After Rebuke, Bush Ready For Games

After Delivering Harsh Words To China, President Bush Arrives In Beijing For Olympic Opener; Dedicates Embassy.

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's Olympic odyssey started with a game of political one-upmanship Thursday, as his blunt critique of the host country prompted China to warn the U.S. president to stop meddling in its business.

The dustup over human rights unfolded just as Bush arrived in Beijing with hopes that the summer games would be all he has ever expected from them: a spirited sporting event devoid of politics.

Yet the White House also knew it would draw China's ire by challenging its crackdown on human rights. The rhetorical barbs were likely to recede quickly as the games began.

As the United States and China tussle over trade deficits, currency policy and other issues, Bush came here talking of another competition between the countries - the title of the nation taking home the most gold medals.

Bush is a president who speaks fluent sports, who hopes to go bike riding again on Beijing's trails, who has carved out time to watch Olympic basketball, baseball and more. But his rebuke of how China stifles free speech and religion - unveiled by the White House on Wednesday, then delivered in a speech Thursday by Bush - kicked up controversy. It is the matter that has dogged the Beijing Games: China's treatment of its own people.

After Bush said the United States firmly opposed China's repression, the Chinese government responded quickly, ratcheting up the political tension on the eve of the Games' opening ceremonies, reports CBS chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang admonished Bush, saying "We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues." He also said the Chinese government is dedicated to promoting basic rights, and that "Chinese citizens have freedom of religion.These are indisputable facts."

For months Bush has taken heat from critics over his decision not to boycott the opening ceremonies in Beijing, reports Axelrod. Aides have maintained that attending the ceremonies would give Mr. Bush the moral authority to speak clearly to Chinese leaders.

Bush and China's president Hu Jintao should have plenty of chances to discuss the issue, reports Axelrod. Their paths will cross at least three times in the next four days.

Meanwhile, as a sign of heightened anxiety and security on the part of the Chinese, and perhaps even some pettiness, the plane carrying White House staff and reporters landed and was then held on the ground for three hours while the plane's luggage was inspected - a departure from normal diplomatic protocol, reports Axelrod.

CBS News was also told that even Bush's luggage off Air Force One was held up for a couple of hours before being allowed to leave the airport and be delivered, though it was not searched.

Politics, at least peripherally, have always been part of the Olympics. This time, too.

In four days in Beijing, Bush will confer with Chinese President Hu Jintao, meet other Chinese leaders and call for greater religious freedom.

Yet if there is a hidden agenda in the president's visit, it is the open space on his weekend planner. White House aides insist he will fill it by attending athletic events.

Bush's presence is a precedent. He will be the first U.S. president to ever attend an Olympics on foreign soil when he soaks up the splendor of Friday's opening ceremony.

"The reason I'm going to the Olympics is twofold: one, to show my respect for the people of China; and two, to cheer on the U.S. team," Bush said this week. Then he thought about that for a second and reversed the order, saying pride in U.S. teams is his top motivation.

In the midst of a farewell trip to Asia, Bush tried to offer a stand against China's repression and dispense with the issue at the same time.

Questioned in South Korea about China's crackdown on human rights, Bush flatly called it a mistake. In a major speech in Thailand, he said the United States firmly opposes the way China stifles dissent and admonished the communist country to trust its people with freedom.

It was a repackaging of principles Bush has stated before, but given the timing, the president was clearly answering critics who fear his presence legitimizes China's conduct.

China takes enormous pride in hosting the games, as any nation would. But the stakes seem particularly high for a country seeking a more positive public image across the globe.

The sports are part of that, too. China is trying to top the United States in gold medals this time, employing a state-sponsored system that taps children at young ages for training.

Bush wants the U.S. to rack up the gold, too. Presidents, like athletes, want first place.

He told Olympians at the White House last month that they are more than sports competitors. In what sounded like a message to China, he called U.S. Olympians "ambassadors of liberty" who represent America's "regard for human rights and human dignity."

Amid the competition and criticism, Bush's agenda is dotted with examples of U.S.-China cooperation.

On Friday, he will dedicate the new embassy in the Chinese capital, a bookend to China's unveiling of its imposing new embassy in Washington earlier this year. The U.S. Embassy event is to be at precisely 8:08 a.m.; eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture.

Bush and many other foreign leaders at the games will hook up at a social lunch hosted by Hu on Friday. It may lend itself to pull-aside chats, but Bush plans only formal talks on this trip.

