With all that in mind, I have to agree. And what about the millions of poor China pushed out into the wilderness months ago, so they wouldn't be seen? And the factories they've closed in an area as large as Italy, France, Germany and Spain (approximate) just months ago, to stay that way through the Olympics (NO work for six months for ALL those people), just so they can prove to the world that communism/socialism is an environmentally sound way of life! Too bad about all those people out of work though, heh?
But this is all par for the course for Bush, he worships 'free' trade, and so long as there is a growing movement toward private ownership of property in China, who cares about all the other human right, you know, the ones that really define a person, that reach down into their soul and find expression in their families, and friends, and worship, and speech and freedom to criticize and correct the hand of oppression, and to organize private associations of like minded people.
Just this week again, we read in the WSJ of "trouble-makers" going to labor camps in China for taking pictures of the schools in rubble, and for continuing to complain, find answers, seek justice, for the deaths of thousands of children (and in each case, their only child).
Bush is going after Iran and Iran ... when the greatest growing threat in the world is in China. China he embraces like a dear friend.
The problen here is that he would trash Bush whether he goes to china or not, with equally persuasicve arguments.
To a liberal hypocracy is not a bad thing
I hope this trip goes better than his last trip to Saudi Arabia.
Even though they have killed more American citizens post WWII than any other country. Either coming over the hills in Korea, or aiding, supplying and supporting the NVA in Vietnam.
1980’s communism is an evil empire, 2000’s communism is good for business.
I’ll leave it to Dubya to decide if he goes or not. I’m behind him either way.
How exactly is China a greater threat to the world as opposed to Iran and North Korea?
All you mentioned was the suppression of Chinese citizens. That is typical of totalitarian regimes... they kill their own people. But you haven't said why China is a threat to the world...
If the world wanted to protest China, it should never have allowed them to host the 2008 games.
Seems I remember G.W. Bush saying he will stand up to the Chi-coms if elected president during the 2000 election season.
I also remember Bill Clinton saying he would stand up to the Chi-coms if elected president. Bill sold his soul to them for some money to help him get re-elected.
I expect these two McCain and Obamma Lamma to also kiss the chi=coms asses.
“Bush said that it “would be an affront to the Chinese people” if he stayed away.”
But it will be an affront to the American people if you go, Mr. Bush.
Who do you work for, anyway?
I would say when the American public is ready to stop purchasing Chinese goods, and we find some way to buy back all the American economy that China owns, then maybe we should ask the President to stay away - but not before.
Not so dear friend.
From what I’ve read, the arm twisting is behind closed doors and they’ve been responsive to the pressure to work on North Korea after Jimmy Carter p/o’ed them by nullifying their agreement on nukes with NoKo in the 1990’s (leading to the mess we got stuck with later).
So it’s not a grand and visible gesture, but it gives him bargaining power. And love him or not, this President knows how to force an opponent to yield.
I give as evidence the recent FISA vote in the Democratically controlled Congress, at the requirement of this Republican “lame duck” President.
It would be hypocrisy for Bush NOT to attend. He and his father (as well as Bubba) have pushed China onto the world such that the rest of us have to live with it. I don’t know what the Bush’s find so wonderful about China and Mexico that they prefer them to their own country (allegedly the US), but they have hosed the rest of the world as a result.
Just remember this Dragon has teeth and will use them given the chance. They have made it clear that they want too be a superpower, heck they are.
Such a beautiful country wasted. Until we stop worrying about offending them and start doing to them what Reagan did to the U.S.S.R. then they will grow bolder.
If it is within our means to help the persecuted and we do not, then we will answer for it.
All this mealy-mouthing and cow-towing(sic) will achieve nothing. It shows weakness not diplomacy. When are certain leaders going to learn that some countries i.e China..Cuba..Russia..Mid-East (pick one) do not want to change. Reagan set the example just freaking follow it! Use sharp words and mean it! Show these guys there is no capitulation to their ways.
So i say instead of polishing the Dragon’s teeth lets sharpen our Eagle’s claws!
For those that do not believe China to be a world threat then do your research. They are everywhere and not vacationing!
BOYCOTT the chicoms... been saying it here for two years... red chicoms are on this board to attack anyone calling them the commie trash that they are! Screw the chicoms... President Bush is wrong once again... as he is on illegal immigration.
LLS
When your bank manager calls you in for a meeting, you had better go. ;)
I remember Bush saying, some time ago, that he didn't want to see our athletes punished -
But that aspect is being ignored.
Yeah, Carter was the better man - s/
oh dear, I just made myself sick...
Stay outta Walmart
Chuckie drinks too much swampwater. He’d disagree with the President on just about any decision that the President makes.
Oh, Chuck, take a valium and untwist your panties.
Karl Rove is behind this. It’s a secret plan.
You see, no matter what George Bush does, the media will draw attention to it through their criticism. W’s going to China will ensure that the liberal media will open the curtain on China’s human rights history. Criticizing W for having such a tin ear with regards to the human cries for help from an impoverished Chinese citizenry.
Now, If George Bush were to stay away, he would be criticized unmercifully for turning a cold shoulder to China and putting an already tedious international relationship at greater risk by ignoring the olive branch China has extended to the world.
If W really is concerned about China’s human rights record, thin about it, hell, his own reputation doesn’t matter. The media isn’t going to laud him for anything, might as well put the media’s energetic hatred of all things Bush to good use.
(Personally, I am disappointed in the President’s decision in this case.)
Oh right, that's only when Israelis are involved.