I watched with interest the arrival of Hu to America. I watched with greater interest the reaction of the neocon "Hate Network" (Limbaugh, Savage, Ingram, bloggers, etc...) and the republican talking points...
My conclusion: everything about the visit on america's behalf - apart from the cordial greeting extended in the PacNorthwest - was a rude Rovian "Fuck You" at every opportunity.
My reasoning after the fold...
Talking point A: on three different networks we heard the OMIGOD-this-is-so-well-timed announcement of the Chinese national arrested and accused of intending to distribute Chinese SAMs in the states to "street gangs" and "other terror groups" (this was on both the Laura Ingram show and that other hate-monger Savage Nation). The kicker was the involvement of "top Chinese military brass". Was this embarrassing revelation timed to coincide with Pres. Hu's announcment?
Hmmmm... Maybe - but let's consider the next part of this diplomatic rude slap on the part of the US...
Diplomatic FUCK YOU #1: The Heckler
Now, some of you may think this is merely liberal shrillness - we can debate after you hear the facts.
However, think back: how has this administration handled hecklers when the only speaker on the dais is Bush? They're manhandled. Tackled. Muzzled and dragged out before a gaffer can point a microphone in her direction. Hell - Cindy Sheehan was practically dragged out of Congress for simply wearing a t-shirt!
Now comes Pres. Hu... what happens?
Listen to the audio... http://www.npr.org/... (kudos to Luna Lovegood for the audio link!)
How bloody long was this lady allowed to yell, interrupt and talk over Hu before she was escorted from the area? I did not see anywhere near the urgency on behalf of the secret service or other "security personnel" to remove this embarrassment - and sadly, that's how the Asian community viewed this - an embarrassment.
Was this another nail in the coffin for US-China relations?
Was this another way for Bush to snub his nose at Hu? perhaps...
However, how special was it that the lady heckling was calling for more RELIGIOUS freedoms in China... and we all know how important religious freedom is to this administration. Was this a Rovian-inspired simultaneous jab at Hu AND a way to pander to the religious right? Perhaps...
The first two incidents in isolation COULD merely be co incidents... but then comes this:
Diplomatic FUCK YOU #2:
http://www.ndtv.com/...
(again - thanks to the lovely Luna for the addy!)
(Excerpt from the article)
The summit between Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W Bush began with a gaffe.
An announcer referred to China by the formal name of its rival, Taiwan, which China considers a rebellious province.
As Bush and Hu stood at attention outside the White House, an announcer said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the national anthem of the Republic of China, followed by the national anthem of the United States of America."
"Republic of China" is the formal name of the island 100 miles off the Chinese mainland. China is known formally as the "People's Republic of China".
Sensitive issue
Taiwan is the most delicate issue for China.
OKI....
First the missile sale case announcement
Second the heckler
Lastly, the announcer reads (READS people - I mean, after all, he's not making this shit up as he goes along - not at something as important as this visit) - well, he reads the announcement welcoming the leader of the "Republic of China"... vague - perhaps... but one wonders how that gets translated into Mandarin... I'm sure the "faux pas" did not go unnoticed by Hu, the delegation, and the world.
So, IMHO, we have a very orchestrated hardball plan to say, "Welcome to America - Fuck off!" (If looks like Rove... sounds like Rove... smells like Rove... yep - I think this was a very much a Rovian effort.)
This man was a guest - a leader of a very large country. We can debate their politics, their ongoing laundry list of human rights violations, etc. but this administration chose to piss in the face of their president at every turn... down to the smarmy look on Bush's face during the toast - I mean, was he trying to do a Patton (from the film when he stares down his Russian counterpart during a post-german surrender party? That works in the movies mate - its not the type of brinkmanship attitude the world wants to see from two men with fingers on the nuclear kill buttons.)
That said, has the US in the past EVER purposefully stuck it up the ass of a visiting premier? It's like inviting someone to a very public dinner and then doing everything you can to make the evening hell and to make him or her look bad. This petty coordinated effort to embarrass Hu may have done that - but the "side" that lost face was America.
THIS is NOT how a so-called "superpower" behaves. (Please, correct me if I'm wrong.)