George Putnam
Friday, Feb. 17, 2006

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It is this reporter's opinion that the ladies and gentlemen of the press, radio and television corps should get their news priorities in order. For example, the recent feeding frenzy at a news conference at which the only questions concerned the vice president's quail-hunting mishap, where not a single question was asked concerning the top news stories of the day.

Not a word concerning the United Arab Emirates' takeover of significant operations at six American ports as part of a corporate sale, leaving a country with ties to the September 11 hijackers with influence over a maritime industry vulnerable to terrorism.

The $7 billion sale, expected to be approved, would affect commercial U.S. port operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. (The approval of the deal reportedly came from a secretive U.S. government panel that considers risks of foreign companies buying or investing in American industry.) Both entrances to the Panama Canal are already controlled by a Hong Kong front for the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Now this deal with the United Arab Emirates.

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Nor was there any questioning at the news conference concerning Secretary-General of the U.N. Kofi Anan's suggestion that we should all sit down and talk with the terrorist organization Hamas, which has threatened to destroy Israel and the United States.

Not one word at the news conference concerning the U.S. Defense Department document called "Quadrennial Defense Review" that emphasizes we work with China to moderate its military buildup, that we present "counter strategies" to deal with any move by China to deploy military capabilities that could threaten "traditional U.S. military advantages."

Nor was there anything asked about Bush administration enforcement of U.S. trade laws governing China. Or a top-to-bottom review of America's trading relationship with the Asian giant. No mention of the new trade representative, Rob Portman, or release of his 29-page report detailing the findings of a six-month review of America's economic relationship with China.

Portman says the time has come to readjust our trade policy with respect to China. He says, "As a mature trading partner, China should be held accountable for its actions and required to live up to its responsibilities including opening markets and enforcing intellectual property rights." Portman vows to "use all options available to meet this goal."

Nor was there a word about America's trade deficit with China, announced that day – $201.6 billion, the largest deficit the U.S. has ever had with a single country.

Not one word about these breaking news stories while the press concerns itself with a hunting accident. The Soviet Union is dead but the People's Republic of China appears headed for the goal outlined by Lenin, who said, "Capitalism will drop into the hands of Communist revolution 'like overripe fruit.'" He might have added, "while the American press is quail hunting."

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