In today's pages: Ling and Lee on their incarceration in North Korea -- plus fire, drugs and healthcare reform
If you've been wondering how Laura Ling and Euna Lee wound up prisoners of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, read the pair's Op-Ed today and find out. In addition to providing chilling details about their capture (sounds to me like they were set up, but judge for yourself), they also explain why they were so determined to report on human trafficking between North Korea and China:
It's a compelling piece. Rounding out the page, columnist Tim Rutten provides a history lesson about the observatory on Mt. Wilson that's now threatened by the rampaging Station fire, as well as some harsh words about the policies that have seemingly turned Southern California into a tinderbox.
On the editorial side of the stack, the Times board says it's too early to abandon comprehensive healthcare reform for a more incremental, less controversial approach. Besides, the board says, "piecemeal efforts ... quickly run into the same complexities" that a sweeping overhaul faces, such as the need for expensive subsidies. The board also endorses moves by Latin American countries to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and other drugs, while also praising the Obama administration for taking a "wait-and-see approach" to the changes.
Photo: Laura Ling, left, and Euna Lee. Credit: Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images
-- Jon Healey
Subejct:
Tales of Desperation
by Laura Ling and Euna Lee
Special to the Los Angeles Times
For ten years of my life I have lived under Soviet Russia's domination in Europe. I, thus, have first-hand experience of a despotic society. Ms. Ling's and Ms. Lee's rendition of their encounter with the Dear Leader's "justice" after illegally crossing into North Korea clearly documents that this was THE most frightening experience of their lives. However, they are very lucky they didn't get shot on the spot. While I commend their intent, the stupidity of their action is only exceeded by their naïveté.
Posted by: Peter Sontag | September 08, 2009 at 05:25 AM