Newt’s Solution for Jailed US Journalists in N. Korea: Regime Change

Republican former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was on FNC’s The O’Reilly Factor discussing the sentencing of two American journalists in N. Korea. Gingrich said the only strategy that makes sense is regime change in North Korea. So, the solution is not diplomacy, but another preemptive war.

Here is the video from Media Matters:

Gingrich said, “I think the only long term strategy that makes sense, but has a real risk attached to it, is to figure out how you replace the regime. I think that does mean putting pressure on the Chinese. It does mean working with the South Koreans and the Japanese…We haven’t tried to methodically isolate the regime, and try to break it and replace it.”

Besides the Bush sounding regime change option Gingrich suggested, he also seems to be advocating a return to the failed N. Korea policy of the Bush years. The Bush administration first tried playing hard ball with N. Korea and they realized that it is tough to isolate one of the most isolated regimes in the world.

Sadly, Current TV journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling are being used as diplomatic bargaining chips. The regime acts out like this when it wants attention and more aid. If history is any indication, the government there would leave the two journalists in jail for the full 12 years, but they would rather get something out of this. Gingrich’s approach is the same one that all Republicans propose and it never works. Playing hardball with a regime that has nothing to lose is the fast track to failure.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association