"Van Cliburn was an international legend for over five decades, a great humanitarian and a brilliant musician whose light will continue to shine through his extraordinary legacy, " she said Wednesday.

CNN: Legendary pianist Van Cliburn dead at 78

But the fact that the Left would have remained unconvinced doesn't excuse the government's abject surrender of the truth about Chomsky to Israel's enemies on the Left who portray the MIT professor as a human rights activist and a great intellectual humanitarian.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Reclaiming our language from the Left

China's self-image as a responsible great power was also on show, however, with a large new hospital ship, useful for humanitarian missions.

ECONOMIST: China flaunts its naval muscle