[colorado tanker]

"Instead the people chose to vent their anger, such as it was, against their own government. What was an American gunboat doing in China in the first place? Didn't the president and Congress know there was a war going on over there? What were they trying to do, make the Orient safe for democracy?"

Sounds like some of the same drivel we're hearing about Iraq.

[Light Speed]

USS Guam PR-3

The Port treaties of the 1920's..which enabled commerce on the inland rivers of China.
The many "Gunboats" serving on China Station so that companies like Standard Oil could explore resource possibilities in China.

The current dilemma of Iraq has been the norm for a hundred years as envious peoples attack progess in the name of nationalism.

oil/commerce and Communist China...oil/commerce and Islam.

not much change in 100 yrs