“Yeah, Bush was a MONSTAH when the Chicoms forced down that plane. Yup, he scared the msg out of them.”
What most people don’t understand is China is not a nation under one leader like the other nations. The president of China is like the head of a homeowners association. He has to negotiate with the Red Generals, who own the country. The general who had the US Navy people OWNED the base they were at. He owned all the roads, factories and technology in his district. Bush never had contact with him. The president of China had to negotiate with what is essentially a modern war lord. That was a situation where soft diplomacy worked. As a matter of fact, it was the only diplomacy possible.
I do not disagree with your assessment.
But to suggest that Bush was “harsh” on anyone after April 2003 is just wrong.
He did not win the wars. He tried to build a nation.
He dismissed thousands of years of history, thinking his NeoCon way of thinking was better than the Greeks, Persians, Ottomans, British, and Russians.
Trying to play down the middle with the Chinese might be a good plan. And I respect that.