WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain said Tuesday that Americans who are “stupid” enough to still want to travel to North Korea should be required to sign a waiver absolving the U.S. government of any blame should they be harmed while there.
McCain, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said North Korea “murdered” Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American college student who died just days after North Korea released him from detention in a coma. He had arrived in Ohio on June 13 after being held for more than 17 months.
“They just murdered him,” McCain said.
The University of Virginia student was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting with a tour group and was convicted of subversion. He was sentenced in March 2016 to 15 years in prison with hard labor.
“There should at least be a form for them to fill out that says, ‘If I go to North Korea, I understand I am taking great risk and I do not hold the American government responsible. Now I hope the American government will help, etc., etc. But I realize what has happened to previous American citizens, including their deaths,'” McCain, R-Ariz., said in a brief interview.
“I would have that first because if people are that stupid that they still want to go to that country then at least they assume the responsibility for their welfare,” McCain said.
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. should think about banning U.S. citizens from visiting North Korea.
“I think we should strongly consider it,” Corker said. “It puts us in a really precarious situation when Americans are detained there.”
The United States, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of using foreign detainees has hostages to secure diplomatic concessions. Three Americans remain in custody in the North.
“It’s unsafe,” Corker said, adding that the “trumped up charges” like those Warmbier was accused of “can continue to happen.”
But not nearly as stupid as choosing Sarah Palin to be your V.P. candidate.
Sure as bleep there is no Pax Romana for U.S. citizens.
If this country wants to be an empire then cast off a barrel full of ethical policies and just shoot anyone (that isn’t a citizen) that gets out of line.
Or we could grow up and be adults.
Since when have travelers ever held the American government responsible for whatever befalls them abroad? (Unless, of course, you’re a U.S. Senator who decides to go shopping in a “perfectly safe” part of Baghdad wearing a flak jacket, accompanied by your favorite felcher-boy and a full compliment of heavily armed soldiers on the ground and two Blackhawks overhead.)
The man is the textbook definition of blithering idiot.
Fuck You, Sid McCrashcup!
Unfortunately, Otto’s Warmbier’s father was more than happy to point the finger of blame on the American government.
Warmbier’s father blasted Obama during a news conference at the time of his son’s release, when cued up with a question as to what more could have been done to secure the young man’s release before Donald Trump entered the White House.
“The question is, do I think the past administration could have done more?” he shot back. “I think the results speak for themselves.”
So, yes, travelers, aid workers, journalists (and their families) routinely hold the government responsible when tragedy befalls them abroad.
I’ve been saying since Nov 8, 2016, that voters who voted for Trumo. are indeed “stupid” Americans too!