Democrats & Liberals: Archives

December 23, 2004

In Fini, Veritas

Outgoing Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, was on PBS the other day. He pretty much put the last nail in a free, democratic Taiwan’s coffin,

We have the requirement with the Taiwan Relations Act to keep sufficient force in the Pacific to be able to deter attack; we are not required to defend.

…We all agree that there is but one China, and Taiwan is part of China.

The whole interview is worth a read. I was particularly interested in his appraisal of Iran,

I believe that Iranians, who are perfectly congenial and wonderful one on one, in a group are quite ethnocentric, nationalistic and, indeed, hegemonistic.

...they think they're still at the time of Xerxes and Persepolis.

Following accusations of Iranian interference in Iraq's upcoming election, that's an interesting assessment.

Posted by American Pundit at December 23, 2004 07:50 AM
Comments
Comment #39236

AP, so much for fighting for freedom anywhere on the planet.

Posted by: Rocky at December 23, 2004 12:31 PM
Comment #39248

Now why in the hell would he say something like that.
What’s he trying to accomplish?
Sounds like he is just trying to show the administration that he still has the qualifications needed to stay on board with them.

Posted by: kctim at December 23, 2004 02:45 PM
Comment #39275

kctim, Armitage is saying the same thing Powell and Bush have been saying about Taiwan and China. Remember a couple months ago when Powell was in China and affirmed that the US would never recognize a free, sovereign Taiwan?

That’s official Bush administration policy.

Posted by: American Pundit at December 24, 2004 01:20 AM
Comment #39364

Ap,
I guess the lack of response to this thread shows the importance of Taiwan and it’s freedom to the American people.
America can go into a soverign country and depose its leader, with the claim of building a democracy, but can’t seem to find the will to support a country that is already a democracy that is struggling for freedom.

Posted by: Rocky at December 26, 2004 12:40 PM
Comment #39403

AP
Sorry, wasn’t ignoring your reply, holidays.

“Armitage is saying the same thing Powell and Bush have been saying about Taiwan and China.”
- I am totally for a free Taiwan. What I meant by still having the qualifications was that he was showing he was still willing to follow this administrations lead. No matter how dumb.

Posted by: kctim at December 27, 2004 09:33 AM