Dennis Rodman’s buffoonery in North Korea edges into treason

[Puppycow]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/world/asia/north-korea-dennis-rodman/

Dude's out of control. Drugs? Mental problems? Whatever it is, he is endangering all those guys with his antics. He doesn't seem to understand that Kim could just throw the whole lot in jail and bargain for their release.

By all means! What would he offer us to take them back!

 

[Puppycow]

I believe that I know the main reason for Rodman's behavior, as bizarre as it is. It's very simple, really -- ego.

This is a man who's used to being the center of attention, who is no longer in that position. He's a has-been, relegated to trying to keep in the public eye by being on The Apprentice, or other stuff like that. The man is desperate to be seen as important and special.

This whole Kim Jong Un thing accomplishes that on two different levels. First, obviously, it puts him in the center of the media spotlight...and allows him to depict himself as a world-class diplomat who is seeking to solve a problem that nobody else can. He's directly made this very claim on multiple occasions (although now he seems to be backing off from that aspect a little).

But more than that, Kim Jong Un treats him the way he things he should be treated. Expensive dinners, lavish praise, expensive gifts, etc. He gets to hobnob privately with the President of a country. What are the odds, do you think, that Obama would invite him to have a private dinner with him? (Although, going back to the OP, he'd have a decent chance of having dinner with Rob Ford...they'd probably share stories about how the media abuses them, and they're misunderstood by the public)

And that is why he's acting the way he is. Because, very simply, a guy who would treat him, Dennis Rodman, so nicely very obviously must be a nice guy, and everyone else just doesn't understand the real situation. Rodman is quite incapable of viewing anything outside of the perspective of how he is treated, how he feels.

That sounds spot on to me.

 

[ABC10]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/world/asia/north-korea-dennis-rodman/

Dude's out of control. Drugs? Mental problems? Whatever it is, he is endangering all those guys with his antics. He doesn't seem to understand that Kim could just throw the whole lot in jail and bargain for their release.

They are all Big guys and adults with their own decision making powers.

 

[Puppycow]

And, Rodman apologizes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/world/asia/rodman-apologizes-for-remarks-on-detained-american.html

HONG KONG — The former basketball star Dennis Rodman apologized Thursday for comments he made suggesting that an American detained in North Korea had deserved his fate, saying he had been drinking when he made the remarks to CNN.

. . .

He added, “I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae’s family. I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team. I embarrassed a lot of people. I’m very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I’m truly sorry.”

 

[lionking]

And to think he was the classiest player on the 1991 Pistons.

This is actually a very good point.

 

[Olowkow]

And, Rodman apologizes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/world/asia/rodman-apologizes-for-remarks-on-detained-american.html

At least he isn't a psychopath, yet. I was hoping it had to be some kind of drug. Always has had a problem with alcohol.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/09/dennis-rodman-cnn-apology-drinking_n_4565692.html

I could see the stress on the faces of the players. Apparently their families were not thrilled with their basketball diplomacy. I don't see how he will ever apologize for the "happy birthday to Kim". It is at the level of Jane Fonda's picture on an anti aircraft gun. It will be his legacy. Sad. He probably is just ignorant, not necessarily not concerned.

"I want to apologize," Rodman said. "I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates. My dreams of basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart. I had been drinking. It's not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed. It's not an excuse, it's just the truth.
"I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae's family. I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team. I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo. I embarrassed a lot of people. I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry."

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

"I want to apologize," Rodman said. "I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates. My dreams of basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart. I had been drinking. It's not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed. It's not an excuse, it's just the truth.
"I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae's family. I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team. I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo. I embarrassed a lot of people. I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry."

.

Damn. This puts Rob (I've done nothing wrong and I was drunk when I did it) Ford back at the top of the current International ******** List.

 

[GlennB]

I believe that I know the main reason for Rodman's behavior, as bizarre as it is. It's very simple, really -- ego.

This is a man who's used to being the center of attention, who is no longer in that position. He's a has-been, relegated to trying to keep in the public eye by being on The Apprentice, or other stuff like that. The man is desperate to be seen as important and special.

I've never set out to watch Big Brother but caught some of it in the UK while working with a fan of the program (don't ask how we got to watch TV at work ). Rodman was on and it was embarrassing the number of times he turned the conversation to how much sex he'd had with so many women.

 

[BenBurch]

I think we should revoke his passport. He can stay there if he likes it so much.

 

[Kahalachan]

And, Rodman apologizes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/world/asia/rodman-apologizes-for-remarks-on-detained-american.html

*wonders if his next visit in North Korea will land him in prison for defying Kim Jong Un*

 

[angrysoba]

I think we should revoke his passport. He can stay there if he likes it so much.

Is travel to North Korea banned by the US?

If not then I don't see any grounds to revoke his passport.

 

[angrysoba]

*wonders if his next visit in North Korea will land him in prison for defying Kim Jong Un*

I doubt it. He's still in North Korea.

 

[SezMe]

Is travel to North Korea banned by the US?

Obviously not since he's there.

If not then I don't see any grounds to revoke his passport.

We need a tongue-in-cheek smilie.

 

[angrysoba]

Obviously not since he's there.

From what I understand, travel to Cuba is banned for American citizens. Is this not the case?

Is it also not the case that despite the ban some Americans go to Cuba?

I hear murder is also banned under US law, but it still happens.

We need a tongue-in-cheek smilie.

Maybe, but I don't think Ben Burch had his tongue in his cheek. I think he was being serious.

 

[Olowkow]

Times they are a'changin'. Elections have consequences.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/18/us-cuba-usa-tourism-idUSBRE99H0J320131018

Americans are visiting Cuba in record numbers despite strict travel restrictions, joining the hundreds of thousands of Cuban Americans who travel home each year, according to Cuban government figures published on Friday.
Just over 98,000 U.S. citizens visited Cuba in 2012, up from 73,500 in 2011 and twice the number compared with five years ago, according to an online report by the National Statistics Office (www.one.cu).

The numbers do not include more than 350,000 Cuban Americans estimated by travel agents and U.S. diplomats to have visited the island last year. Because Cuba considers them nationals, they are not listed in its tourism statistics.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Clearly, North Korea isn't a dictatorship. The name is Democratic People's Republic of Korea. You gotta learn to pay attention to the details, folks.

 

[NoahFence]

I doubt it. He's still in North Korea.

Apparently not. He's been executed!!

The downfall for the flamboyant Rodman was stunning, given his friendship with Kim Jong Un, the chubby, pre-pubescent leader of North Korea. Rodman was accused of “hideous crimes such as attempting to overthrow the state by all sorts of intrigues and despicable methods with a wild ambition to grab the supreme power of our party and our state.”

Read more: http://www.duffelblog.com/2013/12/north-korea-executes-dennis-rodman/#ixzz2q0PgW6Rg

 

[Olowkow]

Was it by 120 ravenous dogs or by howitzer?

 

[Hellbound]

Was it by 120 ravenous dogs or by howitzer?

Both. The dogs were fired from a Howitzer.

 

[Polaris]

Is travel to North Korea banned by the US?

If not then I don't see any grounds to revoke his passport.

It's not. One of my professors in college had been there, after he became a US citizen (he was from ROK).

From what I understand, travel to Cuba is banned for American citizens. Is this not the case?

Is it also not the case that despite the ban some Americans go to Cuba?

I hear murder is also banned under US law, but it still happens.




Maybe, but I don't think Ben Burch had his tongue in his cheek. I think he was being serious.

Travel to Cuba isn't banned, but you do need government approval.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/18/us-cuba-usa-tourism-idUSBRE99H0J320131018