News of the Day (July 6)

Spy defender under investigation: Less than one day after it was revealed that high-ranking intelligence officer Lonnie Henley publicly came to the defense of admitted spy Ronald Montaperto (tenth item), Bill Gertz (Washington Times) reported that Henley himself is under investigation. Henley's he-didn't-really-spy-that-much argument exposed just how far "engagement" supporters were willing to go to defend their fellows.

More calls for northern Korea's liberation: JPK of the parent org endorses yours truly's call for a free Korea, as does William Arkin of the Washington Post (although he takes the rhetorical round-trip).

Communist China gives its colony diplomatic cover: Attempts by the U.S., Japan, and Great Britain to punish Stalinist North Korea for its ICBM launch (fourth item) have been stymied by Communist China (London Times). The Communists would rather not, in their words, "increase tensions and complicate the situation" (Cybercast News), i.e., make it any more difficult for them to prop up their ally than it already is (Korea Liberator). Meanwhile, Daniel Griffiths, BBC, regurgitates the conventional wisdom on this issue.

More on the Stalinists and Projectile Dysfunction: The world witnessed another orgy of coverage and analysis, including from China Freedom Blog Alliance member The Korea Liberator. The Stalinists threatened more missile launches (BBC); the rest of the world took stock (BBC, Cybercast News, Fox News, Korea Liberator, Voice of America via Epoch Times, Washington Times). The U.S. revealed it did trigger its missile defense, but couldn't activate it on account of the SNK missile hitting the water (Bill Gertz, Washington Times); Martin Sieff of United press Int'l reminds us not to be complacent about that in National Review Online. As for analysis, Tony Karon (Time Asia) scores the Ignorant Comment of the Day. Dana Milbank (Washington Post), Richard Wolffe, and Holly Bailey (Newsweek) examine the Administration's low-key reaction. Daily NK ponders the reasons for the launch (and possibly the crash), and calls for an end to South Korea's dovishness. William Arkin (Washington Post) wonders if we could have prevented the launch (the answer is no, William). Claude Salhani, UPI via Washington Times, believes the Stalinists made a geopolitical error. Jong-Heon Lee (also in UPI via Washington Times) is not so sure. Pamela Hess (UPI, again via Washington Times) reviews the potential impact on East Asia. The editors of the Washington Post call on the U.S. to take action, but don't specify what action to take. Daniel McKivergan, Daily Standard, doesn't expect much of anything to happen in response.

On Stalinist North Korea and Iran: Many see the mullahcracy in Iran and the Stalinist regime as two peas in a dangerous pod, and call for resolute action against both (Daniel Gallington in the Washington Times, the Times' editors, Michael Rubin in National Review Online, and McKivergan in the Daily Standard).

On Tibet: Willy Lam, China Brief, examines the Communists' prospects for "Sinicization" of Tibet. Meanwhile, the Silk Road is reopened where India meets occupied Tibet (BBC).

On Communist China and the rest of the world: Dr. Ian Storey, of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, examines Communist China's ties to East Timor in China Brief.

Communist web crackdown ripped: Reporters Without Borders (via Boxun) detailed and criticized Communist China's crackdown of the web.

Arrests of Christians revealed: Communist China "arrested close to 2,000 Christians in the past year" (VOA via Epoch Times). The highest number of arrests was in Henan Province.

From Gao Zhisheng: The human rights attorney (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, and tenth items) believes the end of the Chinese Communist Party is at hand (Epoch Times).