News of the Day (April 13)

From the China Support Network: The parent org fires the rhetorical double-barrel at the Associated Press and Reuters for conveniently forgetting who appoints the Lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, namely the Dalai Lama.

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth comments on the Communists hosting the World Buddhist Forum (which likely spawned the AP/Reuters reports that upset CSN so much, BBC also reported on the conference). China Intel remains unconvinced by Google's rationalizations. The Korea Liberator has a slew of posts on various subjects: the late Shin Sang-Ok, espionage in South Korea, a new blog, an upcoming rights conference, North Korea Freedom Week, and a collection of other tidbits.

More on Google, Yahoo, and the Communists web crackdown: Jay Nordlinger (National Review Online) is as skeptical toward Google's "follow the law" (BBC) tripe as China Intel. Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders took the time to show Yahoo employees what ordinary Chinese really think of them (Boxun), and Shi Shan, Epoch Times, examines Communist China electronic dragnet, a.k.a. the "Golden Shield."

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The Stalinists want the U.S. to end its anti-counterfeiting sanctions (BBC) before they'll agree to restart the six-party charade; the U.S. won't budge (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Japan confirms that a South Korean abducted by the Stalinists was married to their Megumi Yokota; his mother made an impassioned plea for his return (BBC, Daily NK, and UPI via Washington Times).

Talk about a misleading headline! This is what the Washington Times used as the title: "Russia, China slam Iran's nuke plans." The actual story had not a single quote from the Communists, while the Russian official quoted did everything but slam the mullahcracy.

More on the Iranian regime: The editors of National Review present the most comprehensive program for the liberation of Iran. William Kristol, Weekly Standard, presents the case for military action - but with not mention of liberation, it comes off surprisingly weak. Still, today's Ignorant Comment of the Day comes from James D. Zirin of the Council on Foreign Relations: "The Iranians don't like terrorism either" (Washington Times).

Bush asks Hu Jintao for currency movement: President Bush "met yesterday with a Chinese vice prime minister, Wu Yi, on U.S.-Chinese trade issues" (Washington Times) and later called on Communist leader Hu Jintao to "make a statement on his currency." Communist China's deliberately devalued currency has damaged nearly every producer, domestic and foreign alike, looking to sell goods to Americans.

More on Communist China and the United States: Charles R. Smith (Newsmax) presents more examples of Communist China's anti-Americanism in action. Sadly, the conventional wisdom on Sino-American trade still holds sway in many areas (Washington Times, National Review Online).

On Communist China and Canada: Human Rights in China (via Boxun) "welcomes the discharge of dissident Lu Decheng from the custody of Thai authorities and his arrival in Canada, where he has been offered political asylum" (see also seventh item), but laments the dissidents abroad stuck in diplomatic "limbo." Friendly Blog Small Dead Animals takes aim at the "Bodies" exhibit (fifth item). Neil Waugh (Edmonton Sun) seems uneasy about "massive importation of foreign workers" in Alberta's oil sands, especially a contingent from Communist China. Finally, Wenran Jiang, of the University of Alberta, examines Communist China's energy strategy, then becomes an apologist for it, in China Brief.

More on the "Bodies" exhibit: The exhibit's director hints no one has the right to question from where the exhibit got its cadavers (London Telegraph).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization held another meeting (UPI via Washington Times, fourth item). Communist China tries to stretch the long arm of tyranny into Malaysia (Epoch Times).

More on Communist China and energy: Peter Mattis of The National Bureau of Asian Research examines the cadres' dependence on coal, while Dr. Ian Storey, Assistant Professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, focuses on Communist designs for energy routes in Southeast Asia (China Brief).

More on organ "donations": Amid more evidence of a sudden surge in transplants (Sound of Hope Radio via Epoch Times), Lin Mu, the former secretary to the late Hu Yaobang calls for an international investigation (Epoch Times), and the Epoch Times editors respond to the latest Communist denial of Sujiatun. Meanwhile, a practitioner now safe in Argentina gives her account of the intense interest in her organs while she was tortured in a Harbin labor camp (Epoch Times).