Rohrabacher wrong about China, Panama Canal

Like anybody who makes predictions, Dana Rohrabacher makes the occasional error.

In this week's Foreign Policy magazine, the editors dig up an old Rohrabacher quote for a feature they call "The 10 Worst Predictions for 2009":

"If we do nothing, I can guarantee you that within a decade, a communist Chinese regime that hates democracy and sees America as its primary enemy will dominate the tiny country of Panama, and thus dominate the Panama Canal, one of the world's most important strategic points."  --Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), Dec. 7, 1999

This was during a debate on whether to turn over the canal to Panama that year. This was not much of a debate by 1999, but it was a defining issue on the right during the Carter years.

Of course this prediction did not come true, but in Rohrabacher's defense the Chinese did take strategic control of America's supplies of dog food and baby formula.