Posted on 02/19/2010 8:38:14 AM PST by BIOCHEMKY
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama personally welcomed the Dalai Lama to the White House and lauded his goals for the Tibetan people, but he kept their get-together off-camera and low-key in an attempt to avoid inflaming tensions with China.
At the risk of angering Beijing, Obama did tell the exiled spiritual leader on Thursday that he backs the preservation of Tibet's culture and supports human rights for its people. He also gave encouragement to the Dalai Lama's request for talks with the Chinese government
After the 70-minute meeting, the White House said Obama "commended the Dalai Lama's ... commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government".
Obama encouraged China and the Dalai Lama's envoys to keep up efforts to resolve their differences through negotiations, despite recent talks having yielded little progress.
The White House said Obama and the Dalai Lama also "agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China".
"We are fully committed to remain in the People's Republic of China," the Dalai Lama told reporters. But he reiterated his longstanding call for "meaningful autonomy."
Meetings between the Dalai Lama and US presidents became standard fare under former President George H.W. Bush nearly 20 years ago. But the choreography is always delicate and closely watched because of China's sensitivity.
Revered in much of the world, the Dalai Lama is seen by Beijing as a separatist seeking to overthrow Chinese rule of Tibet. Though he says that is untrue, China regards any official foreign leader's contact with the Buddhist monk as an infringement on its sovereignty over the mountainous region and as a particularly unwelcome snub. China had urged Obama not to meet with the Dalai Lama.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...
"With the Chinese government holding nearly $800 billion of federal U.S. debt, Beijing has extraordinary leverage in the relationship."
The American government REALLY needs to think about which nations we should be upsetting politically and very publically.
As of last week, as far as foreign countries are concerned, Japan owns the most American foreign debt.
China is the second largest holder of American foreign debt.
Mr. Obama, maybe you should be polite to the head of Toyota who you and Congress have demanded give a command performance in front of a Congressional panel concerning the recall problems with Toyota vehicles.
And, in the future, you could hurt the Chinese PEOPLE's feelings less if a lesser official flies to India to see the Dalai Lama (where he is in exile) rather than entertain him yourself at the White House, Map Room or no Map Room.
I'm not saying bow down to these nations' leaders. I am saying we could put a little more thought into what signals we are sending when we desire to respect important trading/financial partners and in Japan's case, military allies.
http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/96834730/AFP
I’m not sure if we can put the picture up, but Drudge has it up. “Dont let the back door hit you on the way out DaliLama, and watch the trash.”
The pic on Drudge has him going out some back, kitchen door...by TRASH BAGS.
http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/96834730/AFP
Guess that’s the servants’ entrance. How is this not Jim Crow at the WH?
Gunga galunga. Gunga… gunga galunga.
OBAMA IS A SLOW LEARNER.
6 months too late.He could have saved a lot of lives by being earlier.
China get in line with the rest of us folks who are pissed at Zero.
Looks like Yeamana (Jack Soo)got a gig after his run with Barney Miller at NYPD.
My favorite quote from the article is:
“China regards any official foreign leader’s contact with the Buddhist monk as an infringement on its sovereignty over the mountainous region and as a particularly unwelcome snub.”
Translated, this means: China does not want any country questioning its destruction and takeover of an autonomous country, nor its continued subjugation and plunder of Tibet’s people and resources.
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Obama meets Dalai Lama, speaks for human rights; angers China WAY TO GO OBAMA! Show those damn ChiComms who's the boss!  < /sarc>
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Shameful!
QUIT ABUSING THE BREAKING NEWS SIDBAR!!!
Exactly. Half measures, compromise measures are touted as “statesmanship” by their supporters-but such measures usually wind up angering BOTH sides equally, sometimes to the extent that both angered parties can unite against the compromiser. (I don’t see that happening in this case-just in general .)
http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/96834730/AFP
I’m not sure if we can put the picture up, but Drudge has it up. “Dont let the back door hit you on the way out DaliLama, and watch the trash.”
That picture is INCREDIBLY disrespectful to someone like the Dalai Lama who respresents a poor and weak region where good people are trying to rely on their more owerful friends (the American people) to hold onto their culture and way of life.
The picture is something Obama undoubtedly meant to happen (a cameraman had to be at the right place and at the right time). This is likely one way that Obama is trying to appease Beijing about going through will the ill-advised meeting.
Very unclassy Mr. Obama, very unclassy...do better, much better next time.
“QUIT ABUSING THE BREAKING NEWS SIDBAR!!!”
What is considered “Breaking news”?
This article was published in the wee hours of our morning on today’s date.
I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to every Buddhist in the world. Most Americans have better manners than our president and hold the Dalai Lama in a position of reverence like that of the Pope and other heads of various religious followings.
I am embarrassed by this display of callous ignorance and lack of up bringing.
I totally agree!
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