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Subscribe to RSSSecretary of State John Kerry speaks to NBC's Andrea Mitchell and defends President Obama's decision not to arm the Syrian rebels. He also weighs in on Dennis Rodman's recent trip to North Korea, saying that Rodman "is a great basketball player, and as a diplomat… he's a great basketball player."
Secretary of State John Kerry took a shot Tuesday at eccentric former NBA star Dennis Rodman’s controversial visit to North Korea.
"Dennis Rodman was a great basketball player,"Kerry told NBC News. “And as a diplomat, he is a great basketball player. And that’s where we’ll leave it.”
Kerry spoke in Doha, Qatar, for an interview to air later in the day on "Andrea Mitchell Reports" on MSNBC.
Rodman visited North Korea last week and met with leader Kim Jong Un, pronouncing him an "awesome guy." In Pyongyang, on his way out of the country, the lip-studded basketball player said of Kim: "Guess what? I love him."
The visit did not sit well with the White House, which denounced it as a "celebrity sporting event" for a repressive regime and said North Korea should focus on the well-being of its own people, "who have been starved, imprisoned and denied their human rights."
Report: North Korea threatens to scrap truce with South
In the interview, Kerry also defended the Obama administration’s decision not to provide weapons to rebels fighting against the authoritarian regime in Syria.
"The president prefers, as I do and everybody does, to try to have a diplomatic resolution of this," Kerry said.
Rebels have fought for two years against the government of President Bashar Assad in Syria. The United Nations estimates more than 70,000 people have been killed.
KCNA via AFP - Getty Images
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former NBA star Dennis Rodman watch a basketball game in Pyongyang on Feb. 28 in this image released by North Korea's official news agency.
The United States and other Western countries have promised aid for the rebels but not arms. The Obama administration has said that weapons for the rebels could fall into the hands of Islamic militants.
Pressed on whether the United States might reconsider if it had some certainty about where the weapons would go, Kerry stressed U.S. humanitarian support for the estimated 1 million people displaced by the Syrian civil war.
"We don’t want this killing," he added. "President Assad could quickly decide to come to the table and negotiate."
On Iran and its disputed nuclear ambitions, Kerry said: "There will not be a negotiation that turns into an eternal delay."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that renewed international efforts to negotiate curbs on the Iranian nuclear program are simply giving it more time to build a bomb. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear inspections arm of the United Nations, said Monday that the agency "cannot conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."
In the NBC interview, Kerry said that Iran "will not run any clock on this."
"This is not an infinite process," he said. "It’s finite. Our preference, President Obama’s preference, clearly stated, is to ask the Iranians to come to the table in good faith, in mutual respect, and do what they say they’re doing."
Reuters contributed to this report.
White House spokesman Jay Carney addresses Dennis Rodman's visit to North Korea and his message to President Obama from Kim Jong Un.
This story was originally published on Tue Mar 5, 2013 9:23 AM EST
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I guess he needs money and publicity that bad to kiss the dear leaders ass?
Criticize as you will Mr. Kerry but I have yet to see any of our brilliant politicians open the door for dialogue with N. Korea as Dennis Rodman has. Mr. Kerry's remarks are a passive/ agressive display of jealousy and arrogance.
It took a couple days for Kerry to respond because he had to find out who Dennis Rodman was first. We all remember Kerry showing off his knowledge of the Red Sox when he proclaimed to be a big fan of Manny Ortez. But Rodman probably has a better chance of diplomacy with North Korea then either Kerry or Obama.
tapdancin.. you keep dancing girl but why not go to N. korea and dance for all those human rights violators.. Kerry's remarks were on point..
Clearly, Rodman is an idiot. He was a decent basketball player. Having played that one out, he poked holes all over his face and hung crap on it.
Hitler was probably a great guy to hang out with when he wasn't cooking people in ovens, too.
Rodman looked like a complete fool on Sunday morning. It is fitting, because he is a complete fool.
John Kerry, he's a great politician but as a diplomat, ok hell who are we kidding he's got a hell of a hair piece.
