Bush: Skipping Olympics Would Be An Insult

In Japan For G-8 Summit, President Says U.S. Economy Not As Robust As He'd Like

(CBS/AP)  Above all else, President Bush views his decision to attend the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics as an act of patriotism.

"I think it would be good for these athletes who have worked hard to see their President waving that flag," he said during a press conference today.

Were he to boycott the event, as several other world leaders have pledged to do in response to the Chinese government's crackdown on Tibetan protestors, Mr. Bush thinks the Chinese people might take offense, reports CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.

"The Chinese people are watching very carefully about the decisions by world leaders, and I happen to believe that not going to the opening ceremony for the games would be an affront to the Chinese people, which may make it more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership," the president said.

Mr. Bush is putting trade talks and aid to Africa high on his agenda Sunday for an upcoming summit of major economic powers that is also expected to focus on energy and climate change.

Mr. Bush met Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the first of many expected meetings between world leaders on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit that begins Monday on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

At a joint press conference Sunday with Fukuda, Mr. Bush told reporters he was disappointed by the U.S. economy: "Our economy is not growing as robustly as we'd like."

Mr. Bush continued calling for Congress to find a solution to the United States' dependency on foreign oil, by expanding offshore areas available for oil exploration, as well as opening up a protected Alaskan reserve to drilling, while promising that increasing production of fossil fuels will lead to more renewable energy sources.

"For seven years I've been trying to get the Congress to explore for oil domestically," he said. "Now is the time when they come back from their Fourth of July vacations to open up ANWR, open up the outer continental shift, so that we can say to the world that we will do our part in increasing supply, so we can transition from the period of reliance upon hydrocarbons to a new period of advanced technologies.

Climate Change A Key Topic

The three-day summit will also include meetings between the G-8 leaders and heads of several African countries and major developing nations including China, Brazil and India - a total of 22 leaders.

Host Japan has made climate change a key topic at the meeting, and many hope the G-8 will give some indication of its commitment to cutting greenhouse gases to move forward U.N.-led talks aimed at replacing the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which expires in 2012. Negotiators face a deadline of December 2009, when some 190 nations will meet in Denmark.

Fukuda would like the summit to agree on a 50 percent overall reduction in greenhouse gases - blamed for global warming - by 2050. Some European countries and developing nations also want to set targets for cutting emissions by 2020. Scientists say those targets are needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

But Mr. Bush reiterated his position that rapidly developing nations also need to commit to emission-reduction standards. He said he was "realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don't share that same aspiration, that we're not going to solve the problem."

Mr. Bush also emphasized the urgency of providing aid for Africa. He called on wealthy nations to provide mosquito nets and other aid to prevent children from "needlessly dying from mosquito bites."

"I'm concerned about people going hungry. We'll be very constructive in the dialogue about the environment - I care about the environment - but today there's too much suffering in the continent of Africa," he said. "Now is the time for the comfortable nations to step up and do something about it."

In addition to food and energy, Mr. Bush said he hopes to spend time talking with other leaders about moving forward on the World Trade Organization talks, which have become stuck as rich and poor nations bicker over changes to their subsidies and trade taxes.

"This is an opportunity for us, Mr. Prime Minister, for us to promote free and fair trade," Mr. Bush said during the news conference with Fukuda. "The best way to help impoverished around the world is through trade."

Mr. Bush also expressed deep concern about Myanmar, or Burma, faulting the country's military regime for its "unwarranted" limited response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 80,000 people. He called on the junta to free detained democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

Protests Brew In Shadow Of G-8

The site of this year's G-8 summit is a heavily guarded luxury resort on a hilltop overlooking picturesque Lake Toya, formed in a crater left behind by a collapsed volcano.

Hundreds of protesters held a second day of demonstrations against the G-8 in Sapporo, about 65 miles northeast of Lake Toya and the closest protesters have gotten to the secluded summit venue.

Security kicked into high gear over the weekend, with riot police in body armor monitoring checkpoints along roads leading to the summit site through the rolling farmland.

Japan has mobilized roughly 20,000 police officers in Hokkaido to avert any terrorist attacks. The Yomiuri newspaper reported that F-15 fighter jets would patrol during the summit.

