John Kerry sets a pick on Dennis Rodman

[kpete]

Source: Politico

Secretary of State John Kerry - who’s 6’ 4” tall - could hold his own against former NBA great Dennis Rodman better than your average diplomat.

But Kerry says he would prefer that Rodman — who recently took a trip to North Korea and asked President Barack Obama to call that country’s dictator, Kim Jong Un — stay on the bench.

“You know what?” Kerry said in an interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell. “Dennis Rodman was a great basketball player, and as a diplomat, he was a great basketball player. And that’s where we’ll leave it.”
(PHOTOS: Dennis Rodman, Kim Jong Un in North Korea)

The flamboyant onetime NBA star - who has come under fire for the visit and calling Kim his “friend” - has defended his trip to the hermetic and impoverished nation by saying he was “not apologizing” for the dictator,




Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/john-kerry-sets-a-pick-on-rodman-88421.html#ixzz2MgAkbuWp

[bamacrat]

1. I get this and all, but shouldn't we use what we can?

I mean if we have no intentions of ever trying to bring NK into this century then fine, sanction them into oblivion. But, if we really want to help their people and open a dialogue that can lead to disarmament or just peaceful relations, why not use whatever tool we have? Kim Jong Un is, like his father, a bit erratic but likes basketball. Who knew? World leaders meeting can cause tension and other wise unproductive press. A light hearted approach can ease peoples guard and maybe help them listen and think. Just a thought.

[Laurian]

2. No! We'll have every attention seeking, dimwitted celebrity out on

"diplomatic missions". I could give a shit about Kim Kardashian's thoughts on world peace.....

[bamacrat]

7. Very valid point. n/t

[karynnj]

3. The question is whether Rodman was used by NK

As Kerry said (in the CNN article), if NK wants to show they are interested in joining the world, they should not test missiles. Note that he did not condemn Rodman for going to NK - which some in his position would have done.

I agree that we should use every tool we have - and Obama has approved both Bill Clinton and Richardson going there and meeting with him. In other places, Kerry has praised the serious efforts of non diplomats - George Clooney and Ben Afflect - both of whom testified at different times before the SFRC on their observations in Sudan and other places in Africa.

Did you see the Rodman interview? It was pretty much useless. His observations boiled down to - he is young, 28 years old (duh!), likes basketball (already known) and is a "good guy" and he wants Obama to call him. The latter will likely NOT happen until US diplomats have some faith that it could help, but Obama (and Kerry) have been much more willing to speak to people designated foes than any other modern leaders. It is not clear where there is an opening created by Rodman here.

[adieu]

4. A better person to have gone

would be Rodman's teammate at one time, Michael Jordan. I think Jordan would have been a great ambassador.

[TwilightGardener]

5. I don't know what "sets a pick" means, but Kerry rightly need to discourage

this kind of dangerous foolishness.

[bluedigger]

11. It basically means to cut off another player's progress. n/t

[global1]

6. I Don't Know Where DU'ers Here Line Up On Rodman But.....

I kind of agree with Rodman. Granted North Korea is a bad place with it's Human Rights violations and nuclear weapons threats - but - is this Kim Jong-Un like his daddy - Kim Jong-Il - or is there a chance that Un can change things if he gets the right signals from the U.S.?

My feeling - I'll take any potential breakthrough I could get to have an in with N.Korea to promote efforts to get things to change in N. Korea. If it takes a Dennis Rodman and Basketball to do that - so be it.

What is the big deal for President Obama to give Kim Jong-Un a call and talk basketball with him? Who knows it might lead to additional talks with him and some legitimate negotiations and perhaps a peaceful solution with him. Maybe Basketball is the connection that can do it. And just maybe it took a Dennis Rodman to break the ice.

I know Dennis Rodman has been a colorful character throughout his career. But given what I saw in the press about Rodman's trip - it looks like he conducted himself quite well. So what if Rodman thinks of Un as a friend or that he hugged the guy. It might just be the breakthru thing that could get N.Korea to change.

Let me pose another question here. If it was Michael Jordan that went to N. Korea instead of Dennis Rodman. And if Jordan came back and said the same thing about the President should give Un a call - would the press and people think differently?

Is the problem here Rodman or North Korea or just egos here in the U.S.?

[Arkana]

8. If Kim Jr. wanted to change things he could simply change them.

I don't know why he needs us giving him an approving nod.

[global1]

9. Maybe This Was Un's Way Of Giving Us An Approving Nod......

again - I'm for taking any sign to get things going there and making peace with that part of the world.

[karynnj]

10. If so, why the missile tests at the same time?

[MynameisBlarney]

13. He may have an entrenched

military apparatus that is slow to accept change and think that anything other than what they are doing would show weakness.

[Mass]

12. In his TV interview, Rodman said North Korea and the US were the same when it came to human rights.

Really, you think this guy is well suited for this?

I dont know, but I doubt Michael Jordan would say the same thing? Do you think he would be that stupid? Because, for all you can say of what is wrong in the US, civil rights are a lot better here.

[jaysunb]

14. I agree w/ Rodman

Jordan has no more credibility than Rodman. With 2.5 million people incarcerated here, many may conclude the same thing.

I remember ping pong diplomacy AND all the cries of foul when Jesse Jackson was speaking to and getting results from governments considered hostile to the US. Seems to me it's just a bunch of BS because of who's getting something done.

[RZM]

17. Those who 'conclude the same thing' have no idea what they are talking about

Just because it's an opinion doesn't mean it needs to be given any weight.

[RZM]

16. Obama: 'Yo Kim, how about those Brooklyn Nets?'

'By the way, your regime fucking sucks.' (click)

I heard bits and pieces of an interview Rodman gave the BBC the other day and it was mostly semi-coherent babble. I do think that Rodman means well. But it was a wrong guy, wrong place, wrong time situation, IMO.

[jaysunb]

18. Who the fuck are you to decide who, what and where is wrong ?

You and others with this attitude are more of the problem than people actually trying to help solve issues that amount to no more than school yard politics...mostly practiced by bullies and insecure cheerleaders.

[They_Live]

15. What kind of pick

did he set on him? Toothpick? Where did he set it? On his head? Hand?

[defacto7]

19. I still do not believe

Kim Jong Un runs that country. The actions of the state vs. his personality and the basic psychology of it all just seems wrong. There's something strange about the powers in play in NK and I would not be surprised if he is just a front for the military.

[geek tragedy]

20. At the point of stating the obvious, if Lil Kim were serious about changing

his country's trajectory, standing in the international community, and relationship with the US, he would probably call the PM of China or South Korea, not Dennis Rodman.