Bush Says China's Space Program Not a Threat

Reuters ^ | October 18, 2003

[sarcasm]

MANILA (Reuters) - President Bush said he did not see China's space program as a threat, rather as a sign the Asian giant is emerging as a sophisticated country, according to an interview released on Saturday.

``It's an interesting development,'' Bush told Channel News Asia in the interview released by the White House. ``No, I don't view it as a threat.''

China's first man in space returned to Earth on Thursday, completing a historic odyssey four decades after the Soviet Union and the United States pioneered manned spaceflight.

``I think it's a country that's now beginning to emerge as a sophisticated country. And it's got great potential... I hope that they are able to make discoveries in space, like we did, that the technology that will come out of that will help mankind,'' he added.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

And Islam is a religon of peace and mercy.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Jim Pinkerton has a good column this week regarding this subject. Can be linked from Drudge.

[hopespringseternal]

To be president today, you have to go around muttering inanities: "Islam is a religion of peace," "The Chinese space program is not a threat," "Ted Kennedy is a distinguished lawmaker dedicated to public service."

[rabidralph]

I'm sure the proper people are monitoring the situation. Yes, presidents have to say silly things these days to stay out of hot water.

[Savage Beast]

Why does this remind me of Bush's "I love Islam; it's a religion of peace!" speeches???

If he's so pleased, maybe he could arrange for Bill Clinton to receive one of those Bush Public Service Awards, like the one Teddy Kennedy got.

[Savage Beast]

I see we think alike. Maybe we're perceptive. Or maybe it's so obvious that even the blind can see it.

[tbpiper]

of Bush's "I love Islam;

Did you get this from the 'said threat is imminent' writer's guide?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hope so.

[KevinDavis]

He is wrong!

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[SerpentDove]

>>``It's an interesting development,'' Bush told Channel News Asia in the interview released by the White House. ``No, I don't view it as a threat.''<<

I cannot believe this! Somebody tell me this is a hoax.

[trebb]

Why should it surprise anyone that the President will not be baited into making contentious statements that would only serve to create tensions? Anyone who thinks what he says in a public interview and what he says in the situation room are one and the same, has to be naive. It seems to me that he stated it well: I think it's a country that's now beginning to emerge as a sophisticated country. and noting the potenential was actually an astute move - why not flatter your enemy? The President's statement seems to be in line with some of the teachings of Sun Yat-Sen, who was probably China's best chance for a representative republic type of government. His statements were most likely aimed at the Chinese people, not the government. Flatter the people and you have a billion les enemies. With that many people, their opinion can have a huge effect on the direction government takes.

[Consort]

He's being diplomatic. Sometimes we overreact.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

And I'm scared of anything that is different.

[bonesmccoy]

who the heck is the national security advisor on this one?

Is Condi?

[SerpentDove]

>>He's being diplomatic. Sometimes we overreact.
<<

Good point. Maybe this is his way of throwing them off the scent of his real intentions.

It wouldn't surprise me.

[rabidralph]

Maybe this is his way of throwing them off the scent of his real intentions.

He's been doing it the past 3 years, I don't know why people on here overreact. Gives them a way to fill bandwidth, I guess.

[anymouse]

`No, I don't view it as a threat.''

This is President Bush's way of politely insulting China's technical abilities. Chinese are big on "face" (ego) psychology. Being considered a threat is a major ego stroke. Conversely being referred to by one's "enemy" in public as "not being a threat" is a big put down. Think about it.

On a more technical note, the Chinese aren't planning to launch another manned mission for another 2 years. So technically speaking, they are not busting out into space in a major way - yet.

Those two aspects aside, it would be unwise to really underestimate the ChiCom's drive into space. They may be getting a slow start, but they do have most of the right pieces in place and the technical infrastructure to mount a significant space program within the next 5 years or so. Meanwhile NASA is trying to convince Congress that it can be trusted to launch men into space again. The good news is that the commercial guys are quickly moving to bypass NASA on the road to space. Let loose capitalism in space and the ChiComs will keep being 30-40 years behind the power curve.

[mythought]

You may say whatever you want to say, and we can do whatever we want to do. Who cares about your stupid "about face, not a threat, bah, bah,...." words ?

[Brett66]

I don't understand why the Chinese aren't pushing their manned program more. I guess the estimates of them going to the moon around 2030 are probably correct. I guess their plan is to take so long getting there that they'll have accommodations in a private lunar hotel when they eventually land on the surface. LOL! If they have a 30 year timetable, it looks like that will happen.