Who pays the bill for their rescue?

While I was glad for the families of Euna Lee and Laura Ling for their rescue from North Korea, there is something very disturbing about it. What did we have to give up to accomplish this? A former president of the United States talking to and taking pictures with the likes of Kim Jong Il.

In the first place, these two young women put themselves in a really bad position. Let’s face it, crossing the border into North Korea is not a smart thing to do. Probably done in the name of getting a story for Al Gore TV. Question is, who is paying for this rescue? The U.S. taxpayer? While the state of New Hampshire sent a bill for $25,000 to Eagle Scout Scott Mason for his rescue, I am wondering who the U.S. government should send the bill to for rescuing these two women? I’m sure the bill is a lot more than $25,000.

Add to that, President Carter failed to rescue the hostages from Iran, where they were held for over 400 days. Remember the USS Pueblo, where our sailors were held for a 11 months under President Johnson? How about the two U.S. border guards held right here in a U.S. prison for two years for trying to apprehend an illegal drug runner from Mexico? Through no fault of their own some men suffered for months and years while the two women were held only 40 days. Hardly seems quite fair to me.

Chuck Heinitz

Snohomish