The free world led by the U.S. fought almost all regimes that trampled on human rights.

Life is priceless even to an ant.

The Party leader at the time, Jiang Zemin, wanted to show the world China's new status. And in winning the bid, the leaders could show the people how strong the government was. Plus, the leadership wanted to use the Olympics to strengthen nationalist sentiment.

The major wars that the U.S. became involved in are all ethically defensible.

China after Olympics will progress very slowly. But the demands for freedom - on the part of ordinary people but also party members - won't be as easy to contain.

I have viewed the West as if it were not only the salvation of China but also the natural and ultimate destination of all humanity.

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.