"The Obama administration, those detached academic toffs who tried to ignore Iran's Green Revolution lest talks with Tehran's ayatollahs fizzle, denied Chen's request. Oh, some sort of deal has been slapped together."

 

Ignore the nonsensical word salad above for now.

 

Ask yourself what would Austin Bay say if the Chinese had,

 

Rammed an American plane over international waters, causing it to make a forced landing.

Held the 24 person crew for 11 days.

Held the plane and it's classified gear for 4 months.

Not allowed the US to fly the plane out, but forced it go on a Russian transport plane.

 

And the Obama administration had:

 

Said that it was sorry that the Chinese pilot and plane had been lost, and then paid the Chinese for the costs associated with the recovery of the plane.

 

We know what Austin Bay said when this happened to the previous administration.  "Washington must continue to pursue a "dual track" diplomacy with Beijing, a careful carrot-and-stick that encourages Chinese moderation and integration while penalizing aggression and repression."  No ad hominem attack, to "red herring" distraction, no damning with faint praise.

 

I wonder why?