What Really Happened on Bush's Asia Visit

Wall Street Journal ^ | 11/23/05 | Arthur Waldron

[harpu]

Mr. Bush made an unflinching pro-freedom speech in Kyoto, praised Taiwan, and worshipped at a Christian church in Beijing.

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Clearly Mr. Bush's trip was intended to do something new and it did. It has redefined the terms on which the United States deals with Asia, putting freedom at the center.

-snip-

Mr. Bush clearly understands that even for Asians, freedom and democracy are inalienable human rights and essential to the long term health and survival of a state.

-snip-

Therefore it makes no sense to argue that the president could have gathered more "deliverables" in the form of agreements on economic and intellectual property issues, or improved the atmospherics in China, by following the previously standard script according to which visitors avoid the host of issues, freedom most importantly, that Beijing finds "sensitive."

-snip-

But Bush knew exactly what he was doing, and by raising the crucial but difficult issues, he demonstrated that he and those who planned the trip had their eyes clearly on the big questions the answers to which will set long term directions for Asia and her relations with the world.

-snip-

Mr. Hu could do worse than listen to President Bush, whose advice is correct, if not welcome.

[harpu]

Too good an article to be wasted with excerpts...ping me and I will get a complete copy to you via private mail.

Bush getting the job done - internatioally.

[Issaquahking]

Pingimg for an excellent read when I get home this afternoon!

[SquirrelKing]

You mean there was actual diplomacy? I thought Chimpy McBushitlerburton travelled all the way to the Orient so that he could dodge "tough questions" about Iraq and then fumble with a locked door.

/MSM coverage

[HarleyLady27]

MR Bush????????????

Excuse me, but its PRESIDENT BUSH!!!!

[Alia]

I'm pinging you, please!