Bush will meet the president of the International Olympic Committee later in the day, and then members of the U.S. Olympic Team for a presidential pep talk. At night comes the elaborate opening ceremony. Tickets are hard to come by, unless you're a president.

Over the weekend, Bush on Saturday will meet with Olympic sponsors and watch women's basketball. He and family members with him will likely choose other events to attend.

On Sunday, he will attend a Protestant church and then speak to reporters about religious freedom, the same practice he followed during his last visit to China in 2005. He then plans to take in some men's and women's Olympic swimming.

Business takes over briefly Sunday afternoon. Bush will meet with Hu at his presidential compound, and then hold sessions with China's vice president and premier. Then its back to sports on Sunday night: the much-anticipated U.S.-China basketball game.

On Monday, the president will attend a practice baseball game between the U.S. and China. He is expected to add in other sporting events before flying back to Washington that day.

Bush Dedicates New U.S. Embassy

U.S. President George W. Bush dedicated the massive new US$434 million American embassy in Beijing on Friday, saying it is a symbol of deepening ties between the two trading partners and sometimes political rivals.

Bush, in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and cheer on U.S. athletes, said the eight-story structure represented the "solid foundation" underpinning relations between the two countries and a commitment to strengthen that foundation for years to come.

"To me, it speaks of the importance of our relations with China," Bush said.

China unveiled its own imposing new embassy in Washington last week. The 250,000-square-foot glass and limestone compound is the largest foreign embassy in the U.S. capital. The new American embassy in Beijing is the second-largest in the world, after the heavily fortified compound in Baghdad.

The president attended the dedication of the embassy with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, who once served as U.S. ambassador to China. Also in attendance was Henry Kissinger, who was secretary of state during the Nixon presidency when the U.S. began diplomatic relations with China.

[jgunther7]

We have always known George Bush is a mental pigmy. We also learn he is anything but a diplomat. The first rule of diplomacy is that visiting diplomats never criticise their host. They meet in public and exchange pleasantries and then hold serious exchanges in private meetings. Any public criticism is held until after the meeting and is discussed outside the meeting. George Bush being an undisciplined slob and a disgrace to his country, started his visit to China by criticising his host and their internal policies. He is lucky that they are being gracious and have not announced their opinion of George Bush.

Another unwritten rule of diplomacy is that countries never purposely start armed conflict during the Olympic games. What does George Bush do, he invades Ossetia. Of course he says he didn%u2019t do it, it was his surrogate Saatashvili and then blames Ossetia and says they made him do it by not renouncing their sovereignty. China has already made one statement supporting the Russian actions and no doubt, will take stronger action after the games have finished. Don%u2019t expect them to support George Bush.

[wakeup60]

Leave it to the "FAKE TEXAN"/TO OPEN HIS MOUTH AND PUT HIS "SILVER-OIL-SOAKED FOOT" IN IT/AGAIN! ATLEAST THE CHINESE PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE...AND TOLD HIM TO "SHUT-UP"! HOW DARE HIM MAKE COMMENTS LIKE HE HAS,ON THIS TRIP & AS A GUEST/NOT THE PLACE AND TIME!NO MATTER WHAT IS THOUGHT OF CHINA AND THEIR OWN POLICIES,GOVERNMENT,"RELIGION"...IT IS NONE OF HIS BUSINESS/SHOULD HAVE REVOKED HIS VISA! HOW HYPOCRITICAL,AS USUAL, AND SO UNBELIEVABLE, AS USUAL/WHY DOES IT ALWAYS CATCH ONE''S BREATH TO HEAR HIM OPEN HIS TRAP-EACH AND EVERY DAY-AND "HE''S" OUR "PRESIDENT"!SHOULD HAVE LOOKED @ THOSE "CHADS" ONE MORE TIME/BACK IN THE "THEFT" FLORIDA VOTE COUNT! AND, PLEASE ALL OF YOU GUYS THAT GIVE "OUR BELOVED "TEXAS" THE BLAME FOR THE "BUSH"...& SAY THAT HE IS, AS WELL AS HIS PAPPA...ARE TEXANS/THEY ARE NOT!DON''T WANT HIM IN DALLAS EITHER! BLUNDERS,BAREFACED LIES AND DECEIT,BETRAYER OF OUR OWN PEOPLE/OUR PRECIOUS YOUTH-TROOPS/STILL SERVING, INJURED AND MAIMED, AND THE ONGOING COUNT OF THE DEAD AND DYING...FOR WHAT? THIS BUFFOON DOESN''T AND NEVER HAS FOOLED THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNTRY/WHAT''S HIS STATEMENT...LET''S SEE...OH, YEH..."BRING IT ON"....YES/"BRING IT ON..."OBAMA"!COME ON NOVEMBER! IT CAN''T GET HERE FAST ENOUGH!

