Dennis Rodman I Helped Kenneth Bae Get Released ... Here's the Proof
Source: TMZ
Dennis Rodman says he played a crucial role in bringing imprisoned American Kenneth Bae back home from North Korea ... because he begged Kim Jong Un for the guy's release -- and he's got proof.
Rodman tells TMZ ... he sent a letter to the dictator back in January after returning home from the DPRK ... pleading with Un to let Bae return home so the Worm could go back to North Korea without getting bashed.
In the letter, Dennis states, "I understand the crimes [Bae] committed, and ask you my dear friend, the highly respected Marshall Kim Jong Un for his release to show my country how loving and compassionate you and the DPRK can be."
Rodman continues, "I ask for your mercy to prisoner Kenneth Bae and would be eternally grateful for his safe return and make a big step towards bridging the gap between our two nations."
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/11/08/dennis-rodman-kenneth-bae-kim-jong-un-release-proof-letter-north-korea/#ixzz3IXQTSXih
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/11/08/dennis-rodman-kenneth-bae-kim-jong-un-release-proof-letter-north-korea/
Orrex
(63,084 posts)Chakab
(1,727 posts)when it came out.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)volunteering with the CIA to test new torture technics?
Chakab
(1,727 posts)I agreed to go after he said that he'd buy me a ticket, a six pack and smoke few joints with me.
I said "yes" because I got to party for free that night, and I lived within walking distance of the theater.
Hulk
(6,699 posts)Might or might not be right. Fact is isolation and threats get you no where. Dialogue and diplomacy do pay dividends. I don't doubt Rodman. Why else would N. Korea give these crazy crackers back? And by the way, can we make a law that when these evangelical martyrs want to sacrifice themselves by jumping into the loving arms of N. Korea, can we just let them be forgotten? As far as I'm concerned, they asked for it! The damn ignorant fools.
I would have disagreed with you on all of that. But now, I'm right there with you. Rodman is at least trying to keep dialog open with those crazy bastards. An isolated nuclear power with no friends has nothing to lose. Maybe we can find a way of warming relations. Rodman can't make policy. He can't give concessions in negotiations. But he can keep them talking.
And, yes, those people that keep going over there thinking they are going to change anything by trying to slip under the radar are seriously deluded. Nothing happens there that isn't approved by Dear Leader. There isn't going to be a general uprising. It's just not going to happen.
Exultant Democracy
(6,594 posts)I would guess no better then 1 out of 5 because they tend to be so tight lipped, but it really could happen. Praising Rodman is a great way to make the West look like assholes in a way.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Why anyone would believe them or Dennis Rodman? Anyone who does is a fool.
DAMANgoldberg
(1,278 posts)"davidpdx",
However, TMZ (Thirty Mile Zone) is operated by a lawyer, Harvey Levin, and he knows better than to put anything on air that isn't factually correct and legally sound.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)They have run with BS on a regular basis (see the current "point shaving scandal" article based on some idiot's blog post).
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I wouldn't put it beneath him if Rodman slipped him a little cash for some PR.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)If he did, it isn't difficult to believe. The NK dictator is a big fan of the 90's Bulls so it isn't hard to see one of their star players having influence on him. VICE was trying to figure out a way into the country to report on the living conditions so they figured a "basketball diplomacy" featuring a 90's Bulls players would be their way into the country. Rodman was the first 90's Bulls player to agree.
Rodman is one of the handful of Americans to personally meet him that also has an unprecedented level of personal access no other American has experienced and a lot of that relates to his fandom. Rodman has received a lot of flak and a lot relates to Kenneth Bae including TMZ following Rodman on the streets. "pleading with Un to let Bae return home so the Worm could go back to North Korea without getting bashed." Sounds entirely accurate and speaks to true motivation behind Rodman having a crucial role behind his release.
If Bae was released, I honestly don't see any other possibility.
One of the ways Michael Jordan deciding to pick up a basketball changed the world.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)that is Dennis Rodman. We DID actually send a high level official to North Korea before the release as we have before, prior to the release of Americans that were being held. I guess it is a choice of believing a worm, there is the logic of the situation.
