Press Trust of India Saturday, January 17, 2009, (New Delhi)
www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090080421

The Dalai Lama, a lifelong champion of non-violence on Saturday candidly
stated that terrorism cannot be tackled by applying the principle of ahimsa
because the minds of terrorists are closed.

"It is difficult to deal with terrorism through non-violence," the Tibetan
spiritual leader said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture in
Delhi. He termed terrorism as the worst kind of violence which is not
carried by a few mad people but by those who are very brilliant and
educated.

"They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill
feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai Lama said. He
said the only way to tackle terrorism is through prevention. The head of the
Tibetan government-in-exile left the audience stunned when he said "I love
President George W Bush."

He went on to add how he and the US President instantly struck a chord in
their first meeting unlike politicians who take a while to develop close
ties.

"I told him 'I love you but some of your policies I oppose'," said the
spiritual leader to a loud round of applause from the audience which
included Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Election Commissioner Navin Chawla and
several ministers, diplomats and artistes.

The Dalai Lama said in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks he had asked Bush to
spend billions of dollars on education and promotion of non-violence instead
of warfare.