Barack Obama's BlackBerry: Subject: Russia and China

Another look at the president-elect’s inbox “IT MAY seem an odd time to be thinking about anything foreign bar Gaza, but you really need to consider how you are going to treat two guys you won’t have much in common with but will be seeing a lot of—Vladimir Putin and Hu Jintao. Without the co-operation of Russia and China, the United Nations is of little use to us. But if you are seen to be letting them push you around, our right-wingers will tear you apart. It’s important that you meet both of them as soon as reasonably possible—though not before you’ve seen Britain, Germany, France and Japan. You ought to work your charm on the Chinese first. They’ve been co-operative of late, on North Korea most obviously, but also to some extent on Iran. Above all, they keep on buying our Treasuries. Plus they haven’t rocked the boat on Taiwan. In fact, things are going pretty swimmingly across the strait, which is one big thing we don’t have to worry ... (link)