News of the Day (September 18)

Congressional Commission examines Communist China-Iran ties: The U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission reviewed the ties between Communist China and its mullahcratic ally; the Epoch Times was there.

More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: The United States is pushing financial penalties against the mullahs (Agence France Presse via Breitbart and Washington Post), but Europe prefers more talks (United Press Int'l via Washington Times and Washington Post), a fact both Salim Mansur (Toronto Sun) and James G. Zumwalt (Washington Times) find maddening. Meanwhile, the mullahcracy plays Europe for fools (UPI via Washington Times) and scores points with fellow anti-American tyrants (Macleans and Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the War on Terror: Dissident Wang Bin (Secret China via Epoch Times) reveals the cadres' official position on "the martyrs of the 911 attack" - and that's not a reference to the 3,000 victims. Meanwhile, Salim Mansur highlights the similarities between radical Islam and Maoism in the Western Standard.

More on Communist China and the United States: Bill Gertz, Washington Times, highlights the fiasco behind the probe of the Mak espionage ring (lead, second, third, and fourth items). Communist China is opening its door to airlines (Washington Post), but slamming it shut to auto parts makers (BBC) and practically everyone else (Time Asia). The U.S. pushes the United Nations Security Council to examine the horrifying situation in Burma - infuriating the Burmese military regime's chief ally: Communist China (BBC). Communist China makes the U.S. State Department list of persecutors (China Freedom Blog Alliance Member Between Heaven and Earth).

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator remembers the Inchon landing, examines South Korea's anti-American left, marks the reaction to it in the U.S. and South Korea (see also Agence France Presse via Yahoo and the BBC), has the latest from inside Stalinist North Korea, refugees in Thailand, and apologists in the U.S.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The Stalinist regime had its own place on the State Department persecution report (Daily NK). The international aid for the northern Korean people continues to feed the Stalinists (Daily NK), while the people starve - and turn against the regime (Daily NK). Liberty in North Korea makes the Washington Times. Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's niece commits suicide (Washington Times, second item). Young C. Kim notices a newfound fondness in Washington for one-on-one talks with the Stalinists (Washington Times).

Tens of thousands rally in support of Chen Shui-bian: Between 60,000 and 200,000 - depending upon the source - marched in Taipei to support Taiwan's embattled President (BBC).

DPP head says Kuomintang will tilt toward Communist China: Yu Shyi-kun told the Heritage Foundation that the opposition Kuomintang "would most likely adopt a policy of equilibrium between the US and China, thus weakening Taiwan-Japan relations" (Taipei Times) if Ma Ying-jeou wins the 2008 election.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Communist China is sending peacekeepers to Lebanon (BBC) and already scoring geopolitical points from it (BBC). Italy's Prime Minister wants EU arms ban on Communist China lifted (BBC). The world's developed economies address Communist China's currency (BBC). Australia's economy is losing $1 billion to Communist China (AAP via Epoch Times). Xiao Xin, Epoch Times, profiles Japanese anti-Communist PM candidate Shinzo Abe. Falun Gong practitioners in Sweden file suit against Bo Xilai (Epoch Times).

Guo Feixiong back in prison: The cadres have arrested attorney Guo Feixiong for "running an illegal business" (Radio Free Asia). Guo was the attorney who advised the villagers of Taishi in their attempt to recall their local council.

Non-Communist candidates for Parliament face bribery and beatings: Two independent candidates - Sun Buer and Ni Jiangfeng - are up against a regime that is "bribing voters - offering 50 yuan (approximately US$6.3) to everyone who votes in favor of the CCP" (Epoch Times). For good measure, Wuhan Communist police also beat Sun (Epoch Times).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: The editors of the Washington Times ripped the cadres for their clampdown on foreign press reporting.

More on human rights in Communist China: A campaigner calling on Communist Party members to quit is now in prison (Minghui Net via Epoch Times). As cyberdissident Zhu Yufu is release (Boxun), fellow internet activist Huang Qi discusses his ordeal in an interview with Radio Free Asia (via Epoch Times).

Imprisoned cadres bribed his way to a regular life: Sichuan cadre Ma Jianguo "was allowed to wear his regular clothes, eat regular meals, visit restaurants and hotels, stay at home overnight, have cash and cigarettes in the cell, and use cell phones to manage his company" (Epoch Times) despite serving fifteen years for fraud. He was able to live a normal life by buying off his jailers to the tune of over $36,000.