The Rise of the Chinese Cheneys

[SpiralHawk]

From Nicholas Kristoff in today's NYT:

"American opinion tends to be divided between panda-huggers (“China is fabulous!”) and panda-muggers (“China is evil!”), but the truth lies between this yin and yang...

"My take is that China is going through a period resembling the Bush era in the United States: hawks and hard-liners have gained ground in domestic politics, and they scoff at the country’s diplomats as wimps...

"...The upshot is that China-Firsters — Chinese versions of Dick Cheney — have a greater voice. Brace yourself."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/opinion/20kristof.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

[ixion]

1. Despite my interest in China's long an colorful history,

I'm in the China is Evil camp, at least for the time being.

Of course, I see most industrialized nation-states as inherently 'evil' so that's not necessarily saying a whole lot.

[SpiralHawk]

2. If we distinguish the Chinese plutocratic oligarchy from the Chinese people

then I am among those who would lump the Chinese Plutocrats in the same dank netherworld with Cheney and the rest of the chickenhawk, war-profiteering, ethically-pathetic, short-sighted, fear-besotted, torture-giddy, fascist-oriented Republicons.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. China has always seemed to me to be a weirdly contrasting mix

of sublime cultural achievements, marvelous traditions, and intermittently barbaric social policies since the earliest days of the Han dynasty.

[ixion]

6. Yep, I agree...

[Octafish]

3. And for whom does Cheney toll?

Know your BFEE: Olympic Games Show Who’s Best Friends Forever with Authoritarians and Dictators

Kick to the pants of dictators and tyrants, everywhere.

[peekaloo]

5. Wang Dynasty?

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[Jackpine Radical]

7. Was that before or after

the Dong Dynasty?