China's Hu cancels White House visit, cites Katrina

[MaineDem]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A planned visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House, set for next week, was canceled because of Hurricane Katrina, the White House said on Saturday.

(Sorry that's all there is to the article.)

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=9552271&src=rss/topNews

[napi21]

1. Because of the hurricane or because of the way we didn't handle it?

I'll be interestd to find out really why he cancelled his trip!

[JuniperLea]

4. Good point

Maybe he figures the USA is useless and not so high and mighty that he needs to worry about relations with us anymore.

[JuniperLea]

2. He knows Bush's priorities...

And doesn't want to be used as a distraction. Good on him.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. he knows bush's priorities better than bush.

THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM!

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. He should stiil come.

Then he could tell Bush how his government managed to evacuate 750,000 last week from an area in China that was about to be hit by a typhoon.

Matt

[JuniperLea]

5. Cool... got a link to that story?

We are doomed. Seriously. Money means more than human life and suffering to this administration.

[MinneapolisMatt]

6. Here it is:

And my bad. It was about a month ago, and it was over ONE MILLION people.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/china-evacuates-124-million/2005/08/06/1123125935338.html


Matt

[JuniperLea]

7. Thanks, Matt

Someone needs to clue The Shrubbery in on this!

[newswolf56]

9. No matter how Bush spins it, this is a diplomatic slap in the face.

Remember that China -- despite its strategy of using capitalism to combat capitalism -- is still a Marxist nation. Despite its human rights record, it would therefore officially deplore the atrocity of New Orleans. And Hu Jintao himself probably doesn't want to be associated too closely with politicians who practice genocide-by-neglect and genocide-by-indifference. Hu also doesn't want Bush to use him, a la Goebbels, as a bread-and-circus distraction.

Besides, didn't I hear early this week that China offered disaster aid -- and Bush scornfully refused it?

If true, Hu's cancellation of the visit might also be diplomatic payback for that act of arrogance.


Edit: completion.

[phiddle]

10. Hu didn't REALLY want to talk with *, anyway.

[goforit]

11. LOL!!!.....Too bad Rove.

[GoldenOldie]

12. Also the WH implied that HU was not important enough for a State dinner.

[goforit]

17. Arrogance to the max.

[daleo]

13. He assumed Bush would be too busy helping his people

I guess he doesn't know Bush.

[UpInArms]

16. I certain *Co will be "busy helping his people"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/10/18/politics/main242210.shtml

Bush gazed around the diamond-studded $800-a-plate crowd and commented on the wealth on display.

"This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores," quipped the GOP standard-bearer. "Some people call you the elites; I call you my base."

[Eloriel]

14. I imagine they're objecting to our human rights record re Katrina

I noted an item earlier today that CHINA had just evacuated some 700,000+ people in a typhoon or something.

[UpInArms]

15. Appears to be a vote of "no confidence" in this maladministration

to even meet and discuss world affairs with someone who cannot even take care of their own ship of state.

Looks like that ship is sinking.