This isn't just Clinton's mess, President Bush's economic trade policywith China is just as dangerous because it provides them with the money to build their military and their international economic muscle.
Why we trade with these communist thugs and help strengthen their economy and their military capability is beyond my understanding.
Once they gain enough nukes to force a nuclear standoff with the U.S., a conventional war with them could be disasterous.
"Why we trade with these communist thugs and help strengthen their economy and their military capability is beyond my understanding."
I think this article (link below) written by Thomas P.M. Barnett (Advisor to both the Bush administration and the Pentagon) explains the "logic" (being polite) as to why those in power continue this type of disasterous (IMO) foreign policy concerning China and other countries considered yet to be fully included in the desired "Globalization" that we are hearing about more and more these days. It also includes the "logic" as to why we should have gone in to Iraq... WMD's or not.
http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2004/040510_mfe_barnett_1.html
I first found this article at www.cfr.org but is no longer there. I believe Mr. Barnett is a CFR member in good standing as are most of our top politicians and their advisors.