China wants to announce its hegemonic ambitions with
Olympic victory, but may fall short of the gold.
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4328
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4181
by Luke Coppen
Despite the combined efforts of Steven http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4456 are going to happen. At 08:08:08 on Aug. 8, 2008, China’s Communist top brass will be crammed into Beijing’s “bird’s nest” stadium for the start of the Games. Don’t be surprised to see them glancing anxiously at the sky. Their greatest fear is that at that moment—one of the most auspicious in modern Chinese history—the heavens will open and wash out the opening ceremony.
Meteorologists say there is a 50 percent chance of a downpour over the $440-million open-air stadium. To reduce the risk, officials have poured money into “cloud seeding,” a process whereby thousands of silver iodate pellets are blasted into threatening clouds days before the Games begin in order to induce rain. This (far from reliable) “weather modification” project shows just how determined China is to ensure that the Games of the XXIX Olympiad are a success. But aside from keeping Hu Jintao, the country’s paramount leader, dry during the opening celebrations, how will China measure success? In public, Chinese politicians blabber about bringing the world’s nations together through sport, promoting respect, harmony, and friendship. Forget about that. For China, success means one thing: knocking the United States off the top of the medal stand. The 2008 Olympics is not merely a sporting event. It is, as Tim Noonan put it, “the coming out party of the http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4184,” a chance for China to put the world on notice of its coming supremacy in global affairs.
http://www.amconmag.com/2008/2008_04_21/cover.html