International Press

One of the principle functions of journalists in democratic society is to hold those in public office up to scrutiny - to examine their conduct and words to see if they are honest and reliable.

As Christopher Hitchens wrote in Salon Magazine: "The greatest triumph that modern PR can offer is the transcendent success of having your words and actions judged by your reputation, rather than the other way about. The "spiritual leader" of Tibet has enjoyed this unassailable status for some time."

Thankfully some journalists have been prepared to look beyond the veneer and, as with most politicians, the reality doesn't match the PR. Unlike the Dalai Lama, however, most politcians, no matter how self-important, don't pretend to be divine. This selection of articles show a more realistic picture of the Dalai Lama as a flawed politician, a flawed human being and a very flawed 'holy man'.

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