News of the Day (September 8)

Spy for Communist China may have damaged efforts to track arms sales to terrorists: Ronald Montaperto, the former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst who admitted to being a spy for Communist China (tenth item) gave Communist china information from which they could have knocked out America's efforts to uncover their arms sales to terrorist states. According to one unnamed official, thanks to Montaperto, "The Chinese learned from the leaks where the information was coming from and within weeks or months the [communications] links were lost" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times).

Israel focusing on "a possible war with both Iran and Syria": The battle with Hezbollah has led the Israeli military to conclude that the Communists' Middle Eastern proxies "pose a far greater danger to Israel’s existence" (Times of London) than anyone else.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: David Ignatius (Washington Post) wins again for underestimating the danger from the Communist-backed mullahcracy.

ICOD runners-up: Two perspectives on Mao Zedong (who died thirty years ago tomorrow) are overly focused on the supposed economic departures from Maoism (BBC and Mike Kiselycznyk - NBC via MSNBC), rather than the fact that in politics and geopolitics, the Chinese Communist Party has changed little.

Back to Middle Eastern Proxy One: Former regime mouthpiece Mohammed Khatami (second item) came to the defense of his successor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the regime's nuclear development (Washington Times); Khatami's appearances in the U.S. attracted a good deal of outrage (Daily Progress, New York Sun, Newsmax, and World Net Daily).

On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Lee Smith, of the Hudson Institute, finds America growing tired of the Assad regime in Syria (Daily Standard). Meanwhile, the leader of Hezbollah endorses Ehud Olmert (Israel National News).

Growing criticism for Pakistan's deal with the Taliban: While President Bush "said Thursday the U.S. will keep a close eye on a peace agreement signed between the Pakistan government and Islamists in a remote frontier region where fugitive al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is believed to be located" (Cybercast News), several analysts have already panned the deal. According to counterterrorism consultant Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, the deal "essentially cedes authority in the North Waziristan tribal region to the Taliban and al Qaeda." Regional security analyst Bahukutumbi Raman weighed in thusly: "Thus, bin Laden and [al-Qaeda number two Ayman] Zawahiri can continue to live in this area without fear of being arrested and deported if the tribal elders certify that they are not violating law and order." Communist China, an ally of Pakistan for over fifty years, has a long history of ties to the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Communist China not helping U.S. with its Korean colony after all: The Communist regime "remains opposed to sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear drive" (Worldwide Standard).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator continues to examine the future of Stalinist North Korea and cheerfully notes the European Parliament's concern for Korean refugees.

South Korea ups defense spending as command transition continues: South Korea's government proposed a nine percent hike in defense spending (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), as the U.S. military recommended military exercises "to prepare for the proposed transfer of wartime control of South Korean troops" (UPI via Washington Times).

Opponents of President Chen Shui-bian to begin sit-in outside his office: The rotating protest "will continue until Chen resigns," according to its leader, former Democratic Progressive Party leader Shih Ming-teh (Washington Times).

Race for top job in Japan begins: The current favorite, Shinzo Abe, is one of the most anti-Communist politicians in Japan (BBC).

Crackdown against Gao Zhisheng's family expands: Now the brothers of the jailed human rights attorney are confined to their hometown, while the cadres "warned Gao's oldest brother to not to let his sons get involved in Gao's case again" (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). Gao's nephew was arrested earlier this week (fifteenth item).