“The tree may prefer calm...”

“... but the wind will not subside.” Those are the words of Chairman Mao, which accurately describe the present situation in Iraq. The people of Iraq would certainly appreciate a bit of calm. Even the American occupiers would by new prefer a calm environment to swallow their McDonald's hamburgs in their fortified military bases. Still, the wind will not subside as long as the American occupiers stay in Iraq.

Sadly, the Chinese minister of foreign affairs Yang Jiechi seems to have forgotten the wise words of Chairman Mao. “China hoped Iraq could achieve stability and development as soon as possible”, he told the Iraq conference at Sharm el-Sheik. Well of course, but who is preventing stability and development if not the U.S. army? (People's Daily:People's Daily: China hopes Iraq achieves stability as soon as possible: FM; China's FM says maintaining unity most important task for Iraq)

“China supported efforts to safeguard Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.” Sure, who is violating Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity? Forget about the foreign jihadists crossing Iraq's borders. They will stop going there the moment the U.S. leaves Iraq, because they will have to go elsewhere to strike at their enemy.

“Iraq welcomed the participation in Iraq's reconstruction project by more Chinese companies,” Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki told Yang. No doubt, but as long as the U.S. troops stay in Iraq, there can only be destruction, no reconstruction.

“Unity, stability and development are three major tasks we face in addressing the Iraqi issue,” continued Yang. Yes, and none of those three tasks will ever be achieved as long as the Americans are actively preventing unity, stability and development.

Words about a “political settlement”, an “integrated approach” and “reconciliation” will remain empty words until the last American its lifted in a Blackhawk helicopter from the collapsed roofs of the Green Zone.

The Chinese government plans to forgive all debts owed by the Iraqi government. If Dick Cheney and his gang of thieves wouldn't have plundered Iraq, there would have been no need to forgive any debts. Why does China have to pay to help fill the bottomless pit created by Cheney?

Not one word of condemnation of the American occupation crossed Yang Jiechi's lips. The Chinese have got it completely wrong. And the reason is simple: they forgot the wise words of Chairman Mao.