Clinton Saved Journalists, Sister Says

(CBS)  The sister of an American journalist released from captivity in North Korea this week dismissed criticism that former President Bill Clinton's trip to the Communist nation engaged a government considered hostile to the U.S. and said his mission was only to free the two reporters.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee were pardoned by North Korea after being convicted and sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp for entering the country illegally.

Clinton arrived in North Korea earlier this week and returned with the two women Wednesday.

"If Bill Clinton had not gone over there, Laura and Euna would still be there," Lisa Ling, Laura's sister, told CBS' "The Early Show" Friday, adding that Clinton spent less than a day in North Korea and that his goal was "solely" to win the release of the journalists.

At an event in New York Thursday, Clinton said: "My job was to do one thing, which I was profoundly honored to do as an American and as a father," Clinton said. "I wanted those young women to be able to come home. And I wanted our two countries to have the ability to decide where to go from here."

As for her sister's return, Ling said her and her family "have all just spent two of the best days of our lives."

Ling added that Laura's stories so far about her time in captivity have been "fascinating," and that she is eager to talk more in the coming days.

Lisa Ling told CNN Thursday that her sister and Lee briefly walked on North Korean soil before being captured and detained for months in that communist country.

"She said that it was maybe 30 seconds and then everything got chaotic. It's a very powerful story, and she does want to share it," Lisa Ling said.

[johnQ2009]

Let this be a lesson to liberal so called journalist who do foolish things, like freelancing on the borders of the enemy where there is no U.S. military or Allie army to support You. How dumb and stupid was that? Only crazy liberals do this sort of crazt stuff! That's like going near the camp of the taliban to interview their women because i could make a name for myself and a huge money making article! Now these two niave women and sore Loser Al gore have placed our country in situation where we now have to pulled back on a dictator who wish to destroy us and the world. Now the Bomb is good as done! Thanks to these two niave asian women!

[cameraphone]

Bill Clinton - PLEASE free me from these Comments!

[brianp55]

Well, let's be honest about this...ok? It's true that the NKs pardoned and released the two women in response to Bill Clinton's visit. However, it's not as if they pulled them out of a dungeon or gulag where they were in the midst of pounding rocks with sledge hammers. Rather, they were staying in a guest house...probably not too different than a bed-and-breakfast and would have remained there until the US made some other concession, or some other US dignitary visited NK and gave them an excuse for relinquishing these two women. I seriously doubt that Bill's diplomacy or negotiating skill had much, if anything to do with their actual release.

[Joe_NY_15]

by brianp55 August 7, 2009 1:45 PM EDT

Yesterday, they said the two were forced to eat rice and rocks...talk about staying crispy...so I doubt there is anything pleasant in the communist Gulag of a country.

[brianp55]

Yes, they no doubt suffered mightily and never did they retreat from their altruistic devotion to the pursuit of journalistic truth. Strange, they appear remarkably fit and well-fed.

[maistir]

The reporters went to do a story on human traffic between China and North Korea. That was a political story. Kim's NK took the reporters hostage. That was political move on his part. Kim required an ex-president to come hat in hand to plead for the release of the journalists. That was political manipulation.

Lisa Ling is perhaps blinded by personal emotion, if she does not see the political nature of these events. That is a charitable interpretation. The less charitable interpretation is that she is someone who ought not to be commenting on the news simply because she reads it on camera. Her sister and Euna Lee owe this country not only thanks, but an apology (like the "hikers" in Iraqi Kurdistan)for their carelessness. I have yet to hear even a shred of "We weren't cautious enough".

[ReallyMeanIt]

This event makes us want to vote for the GOP more now than ever.
obama doesn't get any respect from any of these 2-bit thugs.
Dictators now do whatever they want without worrying about the consequences because they viewed barrack as weak.
If obama thinks the world doesn't respects us before, now it's worst under his watch.

[zonkzilla]

Don't get upset. The neo nazi fascist Republicans will do or say anything to "make Obama fail" or to trash anything good that happens while Obama is President.
Normal patriotic Americans who are not neo nazi fascists do not believe or support the Limbaugh/Hannity/Beck propaganda and lies and ramblings of the fascists and we are very happy our fellow Americans are home safe with their families.
Thank you to Bill Clinton, President Obama, and everyone else who helped get my fellow Americans home unlike the fascists who did everything to make sure the trip failed.

[erasmus111]

by CBS_censors_you August 7, 2009 10:47 AM EDT

Hmmmm had these two "reporters" for AL GORE not gone over there in the 1st place with they would not have needed to be freed by Slick Willy to begin with anyone ever think of that? Where is the scolding of Al Gore for sending them into the area?


That's right they shouldn't have been there. We of course know that they were working for Al Gore, but we don't know that he actually sent them into North Korea. And they had a choice. They didn't HAVE to go. Only a brain dead twit would enter a country run by a lunatic.

[erasmus111]

"And I wanted our two countries to have the ability to decide where to go from here."


Exactly. With those two women being held, the U.S. couldn't deal with North Korea properly.

[azure13]

Republicans are done. They just can't seem to learn. Amazing!

I am an independent and have voted Republican many times. But after the last year or so, I will never vote Republican EVER again.

All I can say is wow. The GOP has become completely clueless. It's sad, because we really need them to be viable in order to keep the two part system working...

[antoniof123]

Well, I can see the Republicans losing the aisan vote now too. They have to be dumber than dirt and I say dumber because I do not want to insult dirt.

[ReallyMeanIt]

antonio123, don't who are the aisan that you're talking about but the asian that we know thinks because obama is a wuss, kim jun il have no fear of any consequences from his action and did what he did.
Why do dumb people always think others are worst off then them?