[Carry_Okie]

Indeed, instead of adopting the true Soviet independent model of Israel to support, we adopted the Soviet collaborating Chinese detente pipe dream... All because size mattered more than vital language, ie. Corruption.

That doesn't fit my recollection, which was that splitting China off from the "communist bloc" would weaken the Soviet empire. It wasn't so much about what we would gain as what they would lose.

[lavaroise]

well, China never really pi$$ed the Soviets off as Israel did when Israel split off from Stalin to be completely independent. That split never really occurred for China. They still view us as colonizers.