Rewarding Bad Behavior

In a recent NBC article about President Clinton talking North Korea into release two imprisoned female journalists it was mentioned that it was essentially rewarding North Korea's bad behavior. I have a few problems with this statement. First of all, since when does getting two innocent journalists released come to be any sort of a reward for anyone but the journalists and their loved ones? If they did this to piss off the US it certainly isn't a reward to release them. It isn't solely up the USA to reward or punish their behavior. This is why we have a United Nations. Also, what behavior does that reward? The killing of prior journalists? The setting off of bombs on the 4th of July? The constant threat of nuclear weapons? I don't think we need to reward any of that.

I am slightly amused at the fact that Clinton, despite not having power for 9 years now can still walk into an angry foreign country and get shit done. It hasn't been mentioned if Obama made any move to release the prisoners. I suppose this makes us look a bit silly. A man who is not in power just negotiated the release of two prisoners from a foreign country that hates us. While our President has beer and argues police tactics against black men. And fails to pass a health care reform bill. It does look bad. But seriously, I fail to see how we rewarded their behavior at all. And it's a stupid saying that makes us seem to treat North Korea like our dog.