From The UK Telegraph:
President Barack Obama has refused to meet the Dalai Lama in Washington this week in a move to curry favour with the Chinese.
The decision came after China stepped up a campaign urging nations to shun the Tibetan spiritual leader.
It means Mr Obama will become the first president not to welcome the Nobel peace prize winner to the White House since the Dalai Lama began visiting Washington in 1991.
The Buddhist monk arrived in Washington on Monday for a week of meetings with Congressional leaders, celebrity supporters and interest groups, but the president will not see him until after he has made his first visit to China next month.
Samdhong Rinpoche, the Tibetan prime minister-in-exile, has accused the United States and other Western nations of "appeasement" toward China as its economic weight grows.
"Today, economic interests are much greater than other interests," he said. MORE
Once again I am at a loss in trying to figure out Obama’s foreign policy. Obama has no problem taking the side of unions and entering into a trade war with China over tires. He is apparently staying mum on China’s involvement to conspire with Arab states to dump the dollar on oil trades. But to do something as easy as stand with the Dalai Lama against China’s human rights abuses and Obama crumbles like a house of cards. I just don’t get it.
This president never seems to be willing to stand up for freedom and dignity. Remember his embarrassing response to Iran’s crackdown on its own people? How about siding with the would-be dictator Zelaya against the Honduran people? None of these things can be considered exemplary behavior for the Leader of The Free World.
Maybe I am wrong, maybe Obama isn’t punking out to China’s wishes. Maybe the answer is something as simple as Michelle being unable to locate the proper DVD format of The Golden Child to give to the Dalai Lama as a gift.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: UK Telegraph
Via: The Financial Times
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