[leftyintexas]

....Then elect all Texans to be our
Presidents of The United States.

Then let them serve two terms and
become former presidents.

Then disqualified to run again for the
presidency we will be assured that no
present Texan will ever again be our
president,...

Posted by ajaxtheleast at 07:59 AM : Aug 08, 2008

I think we''ve all had our fill of bushes in the White House. That''s for *** sure! They are giving Texas a very bad name and unfortunately the rest of us are painted with the same brush. Actually bush and his buddy Lieberman are both from Connecticut. Maybe you could apply the same proposal to that state as well.

[leftyintexas]

Posted by terrorislamv at 08:01 AM : Aug 08, 2008

YOU are getting lazy. You print the same ol krap that nobody reads and it just takes up space. Can''t you come up with some NEW lies for all of us to laugh at? What''s the matter ...looking forward to the weekend and in no mood to think? Hahahaha!

[docpeter-2009]

Shrub:
"Arrive in Soul to thousands of protestors, check"
"Theaten Chinese ally over nuclear progam, check"
"Deliver hypocritical stern warning to America''''''''s biggest lender, check"
"Dedicate new Chinese embassy, check"
"Let the games begin!"

Posted by onemoretim

Make an azz of himself should be in there too.

Posted by liberalme at 08:54 AM : Aug 08, 2008
_______________________
Maybe GWB and Jintau can make a friendly wager over medals, like mayors during the bowl games.

Jintau can wager say 2,000 Kg of Peking Duck, and GWB can wager 2,000 Kg of presidential BS. Either way America wins. We can get rid of the xs BS from GWB. Unfortunately, I do believe that might just be a drop in the bucket of BS from GWB.

[liberalme]

Shrub:
"Arrive in Soul to thousands of protestors, check"
"Theaten Chinese ally over nuclear progam, check"
"Deliver hypocritical stern warning to America''''s biggest lender, check"
"Dedicate new Chinese embassy, check"
"Let the games begin!"

Posted by onemoretim

Make an azz of himself should be in there too.

[obama441]

terrorislamv will somebody please report terrorspamvirus...

[ajaxtheleast]

Whatever the population of Texas is let''s
take that number and by a new law allow
that many to share the presidency of The
United States of America all at the
same time.

Then elect all Texans to be our
Presidents of The United States.

Then let them serve two terms and
become former presidents.

Then disqualified to run again for the
presidency we will be assured that no
present Texan will ever again be our
president,

Following will be an interim of 20-years
of SANE single-White-House-president
residency.

After which, in 20-years, AGAIN hold the
multi-presidents elections and elect
all of the Texas former presidents'' sons
and daughters to be our presidents of
The United States freeing up the NEXT 20-
years for one sane president at a time
to serve in the White House and so on.

[ramos937]

given the events that transpired, it would have been much better had Bush stayed home. In view of the GITMO, our torture of prisoners, etc. our credibility to criticize others on human rights is just not there. Also, remember, China not only holds a lot of our debts but continues to lend us money. What happens if they refuse to buy our next round of bonds?

[downtowner97]

Bush REALLY doesn''t like the White House. He''s barely been there. He came to Central Oregon a few years back and rented out all of Crosswater resort for the weekend at a cost of millions of dollars. I can only imagine where he''s staying in China.

[pirmin3]

"I hope President Bush writes a book..."

The only thing that moron can do is draw a picture on his etch-a-sketch.

[tbweb]

I hope President Bush writes a book when he leaves office, a serious book, explain things so we can all understand what happened, what went on, what went wrong, truthfully and honestly. Pres. Bush owes an honest accounting to Americans and to the World.

[randynason]

The Pot-Calling-The Kettle-Black-In-Chief had a great day jibbing and jabbing with the communists. A fun time was had by all.

[cbsblogger]

Every politician, from GW Bush on back to Reagan, has been in both China''s hip pocket along and that of US multinational corporations, to the expense of Americans and the USA.

None of our leaders have promoted trade policies that were even close to fair for us.

US business interests, such as the US Chamber of Commerce, have no interests in promoting the USA...only promoting more China trade. They are traitors to America.