Posted on 06/21/2005 6:05:01 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai arrived here Tuesday as the first leader of a united Vietnam to visit the United States, a trip marked by protesters outside the White House and a decidedly muted reception inside.
It was a strikingly different occasion from the day when Bill Clinton made the first presidential trip to Vietnam five years ago, placing a coda on one of the most emotionally scarring wars in American history and opening a new start with the country. Then, tens of thousands of Vietnamese lined the streets to greet him.
The crowds outside the White House were far smaller and were made up in good part of Vietnamese-Americans, who focused on complaints about Vietnam's human rights record...
The coolness was a reflection, several American officials said, of the administration's uncertainty over how to deal with a government that is looking for a great leap in its links to the United States but has proved unwilling to loosen political control at home.
Vietnam's development model appears to be China: economic openness married with strict crackdowns on dissenters who threaten the central authority. It is a country to which Mr. Bush has not devoted much energy, though he plans to visit next year for an Asian summit meeting, he said Tuesday.
In the meantime, the dialogue seemed to replay the words of 2000, during Mr. Clinton's four-day visit. "We believe that America finds in Vietnam a potential cooperation partner," Mr. Khai said in the Oval Office. "We have a population of 80 million people, which means a huge market for American businesses. And these people are also very hard working, creative and dynamic."
The United States is now Vietnam's largest trading partner, doing $6.1 billion in business last year, according to the State Department...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
We are clearly posturing to try and find more help in containing Red China, and make no mistake, the Chinese will not be happy about this...just the same, I can't help but feel that it is a deal made with the devil IMHO.
This sickens my stomach. It's like our leaders don't have any standards anymore. Why do we let any Communist officials from any Communist country visit the US in any official capacity. Our enemies get to enhance their image while we tarnish our own. Doesn't anyone remember what Communism even means???
I figured that was a big part of the meeting.
And they say the Vietnamese won the war. Capitalism conquers all.
==We are clearly posturing to try and find more help in containing Red China
I disagree. The Red Chinese love it. They are for any and all Communist inroads into the rapidly diminishing land of the free. Indeed, the visit was no doubt coordinated with the Red Chinese. Yet one more Communist dictatorship that will use western largess (and stupidity) to bolster World Revolution.
If it's to discuss recent events, I'm OK with it. But somehow I don't think these things are on the agenda.
PERSECUTION OF MONTAGNARD CHRISTIANS IN VIETNAM
Christmas crackdown in Vietnam (Communists persecute Christians, again)
3 executions in Vietnam alleged as part of government crackdown (on Christians)
VIETNAM CRACKING DOWN ON CHRISTIAN TRIBES IN MOUNTAINS
VIETNAM UNREST THREATENS TO RAISE OBJECTIONS (persecution of Christians)
==And they say the Vietnamese won the war. Capitalism conquers all.
Do you actually think that subsidizing Communism is some sort of victory. Think again.
>>>>We are clearly posturing to try and find more help in containing Red China, and make no mistake, the Chinese will not be happy about this...just the same, I can't help but feel that it is a deal made with the devil IMHO.
I hope we are also posturing for our POWs.
==If it's to discuss recent events, I'm OK with it.
I'm not even ok with that. I say we should use our economic system to strangle Communism, not subsidize it. Having said that, your point is well taken.
ping
You are very assumptive here. You have no idea what this meeting is about.
Yes they did. Maybe this is to undo that evil.
I am curious to see the reaction to this in Westminster, Cali. (aka - Little Saigon)
As it is, I agree that us courting Communists is disasterous in any case and thus my very bad feeling about it. Could be a trojan horse.
==Yes they did. Maybe this is to undo that evil.
Wishful thinking. You can only trust Communists to be Communists. That is, unless they are defeated, as occured in Chile (although they're making a comeback there...they never, ever give up).
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