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BUSH'S PRIVATE MEETING
CBS News
Oct 16 2007
(CBS)Mark Knoller is a White House Correspondent for CBS News.
Much to the irritation of China, today marks the fourth time President
Bush is meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Leaders in Beijing view it as American interference in China's internal
political affairs because of the Dalai Lama's criticism of Chinese
oppression in Tibet.
"We understand the concerns of the Chinese," Deputy Press Secretary
Tony Fratto said this morning, though he denied the U.S. was meddling.
(White House/CBS)So as not to rub China's nose in it, the President's
meeting is not listed on his public schedule today. The get-together
was taking place behind closed doors in the White House residence.
There's no photo-op for the press, and unlike previous meetings,
there'll be no release of a White House photo, as was the case on
November 9, 2005.
But Mr. Bush will be seen in public with the Dalai Lama tomorrow in
the Capitol Rotunda, at a ceremony bestowing a Congressional Gold
Medal on the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
It looks to China as if the U.S. is taking sides with those calling
for Tibetan independence, even though the official U.S. position
recognizes Tibet as part of China.
And when President Bush visited Beijing in November 2005, he said he
tried to make that clear to his hosts.
"I thought it would be wise for the Chinese government to invite the
Dalai Lama so he can tell them exactly what he told me in the White
House the other day, that he has no desire for an independent Tibet,"
Mr. Bush told reporters.
One can only wonder if China would try to get back at Pres. Bush
by staging it's own meeting with another Nobel Peace Prize winner:
Al Gore.
Ironically, the diplomatic snit with China takes place as the White
House is urging the House of Representatives not to pass that Armenian
Genocide resolution because of objections from Turkey, a U.S. ally
in NATO.
How easy it is to hurt some governments' feelings.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/10/16 /couricandco/entry3373263.shtml
CBS News
Oct 16 2007
(CBS)Mark Knoller is a White House Correspondent for CBS News.
Much to the irritation of China, today marks the fourth time President
Bush is meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Leaders in Beijing view it as American interference in China's internal
political affairs because of the Dalai Lama's criticism of Chinese
oppression in Tibet.
"We understand the concerns of the Chinese," Deputy Press Secretary
Tony Fratto said this morning, though he denied the U.S. was meddling.
(White House/CBS)So as not to rub China's nose in it, the President's
meeting is not listed on his public schedule today. The get-together
was taking place behind closed doors in the White House residence.
There's no photo-op for the press, and unlike previous meetings,
there'll be no release of a White House photo, as was the case on
November 9, 2005.
But Mr. Bush will be seen in public with the Dalai Lama tomorrow in
the Capitol Rotunda, at a ceremony bestowing a Congressional Gold
Medal on the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
It looks to China as if the U.S. is taking sides with those calling
for Tibetan independence, even though the official U.S. position
recognizes Tibet as part of China.
And when President Bush visited Beijing in November 2005, he said he
tried to make that clear to his hosts.
"I thought it would be wise for the Chinese government to invite the
Dalai Lama so he can tell them exactly what he told me in the White
House the other day, that he has no desire for an independent Tibet,"
Mr. Bush told reporters.
One can only wonder if China would try to get back at Pres. Bush
by staging it's own meeting with another Nobel Peace Prize winner:
Al Gore.
Ironically, the diplomatic snit with China takes place as the White
House is urging the House of Representatives not to pass that Armenian
Genocide resolution because of objections from Turkey, a U.S. ally
in NATO.
How easy it is to hurt some governments' feelings.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/10/16 /couricandco/entry3373263.shtml