Dennis Rodman went for the prestige, potential cash coming from such a visit and all of the young, NK pu**y he got while he was there. I thought Kerry's sum up of Rodman's political skills was brilliant.
kerry will give dennis 150 million just because.
maxgiver
"tapdancin.. you keep dancing girl but why not go to N. korea and dance for all those human rights violators.. Kerry's remarks were on point.."
I like your idea maxgiver but first,I think i will visit the 54 "Black Sites" spread throughout the world where OUR government violates human rights.
Is Kim Jong Un sitting on 3 phone books in the top photo? Rodman has got to be twice his height!
personally i do not like rodman (great ball player) do not like any nation that oppresses its people or obama (worthless leader) but at some point someone has to try something when sanctions only hurt THE PEOPLES OF THE SANCTIONED COUNTRIES to try something like this and then if that doesnt work help the peoples of that country get rid of thier oppressors.
Obama, didn't you get the message from Dennis, you're supposed to call Kim, he's sow wonewee.
Rodman sounds like he has some kind of brain damage... He just does not make any sense... I use to think of him as kind of ridiculous... I still feel that way...
Rodman needs to be careful.. he can be charged with treason...
I would certainly like to have the money he must make, and I must admit that he's good at self-promotion, but Mr. Rodman presents himself as being a clown and a media-fool.
And yet, despite his clownishness, he just might be able to accomplish something that the diplomats cannot seem to do. (That's what's known as a "long shot".)
Sec. of State Kerry just made an Ass of himself. Well, okay he was an Ass before. He makes Hilary Clinton better already...
Interesting how many of the posts on this subject pull Rodman down because they must believe this event some how embarrasses the Obama Administration.
This is really sick. Rodman has no clue what this guy is about if he "loves him" as he quotes. This guy is as close to a Hitler like figure that we have seen in a long time. He is a ruthless human being. But fitting for the moron that wears wedding dresses to like him I suppose. Insane.
Believe you me! He would change his friggin tune if he were exiled to live over there with his good buddy Kim.
The first thing they would do is snatch those piercings out of his face with a pair of rusty pliers,Burn off those tattoes,shave his head, then sew that dumb SOB into a military uniform and parade his azz around the country as a convert to the superior ways of North Korea.
The thought that anybody would listen to that piece of sheet on matters of foriegn policy to the extent of even mentioning him in a press conference is just ludicrous! Make his disgusting azz a NK diplomat and drop him on the other side of the DMZ and lets see how long it takes before he's trying to jump across that fence!
He could care less about foreign affairs...all he gives a damn about is himself and weaseling back into the far corner of the spot light they left him in in the 90's
Wanna bet?
He doesn't look like Jane Fonda, and the US should have never given him permission to enter North Korea, and he certainly doesn't speak for me or the US. I'm sure the moron did more damage than good in our relations with North Korea. Why wasn't Rodman wearing his wedding dress? The picture with Kim would have been much better, and showed what kind of clown Rodman really is.
He has given his credibility on the basketball court (he doesn’t have any off the court) to a despicable, desperate and power hungry despot who believes that ranting and posturing is politics.
Why, yes they do have a lot in common!
'swift boat' Kerry negotiates by throwing our money at the discussion. I can't believe he gave Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt another $450 million!!! Wait... this is obama's America, nothing makes sense anymore!
Appoint Rodman to some Cabinet position, he couldn't do worse than what's there now!
But all mini-me wants is for Obama to give him a call!!
yeah, how dare Dennis Rodman involve himself in matters of diplomacy? Does he not understand our fragile economy? We are desperately looking for our next money generating escapade and North Korea is at the top of the list. War is what we do best and it's really our only industry left. Besides, we haven't lost one since... well Iraq or Afghanistan! So get the heck outta sight Rodman, you'd better hide or the CIA will have you disappear to Guantanamo Bay never to be heard from again...saying a drone doesn't get you first!
Rodman is a literal clown, an entertainer of sorts, never a statesman. Ironically, the Harlem Globe Trotters are a troop of basketball playing clowns that make a living by humorously humiliating their opponents on the court. The picture says a thousand words in this regard; nearly everyone has a scowl on their faces with a few nonconformist who are smiling with their eyes but not their mouths. Note there is only one woman in the crowd, top center, that openly expresses the premise of having fun with a smile.
