Olympic, Politics, and War

The world is witnessing the most spectacular of, I believe, all the Olympics since its conception in Greece some hundreds of years ago. But with humanities coming together in the spirit of unity and harmony, its darkest side might come back to haunt them in the near future. When all the games are over, when the last whistle sounded, when the golds, silvers, bronzes, and nothing are won, humanity will return to their endless social woes and political bitterness (returning to reality).

Is the world bracing for another world war?
As world leaders gathered in Beijing to enjoy the spectacular demonstration by the Communist regime, unrests are reported throughout the world. For superstitious people, this celebration may be a token of a human catastrophe awaiting the post-Olympic era. The country of Georgia is battling Russia right now over a territory within Georgia that Russia has not right o enter. The Russian government orders its Air Force and ground troops to cross over to Georgia in a claim to protect Russian citizens. Witnesses confirming numerous deaths as a result of Russian and Georgian forces fighting, but in Beijing, the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is enjoying the beauty of the Olympic opening ceremony (he stood to wave to the Russian delegation as they walked in).
The Russian incursion to Georgia in the name of self-defense, is reminiscent of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the late 19780s. So far, the US and Russian leaders have met and supposedly discussed the issue, but nothing conclusive as media reporters weren't in attendance. The US is obviously sandwiched between trying not to offend Russia and its obligation and support of Georgians' infant democracy. This conflict may be treated as an isolated event, but history is clear. The World War I started in Europe from an isolated event. And because countries were signing treaties of protection with each other, the whole Europe, Australia and NZ, and then the US were dragged into it, killing tens of millions of lives. The spilled over effects of that war resulted in the World War Two that brought the Atomic bomb down to two once beautiful cities of Hiroshima and Nangasaki, Japan. It will be interesting as the leaders of these powerful nations returned to their country and analyze the situation.
In Pakistan, the US ally in the war against terror, President Pervez Musharraf, is facing impeachment over allegations of corruption and the constitution. The US can't afford to lose its ally as he is crucial to the war against terror, but Musharraf's fate is hanging by a single hair. It will take time before Pakistani build up an Islamic state, with laws based on the Sharia laws.
In Mauritania, the first ever democratically elected leader, was toppled on gun-points. That occurred weeks after the leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, retained his seat by means of torture, murder, and intimidation of innocent voters. An arrogant government that the Russian government was willing to uphold when they vetoed a resolution by the US and UK for further sanction against Zimbabwe.
In Sudan, the leader of the country is facing an arrest warrant on charges relating to genocide and massacre of innocent villagers some years ago. The ICC will have to try him as a war-criminal. How about Iran? The government there is still in defiance of the United Nations demands-openly brushing aside the UN resolutions that aimed at forcing Tehran to give its Nuclear ambitions. In all, Iran had won the war of words.
These is the bad side of humanity that is lurking our the corner, ready to explode in the next few days, months, and years. With Bush sitting in the audience with a pair binoculars, scanning the tens of thousands of athletes flocking into the stadium, and Sarkozy and Putin waving to their national athletes walking in with their flag, one question remains unanswered and will continue haunt these great national leaders; are they going to unite in global effort to curb lawlessness or is there a Cold War II awaiting them? The answer will come before we know it.

