The level by which Google intends to "negotiate" with the Chinese Gov't is truly bizarre. On one hand, I'm hoora-ing for someone finally growing some balls, but on the other hand, I know from experience that - "negotiate" with the Chinese on Chinese turf and the Chinese will always win, especially with a company as inconsequential (in China) as Google. It's also the first time I can recall outside of the Eastern Bloc where cyberattacks have spurred a policy change. I feel like I'm reading a sci-fi novel...
It's bullshit. The man tightens his lips and pushes up his chin every time he doesn't believe what he just said. In particular:
Drummond: "With what we know now - that there's been an attack that's targeted towards Chinese dissidents, we just no longer, in good conscience, can continue to censor ourselves."
Kudlow: "You're saying those conversations [with the Chinese government] are ahead of you, not behind you?"
Drummond: "I think that's correct."
Drummond: "Our revenue from the China business are truly immaterial [face relaxed], so it's not going to have an effect on our core business, one way or the other. [lips tight]"
And, of course, the last bit about this being something about "noble, American, capitalism". But what's more upsetting, IMO, is how painfully obvious Kudlow's avoidance of the question regarding Google's talks with China between December and now have been. He plays along like this is a move without any Google/China back-story. What crap!
He showed signs of stress, but I interpreted it as pressure not to say something he is not allowed to. Also he showed a lot of contempt for the Chinese government and some towards the journalist (after "I'm glad to be here"). Also he was happy to hear the last part about Google taking highly moral position - I think he believes it.
While some of the details in this interview were welcome, this kind of technical competency makes me want to cry. No professional in any field should be incapable of understanding this kind of security discussion in the year 2010.
