UPDATE AT BOTTOM In a post on 4/28 about Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese civil rights lawyer under house arrest, who escaped to the ‘safety’ of the US Embassy in Beijing, I said: This is not a gimme as was the reality of the decision over Osama, especially given what occurred when Bill Clinton was president (four chances to get Bin Laden, refused at the advice of John Brennan ..Obama’s Terror Security Man). Let’s see what happens. Aggressive and public defense of freedom? Silent finesses as we take this man in? An apology to China? Craven acts of obsequiousness? If we do no more than the minimalist actions required by the advice of John Q Adams, we should at east expect a welcoming as a hero, and a warning that the whole world is watching what happens to Chen Guangchen’s family Here is the answer from the NYT today: U.S. Says Blind Chinese Dissident Is Now in Beijing Medical Facility Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese dissident who fled house arrest last month in a dramatic escape from security forces, has arrived at a medical facility in Beijing, a senior American official said on Wednesday in the first public acknowledgment by the United States that it knew of his whereabouts.Mr. Chen will receive medical treatment, the official said. An American statement, issued six hours after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Beijing, said, “Chen Guangcheng has arrived at a medical facility in Beijing, where he will receive medical treatment and be reunited with his family.” The statement did not make clear whether Mr. Chen would stay in China or be granted asylum in the United States. Mr. Chen has made clear in the past, and statements from his supporters have reiterated, that his goal is to remain in China as a free person able to live a normal life under the Chinese constitution.   Mr. Chen left the American Embassy compound accompanied by Ambassador Gary Locke, according to an American with knowledge of the situation. Mr. Chen’s supporters and Chinese officials had said earlier that he was in the American Embassy. This guy did not escape his guards, to have the USA escort him to a hospital for the precise purpose of remaining in China. No other news report SO FAR makes any such mention of, or intimate knowledge of a ‘desire’ to remain a ‘free person’ (under house arrest?) in China. There are several extant including Yahoo and Reuters Nor is this the only such example of our policy of defending human rights and freedom under this admin. The rhetoric and actions this administration uses are harsher when used against domestic opposition then when we ‘confront’ those who oppose our ideas as espoused in the ‘flawed documents’. I am continually confounded by the lack of care about our processes and our future demonstrated by this administration in the portrayal of people such as Paul Ryan, and others as representing the forces of evil, while those who enforce a one child policy via state executed forced abortion (which is far past disgusting NO MATTER ONE’S FEELING ABOUT A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO ABORT) receive the kindest of words and consideration as they work to frustrate our efforts to prevent a racist theocracy from development weapons which each and every leader they have had promised would end one of our major allies (at the least …usually we are included). ……………………………… YAHOO NEWS: A close friend of Chen Guangcheng says the blind legal activist agreed to stay inChina only to protect his family after receiving threats that his wife would be beaten to death if he left the country. Beijing activist Zeng Jinyan told The Associated Press on Wednesday via Skype that she had just finished talking to Chen, who is in a Beijing hospital with his wife and children. Zeng said Chen told her that he wanted to go to abroad but was forced to accept a deal to remain in China and go to law school in order to protect his family. Zeng says Chen was told his wife would be beaten to death if he didn’t accept, but she didn’t say who made the threat. Hillary, hello? Mr. Preezy? Hello? JAMES EARL CARTER? HELLO? What is it we stand for again? Apologies, bowing, and drones?