Originally published Monday, July 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Bush explains why he'll attend start of Olympics
President Bush arrived on the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on Sunday to talk to world leaders about climate change...
The New York Times
TOYAKO, Japan -- President Bush arrived on the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on Sunday to talk to world leaders about climate change, soaring oil and gas prices and aid to Africa. But first he defended his decision to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing next month -- and he got a little help from his host, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who announced he would go, too.
"I view the Olympics as an opportunity for me to cheer on our athletes," Bush said at a news conference after the two leaders met privately. He said not going to the ceremony "would be an affront to the Chinese people" that might make it "more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership."
Human-rights advocates have urged a boycott of the games to protest China's crackdown on antigovernment protests in Tibet and its support of the government in Sudan.
Other world leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, are skipping the opening ceremonies. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has said he may stay home as well, although French news reports said over the weekend he was about to announce he would attend.
But Fukuda said, "I don't think you have to really link Olympics with politics."
Bush's visit to the scenic hot springs resort at Toyako, where the leaders are gathered, is his last meeting as president with the leaders of the other Group of 8 industrialized nations. It comes as other nations are frustrated with the United States over the weak dollar and rising oil and food prices, which are threatening the global economy.
Bush met today with Dmitri Medvedev for the first time since Medvedev succeeded Vladimir Putin as Russia's president. Afterward they said they agreed on the need for North Korea and Iran to abandon their nuclear ambitions, but they did not bridge their differences over Bush's plan to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe.
Leaders of the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia planned to open the meeting today. The session ends Wednesday with a larger gathering to include eight additional countries: Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.
Bush plans to press his fellow leaders to live up to their promises of more aid to Africa, a centerpiece of his own foreign policy agenda.
Climate change is another issue. Fukuda has said he would like to conclude the meeting with an agreement by the countries to cut heat-trapping gases in half by 2050. Bush has resisted a mandatory target unless developing nations like China and India sign on.
Information from The Associated Press in included in this report.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 09:38 PM
New General Motors expected to exit Chapter 11
Jobless claims indicate economy remains weak
Tough fight coming up in Afghanistan, Petraeus says in Seattle
UPDATE - 08:47 PM
Worst violence since US pullback hits Iraq
Afghan blast kills 25, half of them children

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Thursday, Jul. 9th
- South Lake Union Farmers Market
- Jaxx Boutik Summer Sale
- Girls Night Out at Magnolia Village
- Tottini Evening with Argington
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- UW Football | Tailbacks David Freeman, Brandon Johnson ineligible
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Experts work to untangle US, Korea cyber attack
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus
- Coffee City | New "sexpresso" stand coming to Ballard
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
911 - Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
615 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
493 - Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners: 07/09 game thread
240 - Teen charged in pit bull attacks ordered held after pleading not guilty
149 - World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
111 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
89 - Wednesday night notes
86 - Pay parking in West Seattle?
76 - House Dems want to expand secret briefings
61
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Rick Steves' Europe | Beware of new and classic travel scams
- Happy Hour | Ruth's Chris has super rib-eye sliders and quality cocktails
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland
- All You Can Eat | "Top Chef": Seattle chefs tapped for Bravo knife fight in Vegas!



