I think it’s pretty clear that the Olympics have been a big success for China — for the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party, which runs the place). The Olympics have enhanced the party’s legitimacy, buttressed its authority — prettied up its image. A few months ago, Wei Jingsheng, the great dissident, told me that if the Olympics were a success for the Communists, they (the party) would have another 20 years. And so they will, I suppose.

There were some who supported the granting of the Games to Beijing on human-rights grounds. (I wrote about this in 2000 — here — and again this year, in a five-part series that can be found in my NRO archive, which is here.) It was thought that the Olympics would actually backfire on the Communists, forcing them to loosen up and open up — even to lose their grip on the country. “The whole world will be watching,” etc., etc. Well, from what I can tell, the international media were very cooperative with the government. Dissidents were arrested or “disappeared,” and no one said boo. The media were almost a partner of the government, to ensure that the PRC had a smooth “coming-out party.”

I think that the failure of the Games, for those interested in a more democratic China, has to be admitted. I was one of those against the granting of the Games to Beijing — I thought it would be a boon to the CCP, rather than a bane. I sorely hoped I was wrong. And if I had been wrong — I’d shout it from the rooftops, gratefully. Actually, the Games could have backfired on the CCP. But they did not. On the contrary, I think they strengthened the party, considerably. And, again, I think that this should be simply admitted.

Am I wrong? Will the Olympics, somehow, prove a spur to democratization, down the road? I doubt it. But I sincerely hope so.

One more thing: Thugs like the Chinese Communists can be counted on to know their own interest. I say the same about the thugs in Cuba, and other places. The CCP thought that the Olympics would help them, a lot. They knew.