Obama to meet Dalai Lama despite Chinese protest

[jefferson_dem]

NASHUA, New Hampshire (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama still plans to meet the Dalai Lama, the White House said on Tuesday, despite China warning that such a meeting would hurt ties between the world's biggest and third-biggest economies.

Barack Obama

"The president told China's leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama and he intends to do so," White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters traveling on Air Force One to New Hampshire, where Obama was due to speak at a town hall-style meeting

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6114BL20100202?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29

[polichick]

1. Well good - I'd love to meet the Dalia Lama. Cool dude! nt

[pinto]

2. Good call.

:thumbsup:

[Deep13]

3. Uh oh! He's going to piss off the land lords. nt

[Cha]

4. Thank you, Jefferson..There was an article

around here late last year from an interview with the Dalai Lama and he said he wasn't disappointed Pres Obama didn't meet with him when he visited the US in October.

Hey, it was from you, Jefferson.. the link doesn't work anymore though.."the aricle no longer available". Glad I saved this much though bc it gives some history.


jefferson_dem (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-22-09 09:53 AM
Original message

Dalai Lama says Obama not soft on China (AP)
Dalai Lama says Obama not soft on China
(AP) – 1 hour ago

NEW DELHI — The Dalai Lama defended President Barack Obama from criticism that he has been too soft on China, saying Sunday that the U.S. leader just has a different approach to dealing with the Asian giant.

Obama made his first trip to China as president last week and has faced criticism that he didn't do enough to press Beijing on Tibet during his meetings with senior Chinese officials.

"Obama is not soft on China; just has a different style," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said in an interview aired on Indian television.

The Dalai Lama did not elaborate on those comments, but he did address criticism that Obama didn't meet him when he visited the United States in October.

"I am not disappointed that Obama has not met me yet," the Dalai Lama told New Delhi Television.

He said he believed Obama would discuss Tibet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when the two meet Tuesday in Washington.

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jr27W4Jo17ImNVVaY1GeNp0Ld7UwD9C4K1G00

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[Cha]

17. I was especially interested in this

bc a friend who supports Obama was disappointed that he didn't meet with the Dalai Lama in Oct..and, I told her before I saw this link from November 2009 that things don't always have to happen when we think they do..so I was glad to see the Dalai Lama thought so too.:)

[mochajava666]

5. Didn't we just sell some patriot missles to Taiwan?

I'm glad he is standing up to the Chinese about the Dalai Lama's visit, but could this be a case of bad timing? I'm not sure if we want to get into a pissing match with the country that owns so much of our debt. If there is anyone can chill the Chinese out, I'm sure Hillary and Obama can.

I just get the feeling that we underestimate China's view of Taiwan. I think they still feel like an independent Taiwan is just a temporary thing, and eventually, Taiwan will return to China.

Also, I think Obama should take the Dalai Lama golfing. Big hitter, the Lama. Or so I've heard...

[soleft]

6. I was going to say, aren't we provoking them a lot these days

What, trying to start another cold war?

[leftynyc]

8. Fuck China

And don't worry about how much of our debt they hold. Someone else pointed out an age old saying: When you owe the bank $10,000, and can't pay it, you're in trouble. When you owe the bank $1 billion dollars and can't pay it, the bank is in trouble. The President gets to decide who and who not to meet with - Period.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. +1

[mochajava666]

11. I agree with the adage in general, but the adage was

not true with these latest bank bailouts. People couldn't pay the banks, the banks were in trouble, and we bailed them out.

Also, this "if you take us down, we will drag you down with us" tactic may not resonate in China. In the nuclear war scenario of mutually assured destruction, China did not believe in this theory as late as the 80's. They felt you could take out 90% of their population, and they would still overrun you with their remaining 10%. BTW, the only other prominent world figure at that time that also believed in winning a nuclear exchange was George H W Bush. Those crazy Bushes...

Of course the President is free to associate with anyone he pleases. Nevertheless. the President makes a statement just by visiting someone. The Dalai Lama didn't blame Obama at all when he didn't meet with him earlier, so he understood the politics of the situation. I'll trust his opinion, since most of the rest of us are limited the news reports out of China.

[leftynyc]

13. Ah - but the banks

ONLY survived because we bailed them out. I'm glad he's visiting with the Dalai Lama - the right thing to do. As far as China, our economic ties assure a MAD if that becomes the case. I'm more worried about the chemicals in the crap they sell to us.

[mochajava666]

21. I'm glad he's visiting the Lama, too. I just thought that the

timing was unfortunate. The politics of diplomacy make the matters of timing critical at times. Timing can link two completely separate things like Taiwan and Tibet, and make it appear as a trend.

As for the banks, my point was the person with the IOU's made out much better in that MAD scenario. In the end everyone needed them to survive to maintain our way of life. Likewise, in our current MAD economic scenario, China holds the IOU's. That makes me more worried than if it were the other way around. Also, I'm not so sure they look at the MAD scenario the same way we do. Sacrifice, and long term thinking aren't our strong points in politics, but China historically takes the long view. Of course I could be talking out of my ass. I've never lived in China - just known people that lived there, and everything else is from white history books, and our press.

As far as chemicals in the crap they sell us, I think that we wouldn't put up with a lot if we weren't in debt to them so much. Things like human rights, Tienanmen Square, supporting North Korea and the fact that they have Most Favored Nation status despite copyright piracy, and toxic toys and pet food, as you mentioned.

It's great that he's visiting the Dalai Lama. What's even greater is that we have Obama representing us, and not that idiot anymore. As my first post said, I'm sure Hillary and Obama will handle it.

[AspenRose]

18. Thank you!

+1

[monmouth]

7. What is it with leaders of a country telling other leaders who they

should and should not meet with?

[Jennicut]

15. Seriously, I think he should meet with who he wants, regardless of the so

called "fall out".

[MindandSoul]

10. Good for him! Who said he was a puppet???

[cutlassmama]

14. That's what happens when you owe people money. The lesson here is

not to owe people money then you can do whatever you want.

[bigwillq]

16. Cool.

:thumbsup:

[NavyMom]

19. China tried this same crap with other leaders Sarkozy was more or less "or what"..nt

[AngryAmish]

20. The flowing robes, the grace, bald...striking

[mochajava666]

22. .... big hitter, the Lama

[AngryAmish]

23. Long.

[mochajava666]

24. Not long enough to carry that 10,000 foot cravasse

Ended up at the base of a glacier. Gunga galunga gunga. Gunga galunga.