while a surprise to some, was planned weeks ago and that it was former Vice President Al Gore who asked Clinton to go. Clinton was accompanied by his former Chief of Staff, John Podesta, who officials said was also involved in the planning.

A senior U.S. official told ABC News that "while mission is in progress, we will have no comment. Our interest is the safe return of the journalists."

 

Clinton's trip fulfills one of North Korea's two demands -- a visit from a high-profile emissary. As former president and husband of the current secretary of state, there could be few people of higher profile, and Gore founded Current TV, where the two journalists worked.

North Korea's second demand -- an apology -- was fulfilled by Hillary Clinton just a few weeks ago.

"The young women themselves have, apparently, admitted that they probably did trespass, so they are deeply regretful and we are very sorry it's happened," the former first lady said in an interview with ABC News last month. "Our most important goal is to make sure they get home safe."

Hillary Clinton's words were a clear departure from the administration's early rhetoric, and she also acknowledged that the State Department changed its approach in trying to free the two journalists. In June, she told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that the charges against Lee and Ling were "absolutely without merit or foundation."

One thing about Clinton's trip is clear: He would not have gone to North Korea unless he was certain he would be coming back with the two journalists.

More about President Clinton trip to Korea with a video can seen by hitting the link below.

Bill Clinton Meets North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Il to Discuss Detained Journalists - ABC News

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