Posted on 04/09/2008 7:03:45 PM PDT by melt
The Olympic flame’s procession through San Francisco drew world-wide ridicule when the torch-bearers ran only a few yards before disappearing into a warehouse, only to re-emerge on a bus half an hour later.
After furious clashes between Free Tibet protesters and pro-China demonstrators, the authorities seemed to panic and abruptly changed the route, cutting it by half and scrapping the closing ceremony.
What Chinese Olympic organisers have called a “Journey of Harmony” quickly became the mystery tour of the missing flame. By 1.20pm local time — 20 minutes after the scheduled start— even the TV news helicopters had lost track. Then the runners were glimpsed at last for a brief moment, only to vanish into a warehouse on Pier 48 seconds later.
Eventually the torch-bearers, flanked by their Chinese minders in blue shell-suits, got off the bus and posed for photographs before jogging down Van Ness Avenue, their destination unknown.
To add to the confusion American officers in blue track suits almost identical to their Chinese counterparts also made an appearance, mingling with the battle-hardened “flame-guards” from Beijing.
The city’s Mayor defended the decision to scrap the original route by citing security fears. “We assessed the situation and felt that we could not secure the torch and protect the protesters and supporters to the degree that we wished,” Gavin Newsom said.
“I think it’s cowardly. If they can’t run the torch through the city, it means that no one is supporting the games,” said Matt Helmenstine, 30, a teacher carrying a Tibetan flag.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
And his major partners are Wahhabis...
LOL... no doubt.
The authorities in San Francisco faced a different problem: more than a third of the city’s residents claim some kind of Asian heritage. Many of them took to the streets in support of the Chinese Government — raising the spectre of violent confrontations.
No doubt, Bill and Hillary contributors and/or Chicom supporters and possibly agents.
WTF is this country coming too?
Moozies, Illegal Aliens, Chicom supporters, etc., ad nauseum, all not only unwilling to assimilate but extremely anti American and deliberately undermining our freedoms.
Makes me glad I'm a Seasoned Citizen, but my heart goes out for future generations as I fear from what this country will look like in 20 - 30 years---IF it survives.
You friend, win the Grand Prize on this thread for originality and humorous accuracy. LMAO
a commie flaming feet fest!
Fight it in China. No way. They want the Americans to do the fighting; being the policeman of the world and all that good stuff.
The olympic games are for everyone, not just China. These people harassing the torch carriers are disgusting. And yeah I do despise China too, but this is not the way to protest.
The Mayor of Atlanta should organize and apply to the Olympic Committee to replace China with Atlanta only about 2 months later.
The China Olympics will be a joke.
San Francisco punted. While sneaking down back streets and alternate routes the dignity of the event was removed. Fear won. Bullies won.
Who to root for? The Lefties protesting the Olympics in Communist China? Or the Lefties supporting the Chinese Communists?
Or should we remain neutral and let the Lefties destroy each other? This is like Stalinist Russia.
Agreed. I was on site and would love to post my detailed review but I’m not sure how to do that here since it’s not a media report.
I think they did it on purpose to bring China's problems into plain view. Putting China's problems on the world stage for a few months might invoke some change...
Aint this the same city that hates the United States military?
Do we learn nothing from the past? Seriously.
Did the 1936 games change Hitler into a gentle loving leader?
What planet did the IOC members come from, that they didn’t know governments like 1936 Germany and 2008 China don’t base their actions on world opinion. They expect to own the world in a decade and a half. Why would they care to change minds through selling out their goals, when they plan on changing them by opression in the near future.
China rules by iron fist today, and it will in 2508.
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