MORE ON THE CHEN DEBACLE: Chen deal rushed, chaos ensues.

Over the last couple days human rights activists, conservative lawmakers and Mitt Romney have leveled two criticisms of the Obama administration’s handling of the Chen Guangcheng episode: The resolution was rushed so as not to interfere with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Beijing, and little care was taken as to specific steps to be taken after his release, including protection for him in the hospital. A former foreign policy official put it, “What they really cared about was getting him out of the embassy so his presence didn’t overshadow Hillary Clinton’s visit.

Now the administration officials are coming forward to admit these two rather egregious missteps.

Remember when they were promising us “smart diplomacy?”