Human Rights vs. Sports
Someone once said that in America, dogs are treated better than humans; in China, the Olympic takes away the attention of the world away from its human-rights record. A pre-Olympic understanding between nation leaders was that no politics should be discussed. Bush dropped the bomb in Thailand on his way to Beijing, accusing the Chinese government of human rights suppression and how they handled democratic advocates within China; claims that were denied by the Chinese.
China has been the focus of Human-rights violation with its communism ideologues. The West, especially the United States, blasted China over its supplies of arms and fueling of the Sudanese war that has been going on for decades. When China saw international companies leaving Sudan in protest of the government's atrocities, they rushed in. China has been the primary support of the Sudanese government, and to make it worse, China has a veto power in the United Nation Security Council. China is also the primary supplier of arms and other important materials that fueled the Mugabe dictatorship.
How about China? Not all Chinese people like or enjoy communism. Others have tasted the ideology of Democracy either by attending Universities in the West, or through personal readings and observations. Chinese intern goers have been increased from another 2,000 to a hundreds of millions, but with Chinese authority's suppressive efforts, the number has been dwindled. But bloggers around the world, especially Chinese people, have shared their stories (mostly outbursts) on the net. Some were using cellphones camera to record some video clips of Chinese military in action against their own people.
Tibet was the worst. In fact, the widely covered Tibet uprising that took place months prior to the Olympic in Beijing, was the classic example of the giant grip China has on its people and claimed territories. But people with hidden video cameras and other means of communication caught the Communists in action-torture, and killing of innocent protesters. Foreigners with video cameras weren't allowed so were local people. Some of the blogs by Chinese bloggers were either blocked or erased.
But tonight, all these atrocities have been cast aside and the world seemed to go through a state of self-renewal. The beauty of the Stadium, the amazing display of fire works (compliment of Chinese engineering), the beautiful presentation of Chinese culture and values, etc. represent a different kind of China. In fact, the images portraying China and the Olympic have been carefully choreographed to impressed the world. Securities all over the place.

Why World Leaders go to China?
China is the biggest country in the world and a home to the world's biggest population (1 billion in estimation). The biggest Military in the world can be found in China so as its world powerful market; a military helped North Korea repelled the US led UN forces that invaded the North to the Yalu river, bordering China. A military this big is not an easy enemy defeat, but China has been silent over the years as far as military conflict is concern.
Since the United Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) collapsed in the early 90s, China becomes the only powerful Communist nation standing. There is no doubt that the world is intimidated by the China way that only political leaders understand.
With China's cheap labour and international market dominating the global market, the world is not to fight the sleeping giant. In fact, the only resolution, according to some political analysts and economists, is for the world to trade with China in ease the powerful Communist grip on the world's largest population. Trade and would empower the ordinary people to rise up against authoritarianism. In other words, people will the beauty of democracy and freedom to trade and compete in international market. Individual corporations will push for more rights and freedom and would eventually bringing down the Communist China.
This idea is being pursued by the west in ways known only to political analysts and not to the common people. A good example of China being baby-sat by Western powers is the aggressive behavior of mainland China toward the tiny Republic of China (also known as Taiwan). Wars were fought from Korea to Vietnam and from Kuwait to Bosnia, and from Afghanistan to Iraq, in the name of democracy and freedom. Why are Taiwanese people being intimidated and their fight for freedom being ignored by France, US, UK, and the EU? It is because they want Chinese goods, money, and labor! This trade off is not always left unheeded. For instance, though these powers rejected Taiwanese plea for self-determination, non of these powers acknowledged their struggles, yet vow to fighting any aggressive toward Taiwan.
The meeting of leaders in China (now) shows that these powerful nations (France, UK, US, Russia, and EU) have one goal in common-to show China that one-government policy is not always right. Shaking of hands in front of the camera is another way of combating Chinese isolationism in a hope that through constant international exposure, the Chinese government will ease its grip on certain freedoms.

Condemnation (Let the powers eat their own words)
There is no use of Criticizing Sudan and the Chinese government when they (US, UK, and France) don't condemn or harshly criticized China. In the world of democracy, those who suppressed the rights of human beings are enemies. Therefore it is rather stupid for Western nations to accused Sudan and Zimbabwe, for instance, when they befriend the authoritarian Chinese government. It doesn't make any sense at all.
To invade Iraq in order to Free the Iraqi people (as claimed) while ignoring the rights of the Taiwanese and the Tibetans to exist, is rather awkward and a clear demonstration of political arrogance.
Time is ticking away and countries all of the world are fighting for gold, silver, bronze, and to set new records in the Beijing's Olympic, there are people out there in Chinese prisons that wanted freedom. Those who were imprisoned for no reasons at all, people who were tortured simply because they criticized the government. It is impossible to seas the US strategy in dealing with China; the President invited the Dalai Lamar to the White House, but refused to condemn Chinese killings human rights abuse (esp. death and torture).
For the international to flirt with China in a quest for fame and popularity is like a woman that sleeps with a known murderer.

To be edited and continued..............