The problem with the very important Biden/Xi meeting today in San Francisco is that the Chinese dictator is far more alert than the American leader. As former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told me, Xi is brilliant but totally without emotion. "Dead eyes" is how Pompeo described him.

Mr. Biden is the ceremonial head of the United States, but complicated global strategy is beyond his mental capacity. Secretary of State Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will articulate the American positions, not the President.

Xi knows Biden is weak. That's why he floated the spy balloons over the USA earlier this year; he wanted to gauge the reaction. There was little from Biden, who wants to avoid any confrontation not only with the Chinese but also with Iran.

The cards the USA does hold are economic. China needs our marketplace to sell its cheaply made stuff. That's the chip we have.

The Communist Chinese leadership is brutal and sees America as its primary world opponent. Negotiations with these killers will be extremely difficult. But they must happen.

All Americans should wish there was someone stronger sitting on our side of the table.

See you later for the No Spin News.