David Bowie reference or Alan Moore's Watchmen reference? The world may never know.
Today's Guardian features the oddly-headlined story:
Tibet No Worried About Propaganda
DHARAMSALA, India (AP) - In China, the government has opened a charm offensive, freeing Tibetan prisoners and taking reporters on tours of the Himalayan region. But in Dharamsala, home to the Tibetan government in exile, there is little worry that Beijing will score a public relations success.
Exile officials say the Chinese campaign is just a belated reaction to the popularity of the Dalai Lama, exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhists.
``It's an attempt by the authorities to take the propaganda initiative because for the last two decades international public opinion has been swayed in favor of the Tibetan refugees,'' said Thubten Samphel, secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations for the government in exile.
``What we have is to tell the truth, and there's no more powerful weapon than just telling what's happening in Tibet.''
[. . .] For more than a decade, the government in exile has said that the Dalai Lama - who fled China after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule - is ready to enter into a dialogue with Beijing. While the exiles want autonomy for Tibet, the Chinese government maintains the region is an integral part of China.
But with Beijing now so concerned about its image, the exiles see a renewed chance for their own cause.
``One very positive change in China is that now they care for international public opinion, Samdhong said. ``That situation should be taken fully in our favor.''
Truth as a weapon.
Well, suppose I was that naïve once. . .
Meanwhile in (technically) another part of China, the Taipei Times reports in another oddly-headlined article:
... while Beijing intensified propaganda offensive
China ratcheted up its tough talk yesterday, warning Taiwan that increasing "radical pro-independence moves" are shoving China toward preparations for a military solution to the cross-strait impasse.
But Beijing also said it remained committed to peace.
The Chinese government used its official media -- English-language newspapers in particular -- to disseminate words of caution to Taipei: Comments by President Chen Shui-bian [Chinese characters deleted], and especially any referendum on independence, risk military consequences.
There is a growing possibility that "peace will have to be safeguarded and won through the use of force," said an article in the government-run press, quoting a "senior military source." But it said any military preparations would be "a backup."
Naturally, everyone can see how absurd it is to speak of safeguarding and winning peace through the use of force.
Since it's one of our enemies saying it.
They should talk vaguely about regime change, and leak a few invasion plans, like real superpowers do. They really need some new PR people.
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