If cropping an image is CNN's worst crime, then I'm not that worried. What about this story? China was framed for having a Chinese policeman dress in traditional Tibetan costume and wield a knife to incite violence during the riots. He was captured in photos that were sent around by the Chinese embassy. The "Tibetan" was later identified by a Chinese tourist from Thailand as a Chinese police officer. Once the man's true identity was learned, his image was mysteriously deleted from pro-CCP sites. You can see the photos for yourself here: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-3-29/67906.html Tibetans will confirm that the sword this so called Tibetan is carrying is actually a Chinese military sword and that the way he wears his traditional dress, a chupa, and his green belt (kherag) are distinctly un-Tibetan. Furthermore, protestors will generally try to hide their face to avoid subsequent persecution. This man however purposely turned toward the camera in order to show the violence taking place.

Ruan Ming, former Chinese Communist Party to the Party Secretary backs up the claims that the riots were staged by the Chinese as a pretext for justifying a crackdown on Tibet: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=20077&article=Former+Advisor+...

"...they don't have access to anything that contradicts this stuff,", so they could edited the pictures as they wanted? Such a illogical "China spcialist".

First of all, I take issue with this glaring typo that nobody seemed to notice:

Comments about the image posted on the Honk Kong forum 28discuss.com

It's HonG Kong, not HonK Kong.

Secondly, I'm not sure how Mr. Cai Chongguo is supposed to be considered a 'specialist' in China. Is it by virtue of his having taught philosophy in the University of Wuhan? And that qualifies him how? He is making a sweeping generalization about people in China that they 'suck up' official Chinese propaganda. HELLO! 28discuss.com.hk is a Hong Kong forum and we in Hong Kong do not SUCK UP anything. But of course, Mr. Cai doesn't know this, he left China before Hong Kong returned.

I doubt that most Hong Kong people think that the Dalai Lama is behind the riots, and even if they did, it wouldn't be because of the official Chinese propaganda. Mr. Cai really underestimates the mental capacity of his FORMER fellow countrymen. Don't you think people wonder why the conflict is occuring and conclude that it must be ethnically related, especially if the government does not offer an explanation? Don't you think people can put one and one together? I am ashamed that you were once my countryman.

I think it's alarming that so many in the West believe that Chinese netizens are a part of an uncultured mass of babbling idiots who do not have an opinion on their own independent of the CCP's official stance on things. Many's opinion of the West are not good not because the CCP says so, but because of what we perceive to be injustices. As one of the comments on the forum indicates, one netizen felt that the "Free Tibet" comment by Bjork earlier this year was somehow related to a wider Western conspiracy to stir up trouble during the Olympic year. Do you think the CCP allowed coverage of Bjork's comment so that this netizen could come to the conclusion that Westerners were conspiring against China? Give me a break! The CCP, if it were as characterized by the West and Americans, would opt to censor that comment altogether!

And to all you Westerners who talk about censorship in China. Yes, it exists, and Yes, people are not happy about it. But consider what is happening in your own homes. Do any of you "supporters of Tibet" actually know what is going on in Tibet? Have you spoken to a real Tibetan? Why do so many people blindly call for a "free Tibet" when you have no idea what the situation is? All the information you get is one-sided and you summarily dismiss anything that the Chinese side has to offer. In fact, everything is from your 'liberal media.' Go ask someone who has visited Tibet and ask them for their honest assessment.

Don't you guys ever find it interesting that non of China's other minority areas are ever brought up by the Western media? Is China also "cracking down" on those areas or is China only focused on "eradicating" the Tibetans? Could it be that the Dalai Lama clique is a little clever in their PR efforts and able to draw in brainwashed idiot celebrities like Stephen Seagal and Richard Gere so that you will also support "Free Tibet"

Finally, in response to CNN's response. They know better than anyone that a 'picture is worth a thousand words' and yet they defend their cropped picture with "Oh, and we included a comment below". Most people will not pay attention to the comment, and they know it. Also, the links that CNN points to were published after the fact. Look at the dates...

Take a look at some 'inaccuracies' here:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/23/content_7841316.htm

I'm a native Chinese so please forgive my imperfect english.

I dont see any relation between the accuse and the writer's comment.

simply: the accuse-CNN used a pic which was cut, and with the crucial part. (there're also other pics like that on BBC and some german sites, though not typically cut-they are usually with odd comments attached).

the comment: chinese net users believe the authorities are right in every scene. and there are tibet supporters...

the writer seems to be blind to all the attacks on chinese net against its own authorities before. it's usually politically incorrect to support the authorities in forums like tianya. and one of the most focused target of the users is that the govt is too weak to the outside, say, Japan; and too repressive inside.

in fact, before this I even had little knowledge on the negative attitude to CNN, including my own. as far as I know it's no agency of CIA-well VOA may be closer, and you can get the record of VOA in china more easily in the us.