[blackyowe]

No Bush you are an insult to us all no matter where you go!

[joechristine]

"The only encouraging element of our relationship with China, is we still hold the power to destroy thier economy if we want to. "---Posted by getoffmine at 12:43 PM : Jul 07, 2008
Of course,this way to suicide is credible one as long as you feel tired of this world and no one will care!

[joechristine]

The truth is that REal China is not the one portrayed by American media.Come on !See the truth with your eyes.

[joechristine]

Real elegance of Cow boy style!Even though Bush always make mistakes,he has made a right determination this time!

[underdogus01]

who''s your daddy? CHINA!! he,he

[Gary Kempf]

Do you suppose the Japanese feel that nuking hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children was too much payback for attacking our military base in Pearl Harbor

Posted by TawpDawg11 at 01:06 AM : Jul 07, 2008


You need to do some research on the countries Japan occupied during the war. Look up what happened in China, particularly 1936 to 1939. Look up the Philippine''s, occupation by Japan and how many civilians were murdered by the Japanese. Look up how many Philippine soldiers survived the Bataan death march. Check how many American nurses survived capture at Bataan. Nuking Japan was horrific by anyone''s standard. What Japan did during WWII made them masters of horrific cruelty to men, woman, and children....

[ajmarine111]

Do you suppose the Japanese feel that nuking hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children was too much payback for attacking our military base in Pearl Harbor

Posted by TawpDawg11 at 01:06 AM : Jul 07, 2008



They should have thought of that before they started the war. War is about payback.

[jjp735i]

Bush has caused the U.S. to have to borrow so much money from China to pay for his tax cuts. You never insult the banker, he may call in his loan.

[pvperson]

You must stay cosy with the people that you owe money to, a lot of money to. Especially when your afraid they may ask for it back.

[sistatee-2009]

Hey George! Going to the Olympics is an insult!

[tawpdawg11]

Who has the guts to be Babushka''s official food tester?

[tawpdawg11]

Do you suppose the Japanese feel that nuking hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children was too much payback for attacking our military base in Pearl Harbor. I think God should give them the strength to forgive.

[tawpdawg11]

I wonder if its safe radiation-wise to live in Hiroshima or Nagasaki yet.

I wonder if its safe to live in Hiroshima or Nagasaki if-you-look-American-wise.

[tawpdawg11]

At a joint press conference Sunday with ******, Mr. Bush told reporters he was disappointed by the U.S. economy: "Our economy is not growing as robustly as we''d like."

It isn''t?

I wonder what kind of catchy nickname McBush has come up with for ***-U-DUH!

I wonder if he''ll yak on the emperor at dinner tonite.

[stn_sage]

stn_sage...The Chinese did not fly airliners into our buildings and kill 3,000 people...The United States Of America has no beef with China...China is a great nation that can become more moderate by having peaceful relations with us...I would rather have friendly relations with China than the other way around...China is a force to be reckoned with...Tibet to China is like Texas is to the United States...think about it people.
Posted by guadalcanal3 at 02:20 PM : Jul 06, 2008
------------
Yr post of 11:41 PM : Jul 06, 2008 now says, What I said was..."If" they had good relations with the United States that it would help to make them more moderate...
------------
Referring to your original statement, there is no "if" in it! You imply they''re moderate and they will become more moderate! Like all neocons on this board, when you''re words are exposed, and it''s not to your liking,
you lie about it, say you said something else, deny it, and rewrite history! You cons stink!

[babooph]

Finally ,something Bush can handle - Prince Charles is also able to go to events-although the special olympics is more their speed.

[lucasnico]

Of course he should attend the Olympics. It''s the only courteous thing to do considering how much freakin'' money we''ve borrowed from China to help fund the war in Iraq!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[darwin200]

Thats it play politics with the hopes and dreams of our young athletes,thats total bs.

[guadalcanal3]

stn_sage...I never said China was Moderate (you said that)...What I said was..."If" they had good relations with the United States that it would help to make them more moderate...simply by NOT being their enemy.

[guadalcanal3]

Basically it all amounts to this people...."not getting along with China" = STUPIDITY......"Getting along with China" = SMART MOVE.