BETTER MAKE THAT DOUBLE SECRET SOLEMN:

George Bush ignores China over Dalai Lama (Alex Spillius and Richard Spencer, 17/10/2007, Daily Telegraph)

President George W Bush will have his first public meeting with the Dalai Lama in Washington today, despite protests from China.

The Tibetan spiritual leader and Mr Bush met in private yesterday, but today the Dalai Lama will be given the Congressional Gold Medal in the president's presence.

The Capitol Hill ceremony will act as a powerful symbol of support as China seeks to end dissent among his followers.

"China has solemnly demanded the United States cancel the above-mentioned and extremely wrongful arrangement," said Yang Jiechi, the Chinese foreign minister.

When we used to play kick-the-can in our neighborhood we somehow got in the habit of using a rubber ball with handles on it--they were called Red Eyes--instead of a tin can. It belonged to one of the more immature kids and whenever he was "it" he'd cry, pick up the ball, and scream: "I'm taking my Red Eye and going home!" Someone want to hand Mr. Jiechi his Red Eye?

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 16, 2007 7:27 PM