Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian accusses Bush of Double Standards

[Bush loves Jiang]

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/12/15/2003079632

It's amazing that some conservatives still think Chen is one of them. :-P

I've known he was one of us for years.

[sistersofmercy]

1. Well, it is a double standard and that's bush co politics in a nutshell

Furthermore, to assume this war has anything to do with human rights is just wrong. Saudi Arabia,US ally, was #2 on the human rights violator top ten list published in coordination with various human rights groups, Iraq was # 9.

[baby_bear]

2. Dean spoke to this in Sunday's NYTimes

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/politics/campaigns/14DEAN.html

December 14, 2003
Dean Formulates a Nuanced Approach to Foreign Policy
By DAVID E. SANGER and JODI WILGOREN

</snip>
OMAHA, Dec. 12 — Howard Dean barely paused when asked what he would have done differently had he, instead of President Bush, been meeting with China's premier this week, in the midst of a flare-up between Taiwan and China.

"I would have probably said the same thing," he said of the president's warning to Taiwan not to even think about independence. "But I wouldn't have said it sitting next to the premier of China" because it undercut another American ally.
...
To emphasize his differences with Mr. Bush, who came to office three years ago vowing that the military would never be tied up with "nation building," Dr. Dean says his hero was George C. Marshall — the general who rebuilt Europe after World War II. (Mr. Bush has belatedly taken up the Marshall imagery as well, citing his work as a model for Iraq.) But mostly Dr. Dean talks about when to pick up the big stick in public, and when to take a whack in private.

"I think business can be accomplished with respect but directness, and I think the president is probably direct but not respectful," Dr. Dean said. "And that's why his administration has had what I consider to be the most disastrous foreign policy since, I don't know when, my lifetime anyway.

"I believe in being very direct and very blunt privately. But I think it's important not to embarrass people publicly."

</snip>

You know, it just doesn't seem to me that ANYone should have to point out these obvious lessons in human and political relations to the president (ahem) of the United States of America. But, I'm glad Dean has done so, although not that anyone in the WH will pay attention. Maybe one or two voters will though.



s_m

[xchrom]

3. so do i

the west has a habit of selling minority rights to self determination to the highest bidder.