Friday, July 02, 2004
"Do You Feel Lucky, Punk?" Gunboat Diplomacy, Bush Style
Just in case China thinks the US is so preoccupied with Iraq that we can't open up a can of whoopass on behalf of freedom in Taiwan, the United States Navy is dispatching seven--count 'em--seven carrier battle groups to the waters around Taiwan and China.
In contrast, the US only peaked at four carrier battle groups during Desert Storm and the 2003 Iraq war.
This is in response to another round of Chicom sabre-rattling and threats to use force to quash Taiwanese democracy.
The show of force is demonstrating is overwhelming. There is nothing ambiguous about the signal to the Chinese. It's George Bush's way of saying "Do you feel lucky, punk?"
Which is good. The clearer the signal, the less likely it is China will attempt to invade Taiwan.
I was struck by the silliness in the last paragraph:
Naked inimidation? Just what has been the Chicom policy towards Taiwan for decades? Shall we ask Tibetan nuns about 'naked intimidation?' I'm sure they're experts on the subject by now.
And why is it gunboat diplomacy that imperils Sino-US relations? Why isn't it ever Chinese bullying, threats, and aggression that imperils Sino-US relations?
Splash, out
Jason
In contrast, the US only peaked at four carrier battle groups during Desert Storm and the 2003 Iraq war.
This is in response to another round of Chicom sabre-rattling and threats to use force to quash Taiwanese democracy.
The show of force is demonstrating is overwhelming. There is nothing ambiguous about the signal to the Chinese. It's George Bush's way of saying "Do you feel lucky, punk?"
Which is good. The clearer the signal, the less likely it is China will attempt to invade Taiwan.
I was struck by the silliness in the last paragraph:
Politically, Summer Pulse is likely to be seen by many Chinese as naked intimidation.
'This is gunboat diplomacy in the 21st century,' the source remarked, adding that it would remind the Chinese people of their century-long deep humiliation by Western powers - and put Sino-US relations at peril.
Naked inimidation? Just what has been the Chicom policy towards Taiwan for decades? Shall we ask Tibetan nuns about 'naked intimidation?' I'm sure they're experts on the subject by now.
And why is it gunboat diplomacy that imperils Sino-US relations? Why isn't it ever Chinese bullying, threats, and aggression that imperils Sino-US relations?
Splash, out
Jason
Comments:
Dude!
You've been had!
Remember how wound up you get when you see an article talk about a battalion and it should be a brigade or something? Same thing.
The PULSEX is worldwide, not just off the Taiwan coast. Reporter is missing some context.
Here's the Straits Times's frickin' context:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/surge04.html
Chap.
http://www.gmapalumni.org/chapomatic
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You've been had!
Remember how wound up you get when you see an article talk about a battalion and it should be a brigade or something? Same thing.
The PULSEX is worldwide, not just off the Taiwan coast. Reporter is missing some context.
Here's the Straits Times's frickin' context:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/surge04.html
Chap.
http://www.gmapalumni.org/chapomatic
# posted by 
: 9:11 PM
: 9:11 PM
