China and Its President Greeted by a Host of Indignities

[kpete]

China and Its President Greeted by a Host of Indignities

By Dana Milbank
Friday, April 21, 2006; Page A02

"You're okay," Bush gently reassured Hu.

But he wasn't okay, not really. The protocol-obsessed Chinese leader suffered a day full of indignities -- some intentional, others just careless. The visit began with a slight when the official announcer said the band would play the "national anthem of the Republic of China" -- the official name of Taiwan. It continued when Vice President Cheney donned sunglasses for the ceremony, and again when Hu, attempting to leave the stage via the wrong staircase, was yanked back by his jacket. Hu looked down at his sleeve to see the president of the United States tugging at it as if redirecting an errant child.

Then there were the intentional slights. China wanted a formal state visit such as Jiang got, but the administration refused, calling it instead an "official" visit. Bush acquiesced to the 21-gun salute but insisted on a luncheon instead of a formal dinner, in the East Room instead of the State Dining Room. Even the visiting country's flags were missing from the lampposts near the White House.

But as protocol breaches go, it's hard to top the heckling of a foreign leader at the White House. Explaining the incident -- the first disruption at the executive mansion in recent memory -- White House and Secret Service officials said she was "a legitimate journalist" and that there was nothing suspicious in her background. In other words: Who knew?

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/20/AR2006042001946.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Jeebus - they shame us all...

Mayberry Machiavellis, indeed!:grr:

[mdmc]

2. just wait for "diplomacy" in IRAqN

:eyes:

[Missy M]

3. Is Bushco capable of doing anything right.....

what a bunch of incompetent fools. They have all the tools at their fingertips and they still can't get it right.

[sweetheart]

7. but that was all deliberate

Its not a question of "right", but of omens in behaviour
that reflect international relations.

Jerking china by the coat humiliatingly in public is
certainly more than "getting it wrong". Its worse
than barfing in someone's lap, or forgetting which
country is brazil and which bolivia.

[xultar]

4. Caption to 2nd pix "Get your muthafuckin monkeypaws..."

OH MY GOD, DID HE RIP THE MANS SLEEVE!!!!!??????????

[Zynx]

6. HE DID!

You can clearly see it!

[xultar]

14. CHIMPY RIPPED THE MANS MUTHAFUCKIN SLEEVE!!!

FUCKIN PRICELESS!

[DrDebug]

17. LMFAO

I have tears in my eyes from laughing so loud.

[LisaLynne]

18. I just saw that!!!

You are totally right -- that asshat ripped his sleeve!!!!!

[Buzz Clik]

21. Photoshopped

Go to the Washington Post link in the original message and watch the slide show. No ripped sleeve. Then, look at the source of the photo in this thread -- a satirical website that specializes in faux fotos.

You been had, folks.

[Virginia Dare]

9. Well, put that on our Chinese debit card...

a new custom suit for their dear leader.

:argh:

[indie_voter]

5. After the arm tugging, this is my favorite

The two unexpectedly agreed to take questions from reporters, but Bush grew impatient as Hu gave a long answer about trade, made all the longer by the translation. Bush at one point tapped his foot on the ground. "It was a very comprehensive answer," he observed when Hu finished.

emphasis mine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

[newportdadde]

8. Is it just me or does Hu's suite look ripped at the shoulder?

[indie_voter]

10. OMG!!!! It does look ripped. I'm looking for photos on yahoo.

?x=380&y=329&sig=uwSSYBbWtLDUIf.VH.mbhg--

[MamaBear]

11. Heard on the Radio

I heard on Air America yesterday that there was a group of protestors clearly visible to Hu throughout the luncheon through the windows of the room where the luncheon was held in the White House. How come:

1. If true, protestors were allowed to congregate in the clear view of a visiting dignitary when protesting his policies, but New Yorkers and others had to take the City to court to be able to march in the same borough and not in Queens, across a river and in another county during the Republican National Convention; and

2. How come the Chinese heckler was allowed to scream for (according to Rachel Maddow this morning) some three minutes before they removed her, while Cindy Sheehan, who was causing no disturbance whatsoever, was hustled out of the room as soon as she showed a bit of tee shirt?

Just askin'.

[LisaLynne]

19. Excellent points, MamaBear.

Hmmm. Do you think they were trying to insult him? I wonder...

[All50inBlue]

12. So did

you alter (PHOTOCHOP) the 2nd picture or did you find it on the net?

Why do some people resort to posting FAKE pictures to try to make a point?

The suit jacket sleeve was NOT TORN, you can see this in dozens of pictures taken AFTER the sleeve grab.

BUSHCO has done ENOUGH on their OWN to deserve scorn and ridicule. But when our side LIES or OTHERWISE presents FAKE documentation, it makes us look bad, just like the guys who say the WTC was brought down by demolition and the Flight 93 passengers are on an island in a US gov't prison.

[ZanZaBar]

16. I thought the WTC *WAS* brought down by demolition...

[NJCher]

13. watch words of the bush administration

White House and Secret Service officials said she was "a legitimate journalist" and that there was nothing suspicious in her background. In other words: Who knew?

Who knew?

Cher

[kpete]

15. Hu knew!

[RagingInMiami]

20. That what happens when you buy clothes

"Made in China"

[sam sarrha]

22. my wife lost her pattern job to China, Makes more now fixing their shit

[huskerlaw]

23. About the journalist...

Was this a case of ignorance on the White House's part (like that would be the first time) or did they do it intentionally?

Also, since when are we against a protestor speaking freely against her government? The Chinese aren't exactly perfect, she probably had a legitimate complaint. Meanwhile, if a foreign country accidentally (or otherwise) allowed an American protestor into a Bush press conference and that protestor screamed the same things at him, wouldn't we be celebrating it rather than complaining about a break in protocol?

As for the rest of the slights though...totally humiliating.

[cliss]

24. Bush just can't let go of the image of the

"Leader of the world". He said so in the presidential debates last year. "We're the leader and we're prepared to lead (the world).

Look at the patronizing look on Bush's face as he tugs on Mr. Hu's sleeve. It's all there on his face....the arrogance, the so-called superiority.

Let's face it: Bush can't accept the fact that China now owns the U.S.


But I'm sure Mr. Hu has some plans for Bush when he gets off that plane.....

[Frank Cannon]

25. Bush should be able to accept the fact that China owns us

After all, he played a huge hand in selling us to them.

[ProfessorPlum]

26. My favorite is Cheney donning sunglasses

Parkas at Auschwitz and now "my future's so bright . . . " with Hu.

Do these a-holes WANT China to stop financing their wonderful wars? What gives?

[kpete]

27. and this...

[cliss]

28. What's up with that photo?

I think that's Cheney, on the left. He's obviously asleep.

I think the man in front of the statue is Rumsfailed. He also looks like he's asleep.....but on his feet.

Weird....just weird.