(and yes I did see the Vice episode with Rodman in North Korea. I also happen to live 26 km from the DMZ and follow what goes on pretty carefully)
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Even little ones like the CNN reporter in the obvious drunk Rodman interview. The interviewer said that "North Korea hasn't released any charges" and "they won't tell us why he is being held" which isn't factually correct. The reported charges which never were a secret were planning to overthrow the government. Rodman knowing this a little too loudly then intended whispered "I got him" but he was too drunk to debunk the point head-on he went with "do you have any idea what he's done?". Whether he is actually guilty is another matter but someone actually wanting to and planing to overthrow NK's regime wouldn't surprise me considering what little of the evidence reported was he smuggled anti-North Korea propaganda. My point there was Rodman received criticism implying that Bae may actually be guilty but the only one I know of that pointed the CNN reporter's error was someone very familiar with North Korea who was asked to commented on because of his knowledge of what it takes to visit the country. For example, visitors have to pay their own way so most trips feature sponsors "Paddy Power" for Rodman and a lot of them hide their involvement for obvious reasons or release a "honor contracts we already agreed to" statement when criticism mounts.
Based on the facts available, there is a whole lot I don't know about North Korea. But consider the timing of Rodman's friendship. If you notice on the VICE episode was banners, parades, and constant reminders of North Korea celebrating the launch of the third Nuclear test. This was also the same time of the Bae conviction where they also released statements indicating they refuse to and had no plans to. Basically Dennis Rodman suddenly experienced a surprisingly level of contact for a leader & country noted for its isolation when Bill Richardson and Jimmy Carter reached dead ends. Things changed to where they even backed off the nuclear showmanship. If they suddenly feel pressure is very possible but to me they seem very safe from the US as they have very inconsistent relationships with human rights violators and war with North Korea seems like something the US would prefer to avoid.
The reason why I emphasized what I did in my post is that VICE could not think of any other way into the country except a 90s Bulls player, I do wish a different Bull agreed to before Rodman but considering his reported fandom, it speaks to the issue considering that it worked.
One other thing that would help and I think did which I wouldn't recommend. Rodman is so non-judgmental to the point that what matters what Jung-Un does is on a personal level. The other stuff he dismisses as politics and he does have a point in the US doing much of the same things -- http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/04/20/299318/us-backs-allies-human-rights-abuses/ North Korea takes it to a whole 'nother level.
I mean the propaganda and show, do they really believe anyone falls for it? I mean, you figure they do it because they don't want anyone to know what they do but it isn't a secret to the international media and the show is usually the first thing mentioned about North Korea. It actually comes across as very creepy.
Back to Rodman, he did make a point that I didn't consider that the reasons he is the way who he is has a lot to do with his father and grandfather which made me wonder how most of us would turn out in that family. Probably dead if not "the Marshall".
I do want to make sure to point out there is a whole lot I don't know such as what happens with Dennis Rodman right off the plane, what he means by "he wants to change". Dennis Rodman could tell us more than just about Kim Jung-Un than most Americans but the problem is Dennis Rodman. Like how is he not scared as hell to go over there but when you consider how often he has had public backlash in this country, probably the experience.
I'm not making my point about Rodman very well but more to my knowledge (or lack of very little what we do know) of North Korea which is fascinating. There is a whole lot of mystery but I do credit Rodman with opening the door of diplomatic relations but acknowledge he is probably being used (even if he wasn't, they will report whatever they want to in North Korea--such as Rodman being moved to tears, everyone is moved to tears that meets Kim--but has little affect if any on international media) in the same possibility Bae is being used.
When it comes to basic facts, all TMZ did here was simply report what Rodman said which is the same thing Time did (I'm sure using the TMZ story as the main source). If they lied about Rodman said (there certainly is an editorial slant to the story but not in Rodman's favor) so I'm careful not to make assumptions here, I'm not buying into myths though at-the-same time, there isn't a lot of hard evidence to say definitely one way or the other.
KG
(28,749 posts)zonkers
(5,865 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)I know I would be, presented with a similar situation.
undeterred
(34,658 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)In every sense of the word.
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)winner of the next Nobel Peace Prize.
pocoloco
(3,180 posts)Dennis don't do Drones!!
Vinca
(50,168 posts)Wonder what would happen if we sent him Miley Cyrus?
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I don't see any other possibility besides Rodman making that happened. He received so much shit from the media, among several asking him to get him to release Kenneth Bae which Rodman indicated he'd take them up on their offer.
laserhaas
(7,805 posts)Strange that a RWNJ and I were arguing over Rodman's heretofore efforts to get Korean BBall going.
I'm for giving Rodman as much credit, as I am for the leader for doing so.
AND
I think the haters who are gonna hate and ain'trs who're gonna ain't;
would still slap down this effort and result -
even if the Korean sent Rodman a letter saying
----------------------------------------------------------"You owe me one"!
bravenak
(34,648 posts)He is very close friends with Un.
Wash. state Desk Jet
(3,426 posts)and he should take those Palin's along with him. They need rehab.
dembotoz
(16,736 posts)that wants nukes and has a big army
Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)really ought to get their head checked.