I wonder if she the only one who laughed when Kim Jong Un seriously thought he was nominated the sexiest man alive a few months ago; I also hope she's not being punished as we type. Also note that a couple are taking in the fact that there are two African-Americans, the enemy, sitting in their midst and on the court before them.
Hopefully, our administration had a hand in this and was using Rodman as a means to get one of our diplomatic operatives into the country to help set up a coup; if not, yet another opportunity lost.
Rodman is a jerk and definitely did not represent the American people or America! Anybody looking like he does is a freak, which he proves by going to NK.
I think that Kerry and the O'blabber administration are just PO'D that he did this without spending billions of tax dollars that we don't have.
Maybe we should send ""Hawkeye Pierce", and "Radar O'Riley" over there too while we are at it! DOH!
Meanwhile Fuzzy is still passing around lies about Kerry as if Fuzzy is trying to get an anchorette job at Fox news!
I support ALL efforts aiming at PEACE. This is one a very few things Rodman has done lately that I like.
...it's so refreshing to see Dennis get Washington DC's full attention! Tee-hee...;)
Good for Rodman! The corporate media complains about how "isolated" North Korea is! But when an ordinary person -- not a big capitalist politician -- goes there, the media throws a fit. The big capitalists want the working class to believe everything their media reports on faith.
Rodman is an old "fool".
He is taking the place of John Kerry to be a Statesman while all the while wearing his piercings, and camaflouge clothing--dark glasses. He said, Jong Un would like a call from Obama to talk about basketball. Yes, sir indeed, while North Korea is known to be Communist, letting their people starve to death, and living in death camps---BTW: Kerry should take off his obvious hair piece---he would become more real.
What's up with this Stupid?---Gollywood, and people who have made so much money with no brains. Just their talent for throwing a ball, and a win.
Who would ever take him seriously, while he deeply hugs Un or whatever HRH's name is, is. Throwing off Nuclear Warheads, testing them for use to destroy the world. Rodman will be among all of us when that happens!
Delusional. Rodman----
I would rather watch the grass grow than talk about the 3 Idiots (Rodman, Kerry & Obama)
I think Rodman's approach is better than what we have tried so far.
It's never a good idea to hold a gun to someone's head when you want dialogue...somtimes a game of basketball or a cigarrete is all it takes....
Rodman looks smarter than all politicians in Washington put together....
A basketball player, a war protester, and a Community Organizer walk into a bar.....
Bartender says "Hey, a has-been, a nobody & a wanna be... all pretending to be a diplomat......"
So cool and Doc looks like he belongs in an insane assyllum
"On Iran and its disputed nuclear ambitions, Kerry said: 'There will not be a negotiation that turns into an eternal delay.'"
News flash, Mr. Kerry. It's already turned into an eternal delay. Iran should never have made it this far down the road. Another failure by the Osama presidency. Oops, I mean the OBAMA presidency! I always seem to get those two anti-americans confused...
Rodman is, was, always will a freakin idiot...he is just out for publicity as always. He is treading where he has no business what so ever.
k ... call rodman a fool...a guy trying to make extra $$$....a guy who has no idea what he is talking about... basically a nut job..... ok fine .... but how is that different from our government officials ?
only difference is rodman is not going to send our kids overseas to get killed for their own greed
Kerry is a good politician, and has a diplomat, he is a great politician.Dennis Rodman did more in one visit that Hillary , Kerry should be humble and learn the lesson start playing basketball.
There are many sides and views to him going over there, probably more negative than positive, but the one positive I can think of is if this is a way to get dough boy to loosen up and maybe finally open up some meaningful dialogue between countries that could lead to something bigger (not war) then so be it and keep it up, otherwise who gives a flip in the grand scheme? It will either help change something or things will continue on as they have and Rodman looks like a fool, which isn't any different than how he always looks, and for that matter pretty sure he doesn't care.
So at the end of the day only Rodman will look like the fool, what do we care, or on the postitive side a hero (probably better word but that is what I got), we just have to get over the fact that it is Rodman who might be the one to break this stalemate and inadvertantly lead both sides in a direction for the better. Bigger picture potential folks.
