Chen Guangcheng May Get Student Visa to US

         If this works out it would be a win-win for the Obama Administration and Chen Guangcheng, while allowing the Chinese government to feel that it's saved some face.

       "China said on Friday that blind dissident Chen Guangcheng could apply to study abroad, a move praised by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and suggesting an end may be near to a diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Washington."

        "An announcement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry followed a dramatic and very public appeal by Chen, who spoke by phone to a congressional hearing on his case and asked to be allowed to spend time in the United States after fleeing 19 months of extra-judicial captivity in his home village."

       "If he wants to study abroad, he can apply through normal channels to the relevant departments in accordance with the law, just like any other Chinese citizen," ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a brief statement, adding that Chen was still being treated in hospital."

       http://news.yahoo.com/china-says-dissident-may-apply-study-u-065230521.html;_ylt=ApH_psKdeXSXZiID2weywpys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNtMTFtMTQzBG1pdANKdW1ib3Ryb24gRlAEcGtnAzBhZTQxZDFiLTViOTgtM2Q4OS04NzA5LTJiYTVmNTRjNzU2ZARwb3MDMgRzZWMDanVtYm90cm9uBHZlcgMwMDVmZTM5Ni05NjgwLTExZTEtOGJlMi0xMGU4NmJiZTI1ZTc-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

        However there is a note of caution:

        "But rights activists sounded a note of caution, saying Beijing could move slowly on granting Chen permission to leave out of fear that appearing soft might embolden other challengers to Communist Party rule before a power handover late this year."

         "Clinton, in Beijing for strategic and economic talks, said the U.S. ambassador to Beijing, Gary Locke, had spoken to Chen again on Friday when he had confirmed he wanted to go to the United States to study, along with his family."

       "Over the course of the day, progress has been made to help him have the future that he wants and we will be staying in touch with him as this process moves forward," she said.

     "This is not just about well-known activists; it's about the human rights and aspirations of more than a billion people here in China and billions more around the world and it's about the future of this great nation and all nations," Clinton added.

    "U.S. officials said they now expect American diplomats and doctors to have regular access to Chen, who campaigned against forced abortions under China's "one-child" policy."

    So while there is the question about China dragging it's feet-to save more face-on the other hand it's a very important point that American diplomats and doctors will have regular assess to Chen and can monitor him and keep a check on any mistreatment.

    Overall, it's a good outcome. The President, his Administration, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton deserve credit for their tireless work on this.

   Of course, as usual, the GOP tried to politicize this. Mitt Romney who is as ignorant of foreign policy matters as John McCain in 2008 was of economic matters started running his ignorant mouth, politicizing a sensitive diplomatic operation.

   Michael Steele was totally stumped when Chris Matthews asked him to name one thing of any consequence Romney has ever said about foreign policy. Steele drew a total blank of course. Romney's performance here did nothing to change that.

   Perhaps he should consider the observation that it is better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

   Chen Guangcheng was very clear about his gratitude for all the help Ms. Clinton has given him and clear that the US embassy worked very hard for him. While the Obama team has admitted the pressure of diplomatic talks this week led them to trust the promises of the Chinese too quickly this has been rectified now, and the tiresome backseat driving of a foreign policy lightweight like Mitt Romney was not productive.

   Can the GOP ever even once put the true needs of the country above their own narrow minded ambitions to make sure the President fails, to embarrass him or harm him politically in some way, no matter how trivial?