China’s crackdown on Tibet is an embarrassment to the Bush administration’s foreign policy team (but then again, what isn’t?) China was recently taken off the U.S.’s list of worst human rights offenders, and this is how they repay Dubya?

Protests at Chinese consulates around the U.S. today, including New York and Chicago. [Picture at right from the Chicago Tribune.]

Meanwhile China declares a “people’s war”:

Chinese officials have declared a “people’s war” of security and propaganda against support for the Dalai Lama in Tibet after riots racked the regional capital Lhasa, and some sources claimed the turmoil killed dozens.

Residents of the remote city high in the Himalayas said on Sunday that anti-riot troops controlled the streets and were closely checking Tibetan homes after protests and looting shook the heavily Buddhist region.

Two days ago Tibetan protesters, some in Buddhist monks’ robes and some yelling pro-independence slogans, trashed shops, attacked banks and government offices and wielded stones and knives against police.

Update: There’s also action in Xiahe.

Will cries of “Free Tibet!” drown out China’s Olympic triumph?

No, says Beijing, and hell no says the International Olympic Committee.

Video of the protests. Several videos on YouTube and elsewhere with fleeting glimpses of the unrest.

UPDATE: Protests at the Chinese embassy in Washington.

Reports of at least 30 dead fromTibetan exile groups.

Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, said the unrest would not have a negative impact on the Games or the torch relay.

Preparations to carry the Olympic torch across Mount Everest and across Tibet “have been proceeding very smoothly and according to schedule,” Sun said.

“The hosting of the Beijing Games is the 100-year dream for Chinese people and I think the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Tibet, very much look forward to hosting the Games,” Sun said.

The United States and other governments have urged China to show restraint on the protesters, though International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge deferred, saying he didn’t have details.

From the New York Times. 50 or 60 monks arrested. Dead bodies all around Lhasa.
The government response to the Burmese protests was such a black eye for China, it is astounding they would raise the ire of the world again by firing on peaceful demonstrators themselves. Is it arrogance, or fear that motivates them?

This should lead to many condemnations and Olympic boycotts. The world has so little leverage over China otherwise, and the games are so important to Beijing

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