When I was inside the American Embassy, I didn’t have my family, and so I didn’t understand some things. After I was able to meet them, my ideas changed.Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng • During a phone interview conducted from his hospital room. After telling U.S. Ambadassor Gary Locke that he wanted to remain in China, Guangcheng has had a change of heart, and his now reportedly requesting asylum in the U.S. “He made it very, very clear from the very, very beginning that he wanted to stay in China,” said Locke, adding, “he wanted to be part of the struggle to improve the human rights within China.” When asked why he’d had such a sudden change of heart, Chen replied, “I feel very unsafe. My rights and safety cannot be assured here.” Guangcheng told reporters that his family is living under constant surveillance by the Chinese officials, and that several have threatened Chen and his family. source (via • follow)
Duck and cover here at the embassy. Not a drill - avoid the area.
— U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) May 2, 2012
Reports are coming out that a large explosion went off in Kabul, Afghanistan, sometime after a major speech on the Afghan war was given by President Obama at Bagram Air Base. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a warning immediately, tweeting the above as well as telling staff to “take cover, move away from the windows,” according to AFP, whose bureau is nearby the embassy — more on this as details emerge.
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