Thomas Friedman, "Dear President of China": Rots of Ruck

In a New York Times op-ed entitled "Dear President of China" (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/opinion/sunday/friedman-dear-president-of-china.html?hp&rref=opinion), Thomas Friedman pompously writes a "memo" to China’s President Xi Jinping, which he begins by declaring that he is a "A Friend of Your Country." Observing that the American and Chinese "economies and fates are totally intertwined today," Friedman protests a Chinese crackdown on the foreign press. Friedman's conclusion:

"President Xi, for your sake and the sake of stability in China, please don’t make the mistake of blaming the messengers. The Great Chinese Firewall you need to construct can’t be against the truth. It has to be against corruption."

No mention by Friedman that China leads the world in executions.

No mention by Friedman of Chinese slave labor.

No mention of the recent creation by China of a new air defense zone, which nearly provoked fighting with Japan and the US.

And of course no mention by Friedman of China's support for Iran's nuclear weapons development program. As reported earlier this month by Michael Rubin of Commentary (http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/12/09/china-spikes-the-ball-in-iran/), Chinese State Councilor (and former foreign minister) Yang Jiechi stated with regard to the recent Geneva "agreement" with the P5+1:

"Iran defended its rights in the [Vienna nuclear] negotiations and defeated the Western side. This result was achieved by Iran’s new government and through wisdom and prudence used in the talks. We respect Iran’s right to nuclear energy and uranium enrichment… Iran has started moving on the path of progress and development with your [Ruhani's] appointment [victory in presidential elections]. And China considers Iran as a close friend and a good and strategic partner."

An absence of freedom of the press in China? Sorry, Tom, that's the least of it.