McCain on the Olympics:

MCCAIN: I think the president will evaluate this situation as it evolves and see what the Chinese do in response to, perhaps, granting more autonomy, perhaps getting into conversations with the Dalai Lama, who is not only and we all know is a world figure. So, I think, the president ought to keep his options open here and decide as we see the situation as it’s evolving. All of us condemn the brutal repression that the Chinese inflicted upon Tibetans and protesters. And we’re very concerned about it. So, if I were him, I’d keep all my options open.

After initially agreeing with Hillary (and Nancy Pelosi!) that Bush ought to not attend the opening ceremonies, I’m rethinking it, grappling with the simple question: would it really do any good for the Tibetans, human rights activists, political prisoners, etc? Or would the Chinese just grumble and continue behaving as they have been behaving?

On the other hand, when the International Olympic Committee screws up and puts the games in a city famous for a massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators, and if the months leading up to the games are marked by crackdowns on monks, continued Chinese deals with the Sudanese government, etc. … should the American President show up as if it’s a “normal” Olympics? Shouldn’t the leader of the free world say, “you know, the IOC can say there’s nothing wrong with this, but I’m not going to give it my approval. You can hold your games, but I won’t show up and avert my eyes and pretend that this brutality isn’t happening.”

(I recognize Bush could possibly go to Beijing and make some sort of demonstration or remark while he’s there, which might have an even bigger impact.)

Just think, the IOC could have picked Istanbul, Paris, Toronto, and Osaka, Japan eight years ago.

Based on my experience over there, any crackdowns by Turkish security forces against any protesters would be at least partially impeded by their inability to get anywhere in that city’s traffic.