tibet_chicago1.jpgChina’s crackdown on Tibet is an embarrassment to the Bush administration‘s foreign policy team (but then again, what isn’t?) China was recently taken off the U.S.’s list of worst human rights offenders, and this is how they repay Dubya?

Protests at Chinese consulates around the U.S. today, including New York and Chicago. [Picture at right from the Chicago Tribune.]

Meanwhile China declares a “people’s war”:

Chinese officials have declared a “people’s war” of security and propaganda against support for the Dalai Lama in Tibet after riots racked the regional capital Lhasa, and some sources claimed the turmoil killed dozens.

Residents of the remote city high in the Himalayas said on Sunday that anti-riot troops controlled the streets and were closely checking Tibetan homes after protests and looting shook the heavily Buddhist region.

Two days ago Tibetan protesters, some in Buddhist monks’ robes and some yelling pro-independence slogans, trashed shops, attacked banks and government offices and wielded stones and knives against police.

Update: There’s also action in Xiahe.