Someone remind me why we aren’t hanging this jerk:
Korean-American Robert Kim (whose Korean name is Kim Jae-gon), currently in prison at Allenwood Federal Prison in Pennsylvania on charges of espionage, has sent a letter to Korea containing intimate thoughts on his seven years behind bars.
Intimate thoughts, indeed. The money quote from this letter, you ask? OK:
He said, “During my time in prison, the philosophy I have learned is that all forms of justice do not appear as justice to certain people, and in the worst case, it can become treason.”
Yeah, especially when that particular form of justice involves spying on your adopted homeland, a sort of justice that not only makes you a jerk personally, but makes life that much tougher on every loyal, patriotic Korean-American who is employed or is seeking employment in security-related fields — most of whom, I’m sure, already have enough shit they need to put up with. Not only are you a traitor, Bob, you’re an unrepentant traitor, and why the hell you aren’t doing life with Jonathan Pollard is something that’s completely beyond my ken.
“The temperament of our people is a kind one, and we are a modest people who know how to be conciliatory,” he wrote. “I hope that everyone rediscovers his or her modesty, honesty, humility, and generosity, and finds themselves able to serve society while sacrificing for it.”
Hey, Bob, you want to know some more great cultural values of the Korean people? Here’s one — loyalty. And to be a bit more specific, loyalty to your king, regardless of whether that “king” happens to be a Chosun Dynasty monarch or the Constitution you swore to uphold when you naturalized as an American citizen. Here’s another one — responsibility. By this, I mean accepting responsibility for your actions and expressing regret for the harm you’ve caused. Have you, a convicted spy who did untold harm to American security, the U.S.-ROK relationship, and your fellow Korean-Americans, apologized for what you did in this little letter of yours? No, I didn’t think so. Jerk-off.
And remember this, Bob — no matter how much the Korean media makes you out to be a patriotic hero, and no matter how many public statements of support you hear, deep down inside, people will always regard you as little more than a traitor. And nobody really likes a traitor, regardless of whom he betrayed.
23 Comments
>>And nobody really likes a traitor, regardless of whom he betrayed.
Judging from the clip from his letters, I’m willing to bet a month’s pay that he’s the “passive partner” in all of the prison’s, uh, “extra-curricular” activities. I think, “deep down”, he’s got more things to worry about right now–like how to walk straight and get out all those messy stains.
You think traitors are considered ‘bad’ by people outside prison? Honestly, I think he’s getting what he deserves right now. With what goes on in prison, I’ve decided I will NEVER doing anything bad enough to put me there. Hope he enjoys doing his time.
Is there a legitimate reason this guy *isn’t* dead? Since when did we stop executing traitors? And a nine year sentence, come on. Perhaps it is because the U.S. doesn’t want to make him a martyr. Boy, the Korean papers could drag that one out for years. Alive, he is small beans, but dead, he’s a slain national hero and a headache for Korean-American relations for years to come. Is that why was this guy was treated with such leniency? I really don’t know. I’m just a dumb American citizen who thought the law was the law. Can someone exlpain it to me?
The reason he hasn’t been executed is because treason is narrowly defined, and requires specific evidentiary requirements. Start with the Constitution. Article III, section 3, paragraph 1 provides:
Treason against the United Stats shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, givin them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Wtinesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
Similar, section 2381, Title 18 of the United State Code (18 U.S.C. 115) provides:
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
Has Robert Kim waged war agains the United States? No. Has he given aid and comfort to its enemies? No, unless you’re defining South Korea as an enemy.
So Kim may be a traitor in the colloquial and commonly accepted sense of the term, but not in a legal one.
Regards,
Tony
there might not have been two eye-witnesses to his treason, either…
Just my thoughts on this subject. Like you already know, all Korean articles about this man are sympathetic. About once a year, I seem to stumble on an article about him. What he did was wrong and foolish. The Korean press paints him as someone who did something good, but I don’t. The Korean government doesn’t really care a bit about its people who immigrated to other countries. I’m not sure why he felt so morally obligated to betray his real country, the USA.
And one question to anyone who can answer it. I never heard of sodomizing in Korean prisons. What’s wrong with the Americans? I could be wrong, though. Sodomizing may be rampant in Korea n prisons as well. I never heard of it, though. Korea changed a lot since I left in 1991, though. For the worse, in my opinon.
whether it is a mass-murder case or treason, im against capital punishment. im guessing ur all american there? or excuse me “korean”?
go canada
Didn’t the U.S. execute Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and Alger Hiss? Just depends on who you are spying for… nonetheless, it’s surprising how Robert Kim doesn’t seem to show remorse…
The Koreans portray him as a hero, while Americans portray him as a traitor. Sadly, many of the previous comments seem to signify a blind acceptance of the American propaganda. I’m not arguing that Robert Kim isn’t a spy. I just want to highlight the reasonably obvious that the US Government, with the largest defense budget in the world, probably has the largest number of spies working for it around the world. It would also be reasonable to assume that the US, with its vast resources, spies on its own allies, including South Korea. American spies are not infallible and it is reasonable to assume that some will be caught. When this happens, would you as Americans call these men heros or traitors? Don’t be so harsh on Robert Kim. He is a hero to some and a traitor to others, but to call him either is to speak with your own bias.
Nonsense. At least we know what YOU would do if you had the chance, KACollegeBoy.
KACollegeBoy,
Fact of the matter is, he is an American citizen. He took an oath of allegiance when he became a citizen. He violated US code. His actions are traitorous. While he might be called a hero by some, he is a traitor by definition.
At what point is there propaganda involved? It’s not a matter of perception here. He is a spy.
As an American, I admit I am biased toward America.
With Korean-Americans, I assume their bias will be toward Korea. I’m never wrong.
Which makes me smarter than the idiots in the U.S. government who hired Robert Kim.
Hey KACollegeBoy,
Check this out.
Quite a hero, eh?
Sorry, this.
(Haven’t had my coffee yet.)
What the hell is going on here?
http://joongangdaily.joins.com.....09021.html
Icebert, at first glance it sounds like the guy in your link is sending the North Korean “agent” of Kim Jong-il’s son a bunch of information about why the North is such a bad place.
If he’s gathering information that would help bring down the current regime, that could explain why the current ROK administration wants him prosecuted.
Robert Kim is the biggest A$$hole. I think he should be deported, no wait, they won’t have him here either!
Damn, that’s the second time today I’ve slipped on the keyboard with those same two letters.
Icebert –> Iceberg
I was in no way suggesting a link between Iceberg and the running Dogbert of the Imperialism Apologist.
I must mind my T’s and G’s.
and here I thought you were being clever - it was just a typo? pfft.
kushibo,
No offense taken. I just figured you too hadn’t yet had your cup of coffee.
I thought he was being clever too.
I guess we need to ease up on the “1 comment/day” rule.
As much as I would like to take credit for cleverness I do not deserve, honesty takes precedence. But feel free, anyone, to call Iceberg “Icebert” if you wish to insult him.
I guess we need to ease up on the “1 comment/day” rule.
Exceptions are made when:
1. I need to correct an error.
2. I am addressed directly (as if by a question).
3. My participation on one post still keeps me under the 1 comment/day as an average for all posts.
And it’s a guideline, really. More to keep me focused on real work than anything else.
Just don’t start referring to my “alter-ego” as dogbergg.