U.S. foreign policy as expressed by Obama is sometimes hard to make sense of.

First, U.S. bankers screw up the whole world economy.

The Chinese government jumps to the rescue. China heavily spends its reserves to employ its citizens building what the country needs in schools, health care, bridges and roads and other infrastructure thus even sparking the recovery of the out-of-control capitalist nations unable to restrain the greed and foolishness of their private bankers who manage to set their governments' policies and actions or inaction.

United States Government, on the other hand, borrows and prints money mostly for refinancing the financiers who screwed up the world economy, while putting very few of its unemployed citizens to building some of the many things the country needs.

(Appears that the Chinese, not the Americans, believe in following the basic idea of President Roosevelt's New Deal socialist solution to a great depression.)

Then U.S. President Obama arrives in Asia to vow a “full U.S. role in Asia.” Does he mean a full U.S. government role? Hard to imagine, for a full government role even in the U.S. is anathema to private capitalist investments and Obama says he believes in capitalism, even if the nation has to go broke, temporarily (temporarily, he hopes).

One supposes that his meant-to-be-reassuring statement intends to say that the financiers of Wall Street are going to play a "full role" helped, encouraged and facilitated by Obama policies. (because presently in the U.S., it is only the capitalist financiers that currently have money to spend.)

There were many more non-sequiturs in Obama's less than candid remarks at Suntory Hall, Tokyo on November 14, 2009.

He praised Japanese “assistance for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan ... in providing additional commitments to international development efforts there.” High flown words for a disastrous and deadly U.S. policy of war without end in sight.

In Asia, Obama noted, "Dictatorships have become democracies.” (People have not forgotten that dictatorships that in the Philippines and Indonesia were American backed.) Their “economies have given way to open markets”, (Recognized as good for the global interests of capitalists.) “Living standards have risen while poverty has plummeted.” (An exaggeration for the millions who live on less than $2 a day)

Perhaps the President's most frightening words were: “And even as American troops are engaged in two wars around the world, our commitment to Japan's security and to Asian security is unshakable, and it can be seen in our deployments throughout the region – above all, through our young men and women in uniform.”

He addressed the enmity promoted, often quite openly, in the U.S. Congress and media.
“ I know there are many who question how the United States perceives China's emergence." "As with any nation, America will approach China with a focus on our interests.” Ouch! More elegant would have been ‘with a focus on mutual interests and fairness and understanding.'

Obama showed appreciation for China toeing a U.S. line: “China has promoted security and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” but the choice of words are preposterous given the present state of agony of the two countries suffering U.S. attack.

“So the United States does not seek to contain China,” Well, obviously, saying this does not make it so, and Obama goes on to stress that the U.S. will continue to strongly criticize the Chinese:

“United States will never waver in speaking up for the fundamental values – and that includes respect for the religion and cultures of all people.” (With the oft heard exception of atheist communist culture of three Asian nations.) “Because support for human rights and human dignity is ingrained in America.” The timing of the President bragging is awkward, for the news is filled with the wholesale killing of suspected insurgents against U.S. invasions and occupations along with by-standing non-combatant women and children, and seizure without charge or Habeas corpus, rendition and torture, often even within U.S. territory,

“But we can move these discussions forward” (about life in China but never in America) “in a spirit of partnership rather than rancor.” As if it is not known that the U.S. has never cared about human rights in non-communist cooperating U.S. satellite nations.

“We must strengthen our economic recovery, and pursue growth that is both balanced and sustained.” Is the “We” here meant to somehow include Asian help for the U.S. pursuit of efforts to alter the imbalanced growth of private capital over citizens needs in America?

But Obama also credited China: “The quick, unprecedented and coordinated action taken by Asia Pacific nations and others has averted economic catastrophe, and helped us begin to emerge from the worst recession in generations.”

“In Prague, I affirmed America's commitment to rid the world of nuclear weapons,” But does anyone anywhere believe the U.S. will give up its nuclear weapons' hegemony. And indeed the next sentence is menacing sounding: “Let me be clear: so long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a strong and effective nuclear deterrent that guarantees the defense of our allies – including South Korea and Japan.” Many will notice the absence of any intended protection for China, Russia, North Korea and Iran as ominous.

“But we must recognize that an escalating nuclear arms race in this region would undermine decades of growing security and prosperity.” Unmentioned is the race already underway and unaddressed between U.S. allies India and Pakistan.

“For decades, Japan has enjoyed the benefits of peaceful nuclear energy, while rejecting nuclear arms development” – (without having to undergo inspections as demanded of Iran. - another glaring omission.)

Obama spoke “about all nations living up to their responsibilities. ... And it includes North Korea.” But it has always been clear the U.S. feels no such nuclear responsibility as it sits on and retools its nuclear weapons stockpile - so Obama's strict phases ring less than fair.

“For decades, North Korea has chosen a path of confrontation and provocation," Hollow words, being that U.S. once flattened North Korea from the air, ground and sea, threatened to drop atomic bombs on it and has imposed the severest economic sanctions ever since.

“We have tightened sanctions on Pyongyang. ... We will not be cowed by threats, and we will continue to send a clear message through our actions, and not just our words” Does the sole superpower not come off poorly, publicly professing such bravery and bluster toward a much smaller and weaker nation? - somewhat embarrassing!

“The path for North Korea to realize this future is clear: a return to the Six-Party Talks;” Meaning the U.S. will continue to refuse meeting North Korea in the two party talks it desires between the two nations still at war - an undeclared war upon North Korea euphemistically labeled a police action by the one overwhelmingly powerful giant protagonist.

“... we will stand with all of our Asian partners in combating the transnational threats of the 21st century: by rooting out the extremists who slaughter the innocent,” Perhaps a gaff of sorts?, It is well known that the U.S. has by a six digit count slaughtered the most innocents.

Obama spoke of a “new approach to Burma. Despite years of good intentions, neither sanctions by the United States nor engagement by others succeeded in improving the lives of the Burmese people.” The listeners are fully aware that capitalist U.S. has relatively little interest in the one sixth of humanity experiencing hunger within its global reach. U.S. governance has its reasons for professing interest in the welfare of the people of Myanmar. Asians are not naive.

“... United States will take to improve prosperity, security, and human dignity in the Asia Pacific.” Really sounds strange, for the U.S. is having great problems with the lack of prosperity, security and human dignity in its own country.

“and security from a warming planet;” Rather cavalier words with the media filled with predictions of U.S. to continue to drag its feet at the up coming global warming summit in Copenhagen.

“...so that we reverse the spread of deadly weapons,” My God, we all know that U.S. is the super arms merchant on the planet and refuses to sign on to eliminating land mines and cluster bombs.

“I promise you that this Pacific nation [the United States] will strengthen and sustain our leadership in this vitally important part of the world [Asia].” Why does the U.S. continue to presume to leadership of all the world even while the world suffers from a U.S. caused economic crises?

Obama ends almost sounding as if he, in his first speech in Asia, is laying down the law. The United States will ‘strengthen and sustain our leadership.”

Someone having German as his or her mother language listening to so much talk from Obama of U.S. leadership will surely have the word or title Der Früher pop into mind awakening some bad memories of the expression ‘our leader.' Do the people of Asia desire U.S. leadership, or are they apprehensive thereof.

Asians will expect to hear less overbearing statements of U.S. leadership assumptions during Obama's upcoming three days and nights stay in Beijing.