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Is Bill Clinton a hero?
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Former President Bill Clinton travelled to North Korea recently to negotiate the release of two American journalists who had been accused of entering the country illegally and conducting a smear compaign. They had even been sentenced to twelve years hard labor although the North Korean government did offer amnesty if the United States were to send a high ranking envoy to Pyongyang, such as Bill Clinton.
To me, this sounds like a political hostage situation and if I were Bill Clinton I would have to be wondering if the Koreans didn't have some kind of hidden agenda by requesting his presence. Perhaps President Clinton himself was a target for something sinister. But two American lives were at stake. What would he do?
When I think of Bill Clinton, the word 'courage' is not the first word to come to mind.
Mostly, I recall the two major incidents of genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia that President Clinton did everything he could to avoid committing grounds troops to help the tens of thousands of civilians who were displaced, starving, and being murdered. When I think of just causes for war, stopping genocide certainly stands out as one of them. I think Americans would have been supportive of military actions in both cases with a clear moral objective. Certainly more so then the current war in Iraq. History teaches us that you can not leave such acts of genocide unchecked. And then again in Somalia Clinton fails to act decisively when the Delta Ranger misson actually sustains casualties, he pulls everyone out the next week. What did he think all those people with assault rifles were going to do? You can't count on a gun to diffuse an argument, only to escalate it. And last but not least how can we forget the Monica Lewinsky scandal? Lying to avoid impeachment is not courageous at all.
When Clinton's term was up, I was anxious to get a more conservative and decisive leader in office who wasn't afraid to do the right thing. Now I can say that my thoughts are changed on the man. When Hillary ran for president last year I saw a man who was genuinely supportive of this wife. Despite his heart surgery he stayed involved in politics on the fringe, working as the U.N Special Envoy for Tsunami relief in Asia and making other contributions and appearances.
Now I think Clinton has finally shown us all that he does care about America. Think of all the years of stress and pressure being the president and when it's over you would think he would never want to go back to that life again. And now, when he's asked with very little notice to step up and travel to a country once labeled as part of the 'axis of evil' he doesn't hesitate to do the right thing when American lives are at stake.
Perhaps I am a little naive about politics as some may think what President Clinton did is par for the course these days but I think he could have easilly said no thank you. But he didn't. And I find it quite ironic that this most selfless, courageous act on behalf of our president comes at a time when he isn't president at all.
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