Posted on 11/03/2004 5:46:46 PM PST by TapTheSource
I think you're operating under a false assumption.
Powell has been an asset to Bush for four years. He's been on the same page as Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and most importantly, Bush himself. If he wasn't, he would've been gone long ago--just like Jay Garner. Powell himself worked on his intelligence briefing for the UN--it wasn't something given to him at the last minute for him to regurgitate unbelievingly.
As for Bush, he's publically said many times that he supports a strong Japan, and has been urging Koizumi to help out more in the War on Terror, and strengthen his military. Japanese troops have been deployed overseas for the first time since World War II because of Bush.
If you'd really like to pin the blame for this on anyone but China, blame Kissinger and Nixon.
ships sink mysteriously at sea all the time. It might need to happen in this case.
Japan has cast her lot and fortune with that of the USA. They have fully capable navy of securing sealanes out to 1000 miles in any conflict that would have involved the former USSR.... My thoughts are simply that China will try to dominate any country she can and bluff until her hand is exposed. Reality check for North Korea, a proxy of China, is that any solution to this problem with the nukes there will further weaken China regionally as they will have to directly tie up resources for both the US and Japan. Given that France is the prime problem for America today, look for the dallying of the French and their negotiations with any potential enemy of the USA. I say we just destablize all trade partners France has in the Middle East and Africa and let economics do the rest; China will simply come around.
Powell wants to go in the defense department!!?? Sh!t he must not be allowed to suceed.
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