It appears that China’s leaders are worried that Washington is getting smart, and trying to “westernize and divide China” through a culture war. And President Hu Jintao, who leaves office this year after his five-year term is up, has decided to make an Alamo-like last stand over culture.

Is there a new front opening in the Cold War between Russia and the United States?This is not a good time for a summit meeting, with both countries expelling 50 of each other's diplomats in the middle of what some say is the worst spy scandal ever between the two nations.