It is time
Max in #1.28, Tapdancinggirl & the rest of you that think Rodman is either not so bad or even cool for efforts at peace. What in the world is wrong with you people? There is even talk of cannabalism, the conditions are so bad in North Korea. It's been bad there - people eating bark off the trees, but their own babies. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-j-furney/north-korea-cannibalism-hunger_b_2601956.html
There is NOTHING cool about the "Amazing guy" or the buffoon Rodman for admiring him. If you still think Rodman has done something admirable, check to see you still have a heart.
Boy this is a tough article for the usual RWNJ trolls. they have their usual knee jerk reaction to put down Obama and his sec of state, but to do so they have to side with Rodman.
Yeah lets hope Kerry is half as good as Rodman at solving problems .... I did hear that Kerry has one helluva jump shot though...
Well, he certainly seems to have rebounded well from his 2004 defeat.
"Rebounded" Lol
Oh no, not more mindless dribble from Kerry....
Come on, Kerry is a big fan of Manny Ortez, and eligible women with portfolios of at least 300 million.
Rodman good at solving problems??? he was a misfit, a show off, and an attention seeker and never really earned the pay he was getting.. if you are in disbelief go back to youtube and watch the videos of him..
he was more of a menace on the court than anything else
Maxgiver ...sounds like you're describing Kerry. My point exactly ...thanks
Rodman was a menace on the court. He averaged what, 18 rebounds a game and was lockdown defender. That 6'8" 240 something dude went toe-to-toe with Shaq Desiel and won!
If Obama and Kerry need to take up issues then do it with HBO executive Michael Lombardo and his partner Vice Media who organized the trip.
Rodman was known as quite the party animal on Balboa (Orange County, CA), with a possible alcohol & drug problem.
He was known to drink everyone under the table and smoke a sh!t load of pot, hence the bizarre looks and behavior. Not sure if he's stopped all the partying, but judging by his appearance and communication skills, it might be a safe bet saying "NO".
He may not be the most ideal person to speak on behalf of the American people...
The Worm and the sperm sitting together, what a nice couple. rodman = jane fonda
Feedup:
I was just going to post that I'm getting a 'visual' here of Hanoi Jane and you beat me to it! ;-)
RR
US diplomats lied to justify the Vietnam war. US diplomats lied to justify the Korean war. US diplomats lied to justify the Iraq war.
Why do the big capitalists and their diplomats hate what Rodman did? Because they want to keep foreign policy a secret. Why is Bradley Manning in prison? Because they want to keep foreign policy a secret from us.
Wow, that was quite a zinger by Kerry!
Exactly. A lot of people don't speak the language of diplomacy. Kerry is telling him not to quit his day job.
And as a comedian, Kerry is.... um, he has..... um, well.... His wife makes good ketchup....
Apparently the only language needed in diplomacy these days is "who do I make this check out to?"
That remark was uncalled for.... after all - if Obama had another son.... he'd look just like Rodman !
Who in their right mind takes Rodman serious about anything?
He's a tool.
Apparently, the most inept State Dept. the U.S. has ever known does. There are those who could see what this administration would likely lead to and those who refused to believe it.
It's only going to get worse... so hold that thought !
the remark was perfect and fortunately it was not malicious..
Until this trip, I hadn't realized Rodman was a natural blond.
Not me. It's not because you are good at one thing that you are good at eveything.
Professional deformation, big ego, free shocking publicity I suppose.
Dennis Rodman - enough said.
Kerry says Rodman isn't a good Diplomat. Well at least Rodman didn't go to North Korea and start throwing our money at them like Kerry did in Egypt. Kerry's idea of a good Diplomat is how fast you can give OUR money away to some Muslim country that hates us. Kerry wasn't in Egypt two minutes and he was giving Egypts Morsi Brotherhood Millions upon Millions of our money. Yeah, good job Kerry. $#@#$%$@$% You're as bad as Hillary was, maybe worse if that's possible.
you think giving money to muslims in Egypt was Kerrys idea you moron??? You must be Rodmans little brother.
Tarzan.. since you have chosen to defame one of the greatest SEC of STATE.. how about you speak about BUSH43's sec of state connie rice was probably one of the worst sec of state in this country and history..
.. since you have chosen to defame one of the greatest SEC of STATE..
