Pentagon: Chinese vessels harassed Navy ship

MSNBC ^

[boughtwithaprice]

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon said Monday that Chinese ships shadowed and maneuvered dangerously close to a U.S. Navy vessel in what appeared to be an effort to harass the American crew.

The Obama administration is protesting to the Chinese government. The protest will be delivered to Beijing's military attache on Monday.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Here we go.

[autumnraine]

Literally the sharks are circling. They smell blood with our “tired and overwhelmed” President.

[SueRae]

Will that happen before or after the Chinese buy more of our debt?

[autumnraine]

“Here we go.”

Yeah, why do I have that same feeling I get when clicking up to the top of the roller coaster and the first car has whooshed over the drop?

[Tallguy]

Shades of the “EP-3 Incident” early in the Bush Administration. The Chinese are testing Obama.

[John123]

The Obama administration is protesting to the Chinese government.

Oh no! Obama has too much on his plate now...

And I still can't believe the only skill Obama has is talking via the teleprompter and he got elected anyways...

[Doofer]

It happens from time to time.

[ETL]

From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
_______________________________________________________

Russia, China flex muscles in joint war games
Reuters: Aug 17, 2007

CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and China staged their biggest joint exercises on Friday but denied this show of military prowess could lead to the formation of a counterweight to NATO.

"Today's exercises are another step towards strengthening the relations between our countries, a step towards strengthening international peace and security, and first and foremost, the security of our peoples," Putin said.

Fighter jets swooped overhead, commandos jumped from helicopters on to rooftops and the boom of artillery shells shook the firing range in Russia's Ural mountains as two of the largest armies in the world were put through their paces.

The exercises take place against a backdrop of mounting rivalry between the West, and Russia and China for influence over Central Asia, a strategic region that has huge oil, gas and mineral resources.

Russia's growing assertiveness is also causing jitters in the West. Putin announced at the firing range that Russia was resuming Soviet-era sorties by its strategic bomber aircraft near NATO airspace.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29030120070817?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
_______________________________________________________

From National Public Radio (NPR):
August 29, 2006
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been visiting countries such as China, Iran and Russia as part of an effort to build a 'strategic alliance' of interests not beholden to the United States. He considers the United States his arch enemy.":
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5729764

[John123]

Shades of the “EP-3 Incident” early in the Bush Administration. The Chinese are testing Obama.

I seem to remember that "Nancy" had an opinion what to do back then... and her hubby has financial ties with the Chinese...

[domenad]

Anyone with a piss amount of brains knows this is a test - How will the new President respond? If it’s anything short of “The next ship that gets that close gets blown up,” the Chinese will sense weakness, and rightfully so. You think the Chinese fear an arougala salad-eating wuss like Obama?

[dblshot]

Confucius say, man with too much on plate must pay extra.

[Doofer]

Literally the sharks are circling. They smell blood with our “tired and overwhelmed” President.

They're just testing the new President.

The question is how will he react?

[Redbob]

"The Obama administration is protesting to the Chinese government."

Oh, yeah, THAT'll scare 'em!
</sarc>

[pallis]

Weakness is always bad policy.

[The_Victor]

The statement said the Navy sprayed one ship with water from fire hoses to force it away and the Chinese crew members stripped to their underwear and continued closing within 25 feet.

???

Are they trying to tell us something about Chinese sailors?

[windcliff]

That’s what I’m thinking.

[Spirochete]

Putin announced at the firing range that Russia was resuming Soviet-era sorties by its strategic bomber aircraft near NATO airspace.

[Doofer]

Anyway welcome to the real world Obama......

[gridlock]

From the Telegraph (UK)

Barack Obama 'too tired' to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown

Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president was facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.

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He may have to focus on foreign affairs, whether he wants to or not!