A standoff of egos

Cory Spiller

The United States got a taste of its own medicine during the last week and a half. China has been bullying the United States and doing a pretty good job of it. Personally, I'd be surprised if Bush had anything to do with the diplomacy that led to the return of the crewmen yesterday. When you've got guys like Colin Powell, Dick Cheney and Joseph Prueher, the American ambassador to China available, why would you ask the former owner of the Texas Rangers for his opinion?

The administration was shoved between a rock and a hard place. They didn't want to say they were sorry because they didn't do anything wrong. However, in a letter sent by Prueher yesterday, the administration gave in and wrote, "We are very sorry for their loss."

And we should have been. In fact, we should have said it immediately. The instant the Chinese government asked for an apology, Bush should have said, "Of course we're sorry, this is tragic," and both countries would have saved face and anxiety.

It seems that this incident was a standoff of egos, and hopefully, ours has been deflated ... slightly.

It is true that China has been flexing its muscles lately. China is quickly becoming a legitimate contender for super-power status, and I'm sure we will hear from them again soon.

Cory Spiller is a history senior. He can be reached at perspectives@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Bush says, "King Me"

Jessica Lee

The context of the "12-day" standoff between China and the United States is nothing but a petty and polite game of checkers in the park. And I think we have all played a more interesting game of Risk.

President Bush keeps explaining to the world, "In the interest of my country... ." While we need a single voice to echo the 240 million screaming, concerned citizens - that is why we elect a president - why did we chose a moron?

If a huge microphone could have been set up so Americans could speak directly with the people of China, the world would have heard a loud "we apologize" 12 days ago.

Trivial language cannot be justified when two dozen Americans are being held captive.

All things aside, this may be part of a more extensive foreign policy agenda with regard to China. Why would we want to aggravate relations with China? Hmm... recalling high-school American history, if there was one thing we learned about our country, it would be that we are slave to a strong economy. With the current slight slip in our economy and a ridiculous tax-cut, it might makes sense that Bush is worried.

After all, what would better boost to our economy than a war?

This will be nothing but a cat's game of checkers.

Jessica Lee is an environmental science sophomore. She can be reached at perspectives@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Fire drill: No need for alarm

Sheila Bapat

Just months after taking office, President Bush has experienced what likens to a foreign-policy fire drill.

The situation with China was perhaps not as serious as it was trumped up to be - it was more an exercise in averting crisis.

Last week the situation had both sides screaming "emergency!" But in the past few days both Bush and Jiang Zemin have stopped shrieking and stomping their feet.

Bush aggravated the situation with unnecessarily harsh language from the outset, but in the past few days, perhaps his defense secretary, Colin Powell, and his national security advisor, Condaleezza Rice, have calmed him down. Now he's speaking softer and using little words like "regret."

Talk about a complete 180 degree turn.

Jiang Zemin also avoided a dilemma by taking a 12-day tour of Latin America. If he had canceled his trip expressly to continue talks with the United States, then we could call this little quibble a crisis.

Sadly, this incident cost China a pilot, and cost Bush some of his constituents' confidence. Bush chose to yell "fire" in a crowded room. If we're lucky, he'll use some diplomatic skill next time.

Sheila Bapat is a political science junior. She can be reached at perspectives@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Now say you're sorry, and shake hands

Laura Winsky

The incident between China and the United States was like a battle between two ornery siblings - each one refusing to admit fault, refusing to apologize, wanting to cast blame. The problem with this metaphor is that the Chinese military lost a life, and that made the situation so much more than a game. It entitled them to be furious.

The American mentality is an easy read for the rest of the world. We see ourselves as the spoiled child who can do no wrong. It was very fitting for us to immediately be irritated by the situation and demand the release of our crew before investigating - or asking any questions, for that matter. How foolish we must have looked once China set forth evidence that the United States may (gasp!) have made a mistake. And we looked even more ridiculous these last few days as we put forth an apology, which must have seemed insincere, in order to get our troops back.

Today, the standoff is at an apparent end. Wall Street too can breathe a sigh a relief. Such a strong outpouring of compassion we Americans showed.

For our trade agreement, that is.

Time and again, the United States has an opportunity to show a humane side. Why must we always fail?

Laura Winsky is a political science senior who is also majoring in Spanish. She can be reached at perspectives@wildcat.arizona.edu.

No more doubts

Tom McDermott

George W. Bush has passed the first major test of his presidency with flying colors. The firm - yet skillful - diplomacy of Secretary of State Colin Powell and the other members of the administration during this standoff have demonstrated the strength of the president's resolve to the world.

Of course the Chinese had no intention of holding American soldiers for an indefinite period of time or carrying through on any of their ultimatums. They were in the wrong, and they knew it. They just wanted to see how far they could push someone they saw as nothing more than daddy's little boy. When they realized it wasn't very far, they gave in.

Of course, if Clinton was still in office, things might have been handled a little differently. In return for the soldiers, he probably would have cut 25 percent off of their next visit to Hotel 1600. Or maybe he'd have to run a blue light special on American military secrets. Buy one, get one free.

But, I digress. G.W. has eliminated doubts about his ability as a world leader. And he has shown the world that the United States will not back down when our men and women are used as bargaining chips in a game of diplomatic aggression by a hostile nation.

Tom McDermott is a UA law student. He can be reached at perspectives@wildcat.arizona.edu.