HOW IS AIDING AN ALLY AT THE EXPENSE OF AN ENEMY NOT A WIN?:

Obama in no-win situation over Taiwan arms sale (Josh Rogin , 09/15/2009, The Cable: Foreign Policy)

The People's Republic of China cut off military-to-military relations with the United States following the 2008 sale of arms to Taiwan by the George W. Bush administration. Now there is a new weapons deal with Taiwan in the works, which Adm. Timothy J. Keating, who heads Pacific Command (Pacom), warns could result in China severing mil-to-mil ties again if it goes through.

"If the administration were to announce a new round of Taiwanese arms sales, I'm sure the Chinese would say ‘We have the right to consider turning off mil-to-mil relations,'" Keating said.

According to reports, China made a plea for the U.S. to scrap the planned $6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan during a June visit to Beijing by Michèle Flournoy, the under secretary of defense for policy. Flournoy's visit was also where the Chinese agreed to resume the mil-to-mil discussions.

Whoop-de-dang-do?

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 15, 2009 5:38 PM