What do you make of this?

[wisteria]

"John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who was the Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 and former U.S. vice president Al Gore, the founder of the TV station the two reporters work for are being mentioned as possible special envoys to Pyongyang, other sources said."





http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/07/20/2009072000239.html

[karynnj]

1. I had heard Gore before

likely because he clearly has the gravitas and he is the founder of the tv station. I also heard Richardson.

Speculation about Kerry makes no sense. They say that the next 3 weeks are important - and the Senate is in session with important things to do. His vote and voice may be needed for healthcare and then climate change. To justify not being there, the case would have to be made that he is uniquely better here and that opening relations further with NK is the real goal, not just releasing the 2 women. It would make sense if he were designated a special envoy to head a delegation to Copenhagen, although he has gone to all of the others because he is a Senator. There you can argue that he is uniquely qualified because he has been involved on this for decades and it is more important.

Why not send the SoS? The answer would be that special envoys are needed to keep this from consuming her time. I suspect that Kerry might be, if anything, busier with his job.

[wisteria]

2. Yes, my thought was the SoS should be involved in this and I honestly thought she was at one point.

And, what you state about Senator Kerry's senate schedule is an important consideration. There are very pressing issues still unfinished that need his attention and vote.

[TayTay]

3. That would make for a very busy August vacation

so much for the staycation with the Obama's on the Cape. Sigh!

Seriously, it sounds like a good idea.