WTF'nFF?!?
what fresh hell this?
Zhao said the performances will demonstrate the friendship, magnanimous spirit and kindness of modern Chinese people.
Nevermind those organ farms… the forced abortions… the gubbmint confiscation of people’s dogs… They’re friendly with a magnanimous spirit and kindness...
But WAIT!
The White House on Friday dismissed as inaccurate reports from China that the administration will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic by flying the Chinese flag on the South Lawn.
A ceremony, indeed, will take place. But it won’t happen on the White House grounds—rather, on the Ellipse, on the other side of E Street from the presidential residence.
Oh, well… That’s just fine, then.
...foreign flags are only flown on the White House grounds or on Pennsylvania Avenue to mark “state” or “official” visits of the countries’ leaders.
Under those guidelines, the Chinese flag has flown on White House grounds before, in April of 2006, when President Hu Jintao visited then President George W. Bush.
In fact the current controversy is reminiscent of that visit. The Chinese insisted it was a state visit, despite U.S. assurances it was only an official one. The “state visit” label would have implied a bigger honor to Hu and to China, but Bush only had a handful of state visits and Hu’s wasn’t one of them.
Still, Chinese media continued to report it was a state visit even after it was over. And they continue now to report that the Fujian Association rally will take place on the White House lawn, even though U.S. officials insist it will not.
Actually, this does look like the ChiComs doing PR puffery for the peons back home—and anyone else who will buy it. Still, it’s just a little uncomfortable given their ability to summon TurboTax Timmy at will…
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