A Free Media in Red China

...Ever since Beijing was awarded the Games back in 2001, the world has been wondering whether the Chinese would be able to pull off a successful Olympics. On the logistical side of things, there is no doubt in my mind that the Beijing Games will be a smashing success -- it is inconceivable to me that the people in charge would allow it to be otherwise.

What I don’t think China is ready for are 30,000 journalists, one third of whom will have three weeks with nothing better to do than poke around looking for evidence that the government is lying or incompetent and that the local officials are corrupt...

From a column I wrote for today’s Citizen