The Failed Pacifist

Bush Apologizes for Protester

Ceremonies today in Washington D.C. welcoming China's President Hu were interrupted briefly when a woman who gained access to the press area began shouting "President Bush, stop him from killing". The woman, identified as 47 year old Wenyi Wang, was charged with disorderly conduct. Other charges are being considered.

President Bush reportedly apologized to the Chinese President over the human rights protest.

"It's hugely embarrassing," said Derek Mitchell, a former Asia adviser at the Pentagon and now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

China "must know that this Bush administration is good at controlling crowds for themselves, and the fact that they couldn't control this is going to play to their worst fears and suspicions about the United States, into mistrust about American intentions toward China."

Without any sense of irony, President Bush later said the Chinese government cannot continue to deny its citizens "the right to assemble, speak and worship as they choose."

posted by Doran @ 7:13 PM