A banquet is held to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 30, 2009. China will celebrate on October 1 the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. REUTERS/Li Feng/PoolWhat In The World Is China? -- Nina Hachigian, L.A. Times
What better way to celebrate a birthday than to take to the world stage? Last week, Hu Jintao became the first Chinese president to address the U.N. General Assembly, a privilege seemingly reserved for the president of the United States and colorful despots such as Moammar Kadafi. The People's Republic, which turns 60 on Thursday, has evolved from tin-pot polity to powerhouse. And among the spectacular transformations China has undergone, its dramatic turnabout in how it relates to the world stands out.
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COMMENTARIES, OPINIONS, AND EDITORIALS
Still unclear on Hu's successor -- Frank Ching, The China Post
The Autocrats' Learning Curve (China) -- Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Foreign Policy
We've Been Talking to Iran for 30 Years -- Michael Ledeen, WSJ
Buying Time for Iran -- Amir Taheri, New York Post
Forget The Nukes (Iran) -- Washington Post
Could Iran Trigger a Cuban Missile Crisis? -- J. Choksy, Radio Free Europe
How Badly Would Sanctions on Gas Imports Hurt Iran? -- Vivienne Walt, Time
Three pressure points to make Iran crumble -- Rosemary Righter, Times Online
Lifting Iran’s Nuclear Veil -- Gary Milhollin & Valerie Lincy, New York Times
Obama's Iran Talks Will Fail -- Washington Times editorial
Obama: Don't give up on Afghanistan -- John Hughes, Christian Science Monitor
Should We 'Surge' in Afghanistan? -- Michael Gerson, Washington Post
Let's Not Abandon Afghan Women -- Tina Brown, The Daily Beast
Gorbachev Was Right (On Afghanistan) -- Steve Coll, New Yorker
Is Afghanistan NATO's Graveyard? -- John Feffer, Mother Jones
Sudan's Simmering North-South War -- Austin Bay, RealClearWorld
Is Al Qaeda on the Decline? -- C.M. Sennott, Global Post
Repeating history, Mad men of 1939, 2009 -- Richard Rahn, Washington Times