News of the Day (July 12)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator examines the links between the oil-for-food fiasco and the UN's policies on Stalinist North Korea, the possible causes and effects of the missie launch, what it would take for South Korea to defend itself, and the rest of the SNK news.

Communist China continues to block action against SNK: At the United Nations, Communist China is still running diplomatic interference for its Korean colony (BBC, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, Worldwide Standard). Sadly this is leading pundits, such as Ignorant Comment of the Day Winner Harlan Ullman, to ponder things such as throwing Taiwan under the bus (Washington Times). Tony Blankley, also in the Washington Times, is more circumspect, but not even he can bring himself to call the CCP an enemy.

More on the satellite regimes: South Korea continues its maddening SNK dovishness (Washington Times), but opposition to that policy is growing (Daily NK). South Africa tries to nudge the Stalinists back to the table (Voice of America via Epoch Times). U.S. envoy Christopher Hill "is discouraged by North Korea's response to diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis" (BBC), while House Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter says the missile launch "highlights the need for U.S. missile defenses" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). Meanwhile, the editors of the Washington Post lament Communist China's willingness to protect its Iranian ally from international punishment for its nuclear weapons program.

More on the Indian bombing attack: Although Lashkar e-Tayiba denied any role in the attack on Mumbai, the Pakistani-based terrorist group is still the most likely suspect (MSNBC, National Review Online). The Communist-allied Pakistani dictatorship actually tried to play the Kashmir-occupation-caused-this card (CNN), while former National Security Council staffer Xenia Dormandy rightly demanded Pakistan get "serious about shutting down, arresting and otherwise dismantling the militant groups that operate from its territory" (Washington Post).

More on Communist China and the War on Terror: Two authors wrongly claim al Qaedaism has strength in occupied East Turkestan - Steven Foley in Red State (although oddly enough, his ending thought is perfect) and Robert McLean of the Center for Security Policy in Front Page Magazine.

Communist China rips "Cold War mentality" in Washington: In response to new high-tech export restrictions to Communist China, the cadres are "urging the Bush administration to abandon its 'Cold War mentality'" (UPI via Washington Times). If only the Communists' fears were true!

Communists ban another Hollywood film: The new victim is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Guardian, UK).

Dissidents back Kilgour-Matas report: Among those who called for a continuing probe into Communist organ harvesting (Epoch Times) was human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, fifth, second, lead, next to last, seventh, last, next to last, lead, second, last, sixth, tenth, eighth, second, eighth, ninth, lead, sixth, eighth, seventh, fifth, fourth, last, fifth, seventh, next to last, fourth, last, twenty-first, twenty-second, seventh, fourth, sixth, fourth, sixth, eleventh, eleventh, fourth, last, sixth, eighth, tenth, thirteenth, eleventh, eighth, tenth, and last items).

More on Communist China and human rights: Filmmaker Hao Wu (lead, seventh, and eleventh items) is freed (Boxun), but a Christian pastor is arrested (World Net Daily). Meanwhile, dissident Liu Xiaobo comments to the Epoch Times on the new disaster-reporting restrictions (eighteenth and ninth items).