Really? One of the GREATEST....how long has he been in office.....a couple weeks? lol
Greatest secretary of state?? Hillary? By whose standards?? Yours? Get real.
Greatest Secretary of State? In all his 3 weeks? OMG, you people are eaten up with it. Credit him with marrying an heiress, but the rest's all been bought. He either can't keep up with his military service or he lied; just outright lied (which is, of course, what he did).
What a joke.
Kerry comes from a long line of gunboat diplomats and global criminals.
Most politicians do.
We all know Rodman is just a clown who can't get a job playing basketball any more. His trip did more to hurt the Harlem Globetrotters' appeal than it did to help anything -- except his warped ego. Kim Jong Un only wants Obama to call so he can get his phone number on the caller ID, then call in the middle of the night and wake him up.
Or maybe kim jung un is looking for his free phone.
kerry is jealous,he wanted to sit with Kim Jong Un while handing him a check for a few hundred million.
So my question is, when is he headed to Iran?
Never! He doesn't like radioactive huge rats!!
Pyongyang Dennis has a lot in common with a certain elderly actress and plastic surgery aficionado.
I don'thear any of you crackers ragging on the Harlem Globetrotters, who were there as well. Rodman didn't just hop a jet with his entourage.
When the SOS department can demonstrate that they have done anything more than what Rodman did to thaw relations with DPRK, then they have beef. Until then, shut up, Kerry, and pass the ketchup.
That the white power establishment is in 'clutching pearls' mode, tells me that perhaps the issue is foot dragging by the government power structure, and not about the DPRK.
Finally, Obama tut tutting over
So... how was that round of golf with Tiger again, Mr. President? Pretty sure about 100 Americans were arrested for possession of drugs during that time. Pot/kettle/brown?
This incident was not a bad thing for freedom. One more time, a black man demonstrates it is possible to get things done, even in a society hostile to his looks or opinion. I have more respect for Mr. Rodman than ever.
Mr. Day that makes you as illiterate as Rodman!! One more time a black man demonstrates their ability to side with a low life murdering thug.
White power establishment? I dont get it we have a Africain American President who wants to redistribute everyones money and still complaints. "Cracker" thats the best you have seems alittle outdated to me.
"I don't hear any of you crackers ragging on the Harlem Globetrotters. " That the white power establishment is in 'clutching pearls' mode" " One more time, a black man demonstrates it is possible to get things done, even in a society hostile to his looks or opinion "
So your rant is apparently not hostile or racist ?
I believe " pot, meet kettle" describes you perfectly !!
Jim - What exactly "got done" here? Please explain
@ Rick D. Day, really, crackers!
Much like Rodman, the Harlem Globe Trotters are literally nothing more than a bunch of skilled clowns that make a living going around the world humorously humiliating their opponents on the court.
Rodman's circus was nothing more than an exercise in irony; two maroons who honestly believe they're the sexiest men in the world stroking each others egos. Kim, who could care less about his people, presents his arch enemy, decked out in satin American flag uniforms, humiliating his people at a home game. Just look at the people's faces in the photograph, only one person is smiling and the rest are scowling. Even Rodman is wearing a USA (in black) baseball cap.
What a great accomplishment! Way to get things done my brutha from anothu mutha! What a statesman! What a self serving maroon!
Maybe there's a slot open on the team for our POTUS when he's done with this gig; with their first game in Benghazi perhaps! Now that would be a real irony exercise!
Relax everybody.... Rick clearly has some anger issues... every time he looks in a mirror, he doesn't like what he sees... and I don't blame him !!
so I guess the one brotha in the stands is probably Rodman's translator for the North Koreans, huh?
Rodman was very good at his job to bad Kerry can't say the same
"To" bad you can't spell, moron.
perfect. connie rice was the worst sec of state we ever had. Of coarse. Cheny was the worst VP ever. He should be in prison. Go have another heart attack Dick. Dick, such a perfect name.
Ken Lewis - how do you justify the absolute hatred that you are showing? Have a heart attack? The man hasn't been in office for 5 years and you're still like this? I do not like Obama; in fact, I think - and believe history will show in years - that he is THE worse president EVER. That being said, I do not wish him physical harm.
