Jiang Hangs Around

It's hard to say good-bye, and China's outgoing President Jiang Zemin seems determined not to. Despite hopes for a real transfer of power to new Communist Party leader Hu Jintao, officials say Jiang will remain as chairman of the Central Military Commission for several more years. Army general Xu Caiyou, whom Jiang just promoted, declared that his boss's continued leadership ensures "lasting political stability." Less charitable observers have portrayed it as a simple lust for power.

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Jiang isn't breaking new ground by keeping the postarguably the country's most important, since it makes him the military commander in chief. His...