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Ear to the Ground

Bush Meets With Dalai Lama, to China’s Chagrin

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Posted on Oct 16, 2007
Dalai Lama
AP photo / Caleb Jones

The Dalai Lama has a posse:  Flanked by security guards, the Buddhist leader meets the press Tuesday in front of his Washington, D.C., hotel.

President Bush’s private meeting with the Dalai Lama on Tuesday, the day before the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader was slated to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, didn’t please Chinese officials, to say the least.  They’re not really thrilled about the U.S. honoring the Dalai Lama for his role in the ongoing struggle to free Tibet from Chinese rule, either.


AP via My Way News:

“We solemnly demand that the U.S. cancel the extremely wrong arrangements,” said Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. “It seriously violates the norm of international relations and seriously wounded the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered with China’s internal affairs.”

Presidential spokesman Tony Fratto said: “We understand the concerns of the Chinese.” But he also said Bush always has attended congressional award presentation ceremonies, has met with the Dalai Lama several times before and had no reason not to meet with him again.

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By bull, October 25, 2007 at 7:15 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Can any imagine Jesus receiving the medal of honour from Bush?

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By xyzaffair, October 18, 2007 at 5:12 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Will Bush order an invasion of Tibet to bring freedom and democarcy to an oppressed people?

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By G.Anderson, October 17, 2007 at 2:38 pm #

Boy would I have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that meeting..

I can just imagine, Mr. Bush complaining to the Dali Lama, how he has tried so hard to succeed at something, anything at all in his life, but everything he touches turns to Shit…

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By voice of truth, October 17, 2007 at 2:05 pm #

I don’t get it.  Bush finally does something for oppressed people, by rightly publicizing the Dalai Lama and the plight of Tibet.  All this at the expense of a seriously flawed regime (Tianeman anyone?), and yet everyone here is still insane against him.

Regardless of his motives, or even if he is registering any brain activity, what Bush did was the right thing to do.  Don’t let irrational hatred cloud your judgement.

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By ender, October 17, 2007 at 11:24 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

The crimes of China against Tibet are atrocious, and by ignoring it, the west has become implicated in the crime.  That said, its probably too late for Tibet, and this is not the time to start crap with China if we are to help the situation in Mianmar, or avoid a war with Iran. 

Damn.  Maybe that’s what the idiot is trying to accomplish.  Let Chevron continue pumping natural gas from burma, while cutting of that source for China, and force Iran into a war, thinking Russia can back them.

We are so fkd

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By C Quil, October 17, 2007 at 10:04 am #

I was struck by the irony of Bush thinking that a gold medal for anything would be desired by a Buddhist.

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By Akira_Maritias, October 17, 2007 at 3:26 am #

I have no doubt that Bush will bring a copy of the Bible and try to convert that ‘evil heathen’ over to Christianity. Bush is a complete moron, bible thumping because it’s the only book he can read. He’ll probably insult DL about a billion times, alienate all Buddhists, and piss off China in one fell swoop. Hell, China poisons us now, imagine what they’ll do if we’re enemies!

Bad decision...he’ll waddle in with a ridiculous grin on his face and probably say something like “Good lord up in heaven, you sure do wear funny clothing...heheh.” Such a man should not be allowed anywhere near Buddhist monks...ever. Buddhist monks are very honest men...I wonder if DL will manage to say “You suck as a President” in a nice way?

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By Joe Patterson, October 16, 2007 at 6:38 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

And the Dalai Lama will tell him exactly that. To say that he is a “good man” is a gross understatement. I can’t think of another person on earth I would rather W have a chat with. Next would be Thom Hartmann.

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By Douglas Chalmers, October 16, 2007 at 5:54 pm #

The Dalai Lama continues to get publicity for his cause and at the expense and compulsive co-operation of the world’s most dubious (China) and belligerent (USA) super-regimes.

China doesn’t need to visit Turkey as their SCO ally Putin is already there. Nor does China need to be nice to the USA about it because the $US is falling and they own most US foreign debt nowadays anyway.

Bush is bent on maligning China to make things worse for Pelosi as she has helped bring things undone with Turkey to have it all fall onto Bush’s head - after all, he asked for it - but she can patch it up with Turkey later when he is gone.

The trouble is that, in this instance, the Dalai lama wins but do the people of Tibet win? Things have perhaps gone too far. Some kind of reconciliation with China is needed. But, they have asked for it too, uhh......

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By thomas billis, October 16, 2007 at 4:25 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

George Bush in trying to make the Dalai Lama feel comfortable broke into his best Carol Channing impression and started singing"Hello dolly it so nice to have you........”

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By great_satan, October 16, 2007 at 4:18 pm #

I hope the DL put Georgie over his knee and gave hima paddling when no one was looking.
Reagan and Bush Sr. refused to meet with the DL for just such reasons. Abrabill Clincoln at least made some token gesture of scolding China for offing a million or more Tibetans, the vast majority of whom are sworn pacicifists. 
Not sure what made Bush break his legacy on this one. It comes as his wife says her bit about the Burese Monks. And Bush going along with Congress on anything?
But people who chastize this particular move, should cheer his father for returning Most Favored Nation trading status to the Chines on the 1 year anniversary of Tiananmen Square.
Why support China? Why kiss China’s butt? Let’s hear it?

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By QuyTran, October 16, 2007 at 3:57 pm #

Worst diplomatic move made by stupid administration!

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By WR Curley, October 16, 2007 at 3:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Oh, fuck you!

I’m sorry, I’m normally more circumspect, but, Oh fuck you! Do you really imagine I’m going to believe that GWB knows anything or cares any thing about Tibet or Buddhists or the Dalai Lama? Do not truck your load of horseshit into my market and try to sell it for peaches. Oh, fuck you!

Yours for civilized discourse (and an appreciation for Alan Ginzberg),

WR Curley
Elizabeth, Colorado

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By don knutsen, October 16, 2007 at 3:36 pm #

This administration couldn’t buy a diplomatic move if you gave it to them, and wouldn’t. Past administrations have managed to atleast be clever enough to not piss off a growing China which will have reprocussions. The Dalai Llama is a good man, but purposely granting him the Congressional Medal , though Bush usually gives our country’s highest honor to his political benefactors, could have easily been done on another day, and in another way then his “In your face” approach. They have equal helpings of hubris mixed with extream incompetance...its been almost 7 years now, and Bush still seems as though he’s about to light his own farts at diplomatic events he attends. He’s the laughing stock of world leaders and he is so full of self importance he dosen’t think he needs to care.

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