WP:Rice Questioned on Skipping S.E. Asian Meeting(ceding region to China?)

[DeepModem Mom]

Rice Questioned on Skipping Southeast Asian Meeting
Secretary of State Inspects Tsunami Reconstruction

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 11, 2005


BAN BANG SAK, Thailand, July 11 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a goodwill visit Monday to inspect reconstruction efforts after the Indian Ocean tsunami, was dogged with questions about her decision to skip an annual gathering of Southeast Asian nations this month, which had been a regular diplomatic stop for her predecessors.

For more than two decades, every secretary of state has attended key meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Rice's choice -- which she officially confirmed Monday -- has been interpreted in the region as a major diplomatic snub. Her deputy, Robert B. Zoellick, will go instead, she said....

***

As word leaked out in recent weeks that Rice would not attend the ASEAN meetings, many commentators have interpreted the move as a sign that the United States is ceding the region to China, which is rapidly building trade and diplomatic links with ASEAN's members. Later this month, for instance, China and Indonesia will sign a strategic partnership between their defense industries.

Kavi Chongkittavorn, the influential editor of The Nation, one of Thailand's major newspapers, wrote in a commentary Monday that "her absence will be criticized as a sign of disinterest in the region" and "will not resonate well."

U.S. officials dismiss the uproar as silly and unproductive. They said Zoellick is a powerful deputy with vast experience in the region, and already knows many key officials. Zoellick recently visited a number of Southeast Asia nations and so can follow up on those discussions, they said. He then will travel to China for two to three days of intensive talks....


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

[applegrove]

1. Yes and Bush also will not agree to the G20 or anything that would

see Brazil & China & India at World meetings. Seems Bush has settled for being a big fish in a soon to be small pond.

Terrible. How are we to fight and push China for human rights and environmental change if we don't make them part of the world community.

[mom cat]

2. How are WE going to push anyone for human rights and environmental change

when we are woefully in the wrong on both.

[applegrove]

3. Exactly. But I have hope in my heart that "Stem" & his sorry assed

gang of ****drinkers will be out of power in the years to come. Remember that they have to recycle Bolton's and people convicted of Iran Contra scandals to fill key positions. They are not as big a cabal as we think. And people are beginning to think for themselves. I guess I have hope for you all.

My worry on China, Brazil & India is that they may be happily outside of the G8 at that point and will see no reason to join at that time. And that will be the end of Western dominance of the world. They'll just walk on by and build up institutions amongst themselves.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. "They are not as big a cabal as we think."

I'd never thought of that. You're right, applebee -- same old players, some going all the way back to Nixon.

[mom cat]

5. This time we need to do more radical surgery...get rid of more of the

cancer.

[applegrove]

6. Exactly. There are not that many of them and some rats are jumping

from the sinking ship.

[Pirate Smile]

Visiting Tsunami Survivors, Rice Faces Annoyed Asian Leaders

BAN BANG SAK, Thailand, July 11 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice traveled here today to visit a tsunami-ravaged village, saying she wanted to show that the United States "cares about Southeast Asia."

But she flew, too, into a storm of criticism over her decision not to attend the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations convention later this month. If, as seems likely, her decision stands, she will be the first secretary of state in more than 20 years not to attend, and some of the region's leaders are upset by her choosing to send Deputy Secretary Robert Zoellick in her stead.

"Lots of people were offended by this decision," a senior Asian diplomat said. "We all have respect for Mr. Zoellick, but it is a statement of her priorities."

"It's regrettable," said the Malaysian foreign minister, Syed Hamid Albar, quoted by Kyodo, the Japanese news agency. "I hope it is not an indication that the U.S. is giving less importance or showing less interest in Asean while focusing on the Middle East."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/international/asia/11...

[Demeter]

7. "Thailand Throws Rice"!

That felt so good!

[Cha]

8. Sounds like a blessing in

disquise to me..nobody can emanate evil like rice..except for the head monkey and gofuckyourself cheney.

[Pirate Smile]

9. True but it always amazes me how they f@#k up the basic stuff. This

sounds like just one standard event Secretaries of State always attend - but then this crowd just assumes that the normal rules and standards just don't apply to them.

[oasis]

10. "9/11 changed everything" the Bushies have it tatooed on their foreheads.

It's their excuse for treating the rest of the world like shit.

[MisterP]

12. there goes all that "good will" you built up throwing pennies after

corpses, you twisted vulture-lady!

[lovuian]

11. She's a bit of a scaredy cat isn't she!!!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. Even if she went, she'd be lost among the REAL diplomats.

Way to give away the keys to the kingdom, Condie Baby. Jeez.