I am very surprised that you published the vicious criticism of US President George W. Bush by George Soros on Oct. 19 (Throw Bush out of the White House, for America's sake, Oct. 20, page 9). Bush and his administration have been conscientiously and bravely leading the US against unprecedented danger posed by terrorist groups who have promised to kill every American and destroy the country, the stronghold of democracy and freedom. It is the world that is drifting in the wrong direction, not Bush and his administration as Soros criticized.
Do not forget, Bush and his administration, under the most difficult circumstances, have supported the survival of Taiwan's democracy. After Sept. 11, 2001, Bush led the US and its allies to eliminate terrorist havens in Afghanistan, and a terrorism supporter, Saddam Hussein, in Iraq. He has not misled anybody in these struggles. He and his able associates utilized all intelligence available to them at that time. Their conclusion regarding the danger posed by Saddam was the same as that of the majority of UN members.
Yes, the US is now in the quagmire of the Iraq insurgency and terrorism. However, the chorus of anti-Bush sentiment worldwide, using the absence of weapons of mass destruction as an excuse, ignore the undeniable fact that Saddam brutally persecuted his own citizens, invaded neighboring countries and openly supported terrorists.
Despite Saddam's refusal to completely cooperate with UN weapons inspections and his continual defiance of the UN up until the very moment of invasion, the world has increasingly turned against Bush and the US. The sacrifice of many American lives and the spending of enormous amounts of American taxpayers' money for a better, civilized Iraq, are unjustly dismissed as US unilateral aggression and occupation. This very sinister anti-US movement has helped to sustain terrorism.
Sadly, not many nations have joined this important struggle to safeguard the democracy and freedom that we all cherish. France is the foremost example in the anti-US movement. Chirac and his government have waged a campaign against the US from the outset, because of their selfish financial interests in Iraq. They have conveniently ignored Saddam's international criminal records. Their current obsequious friendship with the Chinese regime, which does not conform to the UN Charter and has violated the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, exposes their persistent behavior of selfishness. In gaining access to the purportedly large Chinese market, Chirac and associates are happy to glorify the oppressive Chinese regime, and unjustifiably condemn democratic Taiwan for provoking instability across the Taiwan Strait. They even sent the French navy to China and recently held joint naval exercises just north of Taiwan. These two countries and Russia, who rarely support the free nations because of ideological differences, control the Permanent Security Council of the UN. Has China or Russia sent a single soldier to Bosnia, Kosovo or Kuwait in support of the UN? How much has France contributed to the UN's efforts in those countries?
Therefore, I believe the UN has now degenerated into a congregation of hypocritical nations, oblivious of tyranny and the blatant violation of human rights by China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and countless other nations. Small wonder the Secretary-General of the "United Nations of Hypocrisy," Kofi Annan, during his recent visit to China, declared that the invasion of Iraq by the US and its allies was illegal.
For the survival of freedom and democracy, it is time for all US citizens to reject the confused members of this UN of Hypocrisy. Stay united behind Bush and reject Kerry and the Democrats, whose glib anti-Bush criticism cannot hide their petty partisan rhetoric, for the sake of future security in the US and the entire world. Bush has unfailingly supported Taiwan's freedom and democracy. Do not forget, the Democrats support China's oppressive regime, and their rationale is the same as that of France in this regard.
Finally a word of advice to George Soros: You have profited handsomely by adopting American capitalism, which Bush and his associates are fighting to conserve. Do not waste your fortune on Kerry and Edwards, a prominent trial lawyer, who is a primary culprit in the decline of American commerce and health care. The Democrats do not support free market capitalists like you. It is time for you to wake up and support Bush. Use the resources of your Open Society Foundation to advance the reconstruction of Iraq. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin now understands the danger of terrorism, and he supports Bush, despite his country's past alliance with Iraq.
Guan G. Lo
Scottsdale, Arizona
With escalating US-China competition and mutual distrust, the trend of supply chain “friend shoring” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fragmentation of the world into rival geopolitical blocs, many analysts and policymakers worry the world is retreating into a new cold war — a world of trade bifurcation, protectionism and deglobalization. The world is in a new cold war, said Robin Niblett, former director of the London-based think tank Chatham House. Niblett said he sees the US and China slowly reaching a modus vivendi, but it might take time. The two great powers appear to be “reversing carefully
As China steps up a campaign to diplomatically isolate and squeeze Taiwan, it has become more imperative than ever that Taipei play a greater role internationally with the support of the democratic world. To help safeguard its autonomous status, Taiwan needs to go beyond bolstering its defenses with weapons like anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. With the help of its international backers, it must also expand its diplomatic footprint globally. But are Taiwan’s foreign friends willing to translate their rhetoric into action by helping Taipei carve out more international space for itself? Beating back China’s effort to turn Taiwan into an international pariah
Typhoon Krathon made landfall in southwestern Taiwan last week, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and flooding, cutting power to more than 170,000 homes and water supply to more than 400,000 homes, and leading to more than 600 injuries and four deaths. Due to the typhoon, schools and offices across the nation were ordered to close for two to four days, stirring up familiar controversies over whether local governments’ decisions to call typhoon days were appropriate. The typhoon’s center made landfall in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang District (小港) at noon on Thursday, but it weakened into a tropical depression early on Friday, and its structure
Taiwan is facing multiple economic challenges due to internal and external pressures. Internal challenges include energy transition, upgrading industries, a declining birthrate and an aging population. External challenges are technology competition between the US and China, international supply chain restructuring and global economic uncertainty. All of these issues complicate Taiwan’s economic situation. Taiwan’s reliance on fossil fuel imports not only threatens the stability of energy supply, but also goes against the global trend of carbon reduction. The government should continue to promote renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, as well as energy storage technology, to diversify energy supply. It
RSS