News of the Day (February 3)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea finds that an unnamed official in Stalinist North Korea seems more interested in change than dovish South Korea; has also has the latest on the Stalinist food shortage, and how Communist China treats its Korean colony.

More on the satellite regimes: National Intelligence Director John D. Negroponte, finds both the Iranian mullahcracy and the Stalinist North to be threats to the United States (Washington Post). Regarding the former, the Epoch Times reprints my call for Iran's liberation. As for the latter, Han Young Jin, Daily NK, comments on the Stalinists' use of centarians in its propaganda, and the effects of anti-counterfeiting sanctions by the U.S. (and now, one South Korean bank - United Press International via Washington Times). Meanwhile, military talks between the Stalinist North and the dovish South appear to be back on (UPI via Washington Times).

Pentagon Quadrennial Defense Review calls Communist China "at a crossroads": The Pentagon's four-year review of the world at large focused mainly on "the war against Islamic extremism" (UPI via Washington Times), but also noted "China as an emerging superpower" and its buildup against Taiwan. Unfortunately, the tone set by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Ryan Henry - "China is an emerging world superpower . . . We want to constructively work with them to manage their growth" - leaves much to be desired.

San Francisco city council condemns persecution of Falun Gong: San Francisco's Board of Supervisors "passed a resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong" (Epoch Times) by a 9-2 vote despite the Communists' attempts to poison the debate.

More on Communist China and the United States: Joseph Farah, founder of World Net Daily, rails against the Bush Administration for its growing weakness regarding the island democracy of Taiwan. Former United Nations Ambassador Richard Holbrooke examines the implications of the next vote for UN Secretary General on the U.S. and Communist China in the Washington Post. Jay Nordlinger (National Review Online, seventh item) finds one silver lining in the 2008 Beijing Games: the Soviet and Nazi regimes perished roughly a decade each after hosting their own Games. The U.S. stayed away from Moscow in 1980, a fine precedent.

Imprisoned activist meets family for first time; RWB calls for release of cyberdissident: Human rights activist Ye Guozhu (fifth item) is in the second of his four-year prison sentence for "provoking trouble" (Epoch Times), i.e., helping Falun Gong practitioners and victims of Beijing cadre land grabs, including his own family. His relatives were allowed to meet him for the first time since his sentence, and as one would expect, Ye's health is deteriorating. Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (via Boxun) called for the release of cyberjournalist and dissident Li Yuanlong.

Gao Zhisheng offers aid to Yang Zaixin: Human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng, despite being hounded by the Communists (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, fifth, second, lead, and next to last items), has still taken it upon himself to help a fellow lawyer in need: Yang Zaixin (Epoch Times, see also next to last item).

Another day, another Communist movie ban: Joining Brokeback Mountain on the CCP's unviewable list (fourth item) is Memoirs of a Geisha (BBC).

More on Communist China: Zhou Huiying (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times) examines the strain on traditional New Year family reunions in Communist China caused by the hideous "one child" policy.