Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two United States journalists arrested in North Korea as spys, have been sentenced to 12 years in a labor prison Monday. The two women, who were reporting the trafficking of women in North Korea, were working for Current TV - a media company led by former Vice President Al Gore. The North Korean court indicated the 12 year sentence, the maximum possible allowed by their laws, was intended to "reform through labor" Ling and Lee. There is no appeal available to the journalists as they were tried in North Korea's highest court, where decisions are final. In sentencing Ling and Lee to prison, Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, explained that North Korea had, "paved the way for a political pardon and a diplomatic solution".

Very little information has been forthcoming about the circumstances surrounding the women since their arrest on March 17 on the China - North Korean border. The trial was not open to the public or foreign observers, including the Swedish Embassy, which looks after American interests in the absence of diplomatic relations. Ian Kelly, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said the U.S. was "deeply concerned" about the sentences and the United States would "engage in all possible channels" to free the women. A spokeswoman for former V.P. Al Gore, Kalee Kreider said the vice president has no comment.

This comes just after President Obama announced that he would have to take "a very hard look" at the next steps the United States would take in reaction to North Korean missile testing. He continued, "I don't think there should be an assumption that we will simply continue down a path in which North Korea is constantly destabilizing the region and we continue to act in the same ways." It was in May of this year that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated that Kim Jong-il "continues to act in a provocative and belligerent manner toward it's neighbors." She went on to say, "There are consequences to such actions."

Apparently, Kim Jong-il isn't awfully impressed with the possibility of retaliation on the part of the United States. No wonder, really. Nearly three years ago, the first time North Korea tested a nuclear device, Kim learned first hand what world opposition to his tactics would bring. It came in an incredibly bold move at that time, through the United Nations. The decree was sent out: "No more cognac and caviar!". The global body slapped North Korea with a ban on luxury goods in the hopes that Pyongyang's top man would cave under the pressure of missing his lobster dinners (which he eats live, by the way). 

With the additional testing now going on, replete with missile launches (which I suppose is to show us that North Korea will no longer have to deliver their weapons of mass destruction via FedEx), the United Nations is looking to reinforce "immediately" (they'll show him) the ban on luxury goods once again. The North Korean leader is showing he is a determined force to be reckoned with, even at the cost of a good bottle of red wine. Kim's response to the latest round of threats from the international community? North Korea announced that it is no longer bound by the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War. This, in effect, is a declaration of war or, at least, the resumption of war. This can't be good news, except for perhaps Alan Alda who might get to reprise his roll on a reinvention of M.A.S.H. this fall.

I do believe (and pray) the two women convicted and sentenced will be returned sooner than later. It is unfortunate that they will become bargaining chips between our country and a mad man. We already have difficulty showing resolve and strength without two women being help up before the cameras to remind us of the potential cost of action. It simply seems we have become an impotent superpower in this age. The French ridicule us, the Germans refuse to help us close Guantanamo by taking even the least worrisome prisoners, the muslim nations despise us and we need China to prop up our economy.

Being about the last true superpower comes with a cost. It means there are those who will hate you out of spite or envy or jealousy. It comes with the territory. As long as we try to please everyone, we will ultimately please no one - least of all ourselves. We have a proud heritage to live up to and it seems so unfortunate that those in positions to continue that tradition simply will not. Not only should no country think they can get away with taking American citizens and using them as political fodder, they should think themselves foolish for even considering it. It really doesn't matter to me if others nations like us, but too many have died to defend what has made this nation great to simply watch it slip from our collective grasp.

As always, I'd love to hear your side -

Terry