How does this happen? Why on earth did this guy have to be in N. Korea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no patience for this sort of thing. When you go to another country, you follow their rules. End of story. Does not matter if you think they are stupid, wrong, a joke, or that you are somehow special because you have a US passport. You follow the rules. In North Korea, that means not putting a toe out of line, bowing to statues, pretending you believe their lies, and doing exactly what your guide tells you and nothing else. It is not a secret what will happen if you don't. Don't like it or don't want to? Stay home. I'm sure the charges here were ridiculously trumped up, but this kid probably did do something to provoke them, like try to steal a souvenir, because he's an idiot. Now we have to waste resources and political capital trying to get this moron out of the mess he put himself in.

It is quite possible to visit North Korea, see their tourist traps, and leave again without winding up in a gulag. Plenty of people do it. I don't think going there as Joe Tourist is stupid as long as you behave and know what you're getting into and what could go wrong. But seeing if you can be the "brave" idiot to sneak in a Bible or borrow a propaganda poster or spit on a Kim Il Sung statue? Stay home and grow up.

He tried to steal a propaganda poster as a souvenir. You are correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And yet you expect a Delta Force extraction for Americans jailed for bringing guns into Mexico.

When did Eric Holder get arrested?

[Anonymous]

The North Koreans claim he stole a propaganda poster. Do we really believe everything they say? His "admission" was clearly obtained under duress. He is apparently a very nice kid.

[Anonymous]

American Citizens should not be going to Saudia Arabia, the leading muslim terrorist organization, also. We will be putting a wall around this muslim parasite in the next few years.

A court in Saudi Arabia has handed down a guilty verdict in the case of a professed atheist accused of posting hundreds of tweets denying God’s existence and criticizing religion.
His sentence: a decade in prison, a fine and a flogging.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/saudi-court-sentences-man-to-10-years-2000-lashes-for-atheist-tweets/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am tired of this. There is no economics project that requires anyone to be in N. Korea.
The same goes for the ones who just had to go hiking on the Syria Iran border, and Mr Weinstein in Pakistan, Alan Gross in Cuba.
WHAT are these fools thinking.
I know that everyone wants to do something crazy to discuss at parties and distinguish themselves, but please.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/uva-student-held-in-north-korea-confesses-to-severe-crimes/2016/02/29/b561da4b-4dbd-4819-94da-9907fcc472a2_story.html?hpid=hp_local-news_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Are you being deliberately obtuse, OP ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The North Koreans claim he stole a propaganda poster. Do we really believe everything they say? His "admission" was clearly obtained under duress. He is apparently a very nice kid.

I'm not sure I believe anything he confessed about WHY he did it or how the crime was characterized, "conniving" to disrupt the North Korean people's love of their state on the instructions of a nefarious church plot or whatever it was they had him say. But a college-aged kid swiping what he probably thought was a nutty sign from a hotel? Yeah, that sounds about right. He was just too stupid to think about how that would look and consider that he was NOT in America and it wasn't like taking a hand towel and the free toiletries from the Holiday Inn bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is a UVa kid so... Enough said.

I have no idea what you are trying to say. Explanation, please.

[Anonymous]

and the actor that played Dukey Howser, MD got the role to play for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is a UVa kid so... Enough said.

I have no idea what you are trying to say. Explanation, please.

So you're UVa too huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is a UVa kid so... Enough said.

I have no idea what you are trying to say. Explanation, please.

So you're UVa too huh?

NP. You are a mean, disgusting person, PP. Imagine how this boy's family and friends are feeling right now, and yet what you choose to focus upon--and post--is some pathetic, mean-spirited stereotype your feeble mind insists upon dredging up?

You are gross.

[Anonymous]

I'm actually convinced these people are all spies. Or complete morons. There is no reason to visit any of these places unless you're an intelligence officer. Same with Iran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually convinced these people are all spies. Or complete morons. There is no reason to visit any of these places unless you're an intelligence officer. Same with Iran.

+1
Or at least having enough ties to people and places for despotically ruled cogs to assume so. Still - I'd never want to be in a NK jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is a UVa kid so... Enough said.

I have no idea what you are trying to say. Explanation, please.

So you're UVa too huh?

NP. You are a mean, disgusting person, PP. Imagine how this boy's family and friends are feeling right now, and yet what you choose to focus upon--and post--is some pathetic, mean-spirited stereotype your feeble mind insists upon dredging up?

You are gross.

Too soon?

[Anonymous]

I think many people in our country truly do not understand freedom. They really don’t get the idea that in other countries, people are not free. They are not free to speak their minds. They are not free to worship as they wish. They are not free to write what they want. And, punishment for breaking ANY law is severe. Yes, they are told about how people are treated in some of these countries ruled by tyrants, but they think because they are Americans, their freedom follows them.

I have my doubts that this student did what he is accused of. His crime was being an American.

[Anonymous]

Why does the USA issue passports for people to go to these countries?