Will Violent Protests in Tibet Derail China's Olympic Games?

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The German chancellor has decided to boycott the Beijing Olympics in protest of China's treatment of Tibet. The French president is considering the same. President Bush plans to attend the opening ceremonies, but has publicly expressed his concern about how harshly China has reacted to protests in Tibet. Guest host Lawrence O’Donnell explores how the protests will affect the Olympic Games as well as China's policy toward Tibet. Also, the final meeting between Presidents Bush and Putin, and how the Pentagon allowed a 19-year old Miami masseur to provide arms to Afghanistan.

Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Main Topic

America, China, Tibet and Double Standards ()

As China prepares to welcome the Olympic Games, world leaders are under increasing pressure protest China's treatment of Tibet. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Britain's Prince Charles are all boycotting the opening of the Beijing Olympics, and some American politicians want President Bush to do the same. Will public embarrassment of China help Tibetans? Will protests in Tibet derail the Olympics? Should world leaders boycott the Olympic Games in Beijing? Are western leaders applying double standards when it comes to human rights?

Guests:

John Ackerly: President, International Campaign for Tibet
James Lilley: Former US Ambassador to South Korea and China
Michael Chugani: Columnist, South China Morning Post
Doug Cassel: Director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Notre Dame

Reporter's Notebook

22-Year-Old Arms Dealer Is Out of Business ()

Following an expose in the New York Times, the State Department yesterday blocked the export activities of a Miami arms dealer whose procurements for the Pentagon are under criminal investigation. Eric Schmitt, Pentagon correspondent for the Times, is one of the reporters who broke this story.

Guests:

Eric Schmitt: Pentagon Correspondent, New York Times

Making News

Dance of the Aging Lions, the Final Bush-Putin Meeting ()

At a summit this week in Bucharest, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have agreed to support a United States missile-defense system based in Europe, but refused to back President Bush's proposal to immediately begin the process of extending NATO membership to Ukraine and Georgia in the face of strong opposition by Russia. Edward Lucas is Moscow correspondent for the Economist.

Guests:

Edward Lucas: Central and Eastern Europe correspondent, Economist

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