If you don't like a politician, fine. Wishing them physical harm - or worse - is disturbing. BTW, Cheney wasn't nearly as bad a VP as Carter; then Obama have been bad presidents.
Rightswrong: Want to see a Moron?? Look in the mirror. People that call other people names are just repeating what names they go by. So I guess you've been called Moron a dozen or so times yourself.
Why do we even waist our time on this so called news story?
Well, Rick, if you have any respect for Dennis Rodman at all, you've got most of us beat. I don't follow sports, so I don't know anything about that part of his career. But I saw him on Celebrity Apprentice, and he was a lazy drunk who couldn't even stay on task for a couple of hours; even Donald Trump was dismayed by his behavior, and that's saying a lot !!!
As for the comparison between North Korea and President Obama playing golf with Tiger Woods, I don't get your point. North Korea's leader is literally starving his own citizens to death while he lives in luxury ever day of the year and denying them of basic human rights, following the example of his father and grandfather. President Obama was just taking a well-deserved short vacation.
Just like the "well deserved short vacation" he was taking during the attack in Bengazi. This president is on a perpetual vacation...and when he isn't vacationing...he's campaigning or on talk shows. When's the work going to get done? Where's the budget for our country? When is he going to come up with a plan to stop spending? Where is the plan to decrease our debt? When is he going to fulfill a SINGLE promises to the American people from all of his election speeches? My...American voters have short memories.
I'm sure I'll get some hate-filled responses....but none of them will include articulate responses to my questions. To some, Obama can do no wrong.
Dubya took more vacation days than any other president. Remember how much he liked to clear brush on his hobby ranch? And as for that Benghazi thing, get a f@cking life. An embassy gets attacked and that's all you can talk about? At least there are no holes in the NY skyline or the side of the Pentagon. Couldn't say that last time YOUR guy was in the Whitehouse. I really miss the days when republicans were not too stupid to argue with. Ever since the rise of Fox News it has been impossible to talk sense to you morons.
wrongright...compare the costs of vacations of the past presidents......guess who wins?
The hypocrisy is hysterical.
Our government is on good terms with several oppressive regimes, yet they try to make it seem like Rodman...a celebrity...is doing something that hasn't been done on several occasions by people who represent the US government in an official capacity.
Rodman is a nut, don't support his actions but at least he's not a Traitor like Kerry, just a show boating nut.
Rodman is a fine example of Obama's foreign policy.
Obama has a foreign policy? I did not know that.
Maybe he needs more money for tatoos and piercings. He should try and pierce his mouth shut and they take a mental vacation too! At least Shaq has a bit more class!
Dennis may be more informed if he packed a few bags and stayed in North Korea for a month or two instead of just 2 days. Maximum of 80 pounds of luggage. Then tell us what he feels. I would guess if you travel with a entourage you are treated differently since I never have traveled with a entourage.
rodman, the moron, should have stayed in north korea..... that's where he belongs. As far as kerry goes, he is also a TRAITOR to the USA...... back in his day, he accused the military of unthinkable crimes which were untrue..... kerry should have married jane fonda......
Both Rodman and Kim idiot make a great pair....got to admit it though, when Anderson "butt pirate" Cooper tried to stick it to him, Rodman pulled a Clinton sandwich out. Too funny.
Diplomat vs. Basket Ball Player vs. Dipomat vs. Yachtsman ! Not a lot of difference-except that Kerry attempted to weasel out of the sales tax on his multi million dollar yacht! And what a surf border Kerry is...Diplomat///?? Not so much.....
Kerry over the past week end has come to the aid of Egypt once again giving them another $250 MILLION. What is wrong with these idiots in Washington? We are cutting our military because of lack of finances and he's giving $250 MILLION to EGYPT!!! We have given BILLIONS to Afghanistan and see little difference in that country and yet Obummer is now putting social security, medicare and medicaid on the table for cuts. WE, the American taxpayers pay for the world and cut our own.
That is the reason for cutting our social programs to the bone so that our government has more money to give to our enemys. We must prop up our enemys or else they will fall. And don't forget the hundreds of thousands of Immigrants that our government is bringing to this country. We have to give them SSI for nine years , free housing, health care, food stamps, welfare, etc. And that has to be paid for somehow, so take the money from OUR social programs and give it to Immigrants.