Welcome Back Laura and Euna

we haven't bargained terrorists before
im sorry but Ragen gave the the Iranians
weapons and in the 80's we talked to Sadom
and gave them weapons and we bargained
to free people in North Korea before in the 90's
you need to read up on your history.

Macfan,

We haven't bargained in the last 10 years+ Daniel Pearl was on our television and no one bargained for him. Same story, he was a journalist found in the wrong area.

first you say never before
then you say last 10 years
make up your mind

Someone who fights for the truth, no matter what the risk. We wouldn't have a lot of information that we've obtained without courageous journalists willing to do what it takes. Are you calling Walter Cronkite a moron? He was a pioneer in risking himself to expose the atrocities that were happening. Current didn't send them to danger ,nor do they need to be more careful. Those journalists understood the risk. It was FORTUNATE that their boss is who he is. Otherwise they'd be a few more casualties in the the fight to expose the corrupt. I guess you'd rather have the news dumbed down, and the rest of the free world remain ignorant/apathetic?

What an asshole. Seriously. "You don't give a rogue state the ability to rehabilitate it's global image just to get two reporters home."

What a total lack of empathy for this very human situation. Moreover, I highly doubt this event has come anywhere near to rehabilitating North Korea's global image, not in the slightest. The DPRK has got a lot of human's rights violations to overcome before that can happen.

Yes we are glad these women are home.

But do you believe the ladies used good judgement? And The company used good judgement? And Al Gore was a hero.

Bad North Korea. Hooray America!

We would have never had to deal with this problem if people used intelligence and simple common sense. These women did not belong over there. The story of human trafficking was not worth these reporters lives. It's a story that has been done over and over. Respect for other countries and their rules is needed by journalists. Companies caring about their employees, rather than "just trying to get a story" is also needed.

Your probably right hwelsh..I do have a mental problem and I have suffered it for years. It's called the truth!
queenoftheclick knows what I'm talking about.
Besides! Don't you know who I am? I'm Johnny Horizon! a symbol that stands for the thoughtful user of our environment.

Reporters have to follow the most important stories for their livelihoods.

Your argument is a contradiction in itself. However, your ignorance IS forgivable. You can't help being a knuckle-dragger.

If you really think that this changes things as far as US negotiations with North Korea go, you're sadly mistaken. This incident has nothing to do with nuclear power, nor the current administration. To say the very least, it would be a stretch for North Korea to think they could say, "You owe us one because of this." As you may or may not have noticed, Bill Clinton isn't president anymore. He doesn't hold the political leverage you people seem to think he does.

Wow. You must not have done your research paper on our foreign relations with North Korea. Miss that day of school? The fact that we were even able to negotiate with them-about ANYTHING is nothing short of a miracle. It also shows the vast difference between the Bush and Clinton administrations abilities to reach out and at least TRY for peace. One made ties, the other made enemies. If N.K wants to make WMD's-they will anyway-regardless. They are too little in the grand scheme of things to use these women as bargaining chips. At the most they were promised aid & relief. Sorry to disappoint you. Doesn't take a psychologist to get the big picture on that one.

Ya, it does SUK, To bad they're complete moronic idiots who put themselves and a Nation in such a thoughtless position.

Absolutely!

Laura Ling and Euna Lee are professional journalists who made a mistake. You weren't in their shoes, you can't judge them. I have a feeling a lot of people are hyper-critical of these journalists completely because of the Goreness and Clintoness of this situation.

Your grammar is pathetic, and undermines your credibility as someone who is qualified to make any kind of statement about these two individuals. You need to re-examine the issue. The problem isn't that these two violated border laws (God knows ours are violated constantly w/little repercussion). The problem is this is the only way we ever get the real truth. How the hell do you think you obtain the rest of the information you base your senseless opinions off of?

You would do well to learn that if you ever want to be close to the truth, you have to submerge yourself-entirely. That requires some risk. If journalists didn't take risks, we wouldn't have these "breaking news" stories you lemmings cling so desperately to each night. Do you actually believe ANY of the material you watch on your daily news was procured without some sort of deceit?! Get over yourself.The day we stop fighting for the truth is the day we deserve to stop having it. Make no mistake-journalism is a fight for the truth, and they were prisoners of war. Don't blame them- blame the powers that be, such as corrupt government regimes that impose harsh penalties over something minor. Last time I checked our own border laws weren't so harsh. Perhaps you've been afforded the pleasure of freedom and ignorance far too long. Enjoy being a sheep. Ignorance is bliss ...

Feldspar,

Don't get me started on how the US SHOULD be watching our borders. I'm a NY'er and if you did a survey here, most NY'ers would say our borders need a lot more strengthening. We are aware of North Korea and it's corrupt government regimes that impose harsh penalties. Why were Ling and Lee so reckless?

Journalism is reporting on fresh stories. When I came here I wasn't sure of the story the girls were reporting on. Current users informed me that it was on human trafficking. That's not a new story for anyone. Why did Current send these women to do an overdone story? Laura Ling's sister, Lisa already did the story on trafficking.

Did you really want us to blame North Korea and Kim Jong-il because these women underestimated North Korea's military? These women were not prisoners of war, they were prisoners because they committed a crime. If you search the web, you will also find that they admitted to committing the crime. Many Americans were upset that they were going to be sent a labor camp. Americans are used to letting our prisons relax in jail. Laws of countries have been established, may these women's naive actions serve as a reminder for other journalists.

Absolutely - well said.

I disagree with your critique, the Current journalists, especially with Vanguard, report in an interesting way that helps the viewer relate to the human beings living in these situations. Their experience, what they observed, is important to the reporting. It may not be your style or your preference, that doesn't make it "immature" or self-absorbed the way you have described it.

I disagree as well. Yes, sometimes it gets a little personal, but you are going to have that with any journalistic documentary. I have yet to see anyone do a better job than the vanguard team. I consider them some of the top journalists. Look at Mogadishu Madness or America's Secret War with Iran. You card stack by overlooking all of their amazing documentaries by providing in your argument one of the very few lesser specials.

No offense, but I would like to know what your definition of a qualified journalist is. True journalism can be dangerous.

There are plenty of qualified journalists. C'mon we have seen amazing documentaries made over the year. I'm questioning regular human qualities - intelligence and common sense. We know North Korea and we know their rules, we expect our journalists to respect the laws of another country.

Too bad you can't say what you just said to the late, great Walter Cronkite. Journalism-REAL journalism has always been dangerous for those doing REAL reporting. You must not recall the days of pioneer journalism. Our media today is dumbed down because of the brutality of what brave people like Mr.Cronkite have uncovered in the past. Brutality that would have otherwise gone unnoticed had it not been for free press, speech, and some daring effort on the part of the journalist. Laura, and Euna should be honored for their effort in trying to restore some legitimacy, and integrity to the current media.

Feldspar,

Cronkite was a pioneer. These ladies were there to report on a story which has been done over and over.

There is no honor in what they did. There actions were naive and arrogant and we have a right to expect more from our reporters.

Remember, we're talking North Korea here. Many South Korean witnesses claimed Laura and Euna never crossed the border when the border patrol picked them up. Unless this was cleared up at a later date that I am unaware of...