US decides on transit plan: source (President Bush Bans Taiwan President from Contiental US)

Taipei Times ^ | 5-3-06 | Charles Snyder and Nadia Tsao

[Octar]

It is not the time for the Taiwanese to make a stink. As others have said, Realpolitik requires some unpleasantness at times.

Of course, you are right, given the immediate situation with Iran. But it's truly unfortunate that we have allowed our stature in the world to degenerate as we have. No nation should be able to hold influence over who our leaders can choose to interact with.

[Gordongekko909]

Nowhere in there do I see an apology. Expressions of sorrow (read: sympathy and condolences) all around, but nothing indicating acceptance of responsibility and apology.

Diplomat-speak, dude.

[Darkwolf377]

"We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation — the moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right..." You didn't honestly expect him to mean it, did you? ;)

I expected him to mean it when he swore to protect this country, which is a helluva lot more important than letting this guy land when we're going up against a potential nuclear threat and need China on our side.

Unless while watching Israel get bombed we can sit there, smiling, and say "Hey, as long as we let the Taiwanese President hang out for a few hours, this is worth it!"

[Californiajones]

Bush is suddenly tough on letting foreigners into the U.S.?

[FreeReign]

Of course, you are right, given the immediate situation with Iran. But it's truly unfortunate that we have allowed our stature in the world to degenerate as we have. No nation should be able to hold influence over who our leaders can choose to interact with.

We are the number one arms seller to Taiwan. I also believe we are the number one trading partner with Taiwan.

Bush has vowed to defend Taiwan against China.

The source for this story is unnamed. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions except this:

Freedom and Independence for Taiwan!

[Californiajones]

Bush and the rest of the world have appeased and fed China into the enemy she really is. Bush is doing a Chamberlain with China and the US will have to pay the price.

[HAL9000]

This is rotten news, but it's all about getting China to cooperate (or at least abstain) on Security Council votes on sanctions against Iran and North Korea.

[Octar]

We are the number one arms seller to Taiwan. I also believe we are the number one trading partner with Taiwan. Bush has vowed to defend Taiwan against China. The source for this story is unnamed. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions except this: Freedom and Independence for Taiwan!

I know all that, but push hasn't come to shove yet. I am apprehensive about how things will unfold when the day comes when mainland China makes it's move on Taiwan. Time will tell, but I do not wait in comfort.

[RunningWolf]

Bush has vowed to defend Taiwan against China.

Yes that is what counts in the end.

The source for this story is unnamed

I did not see that, thanks for the heads up.

W.

[panaxanax]

Re: Bush's Inaugural Address.

Nice speech written by his puppet-masters.

Is he trying for single digit approval ratings? I doubt we'll hear anything from the MSM on this most recent blunder. It's time America stopped kissing Chinese and Mexican butt.

[Darkwolf377]

Bush is doing a Chamberlain with China and the US will have to pay the price.

That's ridiculous. Please forward the President YOUR incredible plan for getting China to go along on Iran, and share it with the rest of us, too. And no, "Telling China to drop dead and nuking Iran" don't cut it--I mean a plan taking place in reality.

The lack of respect for the President in this place--NOT cowtowing, not agreeing with him on everything, but the casual insulting of someone none of us can even come close to having the abilities of--would make me laugh if it weren't so sad.

OK, armchair Presidents, let's hear the Great Plan.

[Alexander Rubin]

Screw this. We should recognize Chen as a foreign head of state. Let China put that in their commie pipes and smoke it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

China isn't going to support Bush on Iran, sinkspur. Quit spinning.

[tallhappy]

They are when we're eyeball-to-eyeball with Iran and they're the go-between.

That's not even close to being true. And if it were, we'd be in very very sad shape and might as well let the communists run all our foreign policy.

[zarf]

Pity actions never match rhetoric.

Presidents discover that one war at a time is a hard enough.

Easy to bitch from a computer keyboard. Welcome to the real world.

[tallhappy]

Unless while watching Israel get bombed we can sit there

Oh yeah, this will keep Israel from being bombed. The speciousness of some comments.

[churchillbuff]

Is this another Bush move that I'm supposed to applaud? I thought he said "freedom is on the march"? Then why is he hosting the Red China dictator, but snubbing the elected leader of free Taiwan?