News of the Day (October 4)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator has the latest on Stalinist North Korea's missile test plans and all of the other SNK news respectively. As another blogger recommends allowing the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran to become a nuclear power, Shaun Kenney has his doubts.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: David Ignatius (Washington Post) goes soft on the Middle Eastern proxies again, and as such, he re-earns the dubious honor.

Will the Korean colony and Middle Eastern Proxy Number One profit, rather than be punished, for their nuclear ambitions? Paul Reynolds, BBC, seems to think so.

Communist China reaches for boilerplate rhetoric on SNK's nuclear test plans: The cadres recommended "calm and restraint" (Newsmax), but once again made no mention of repercussions against its colony (BBC). The United States (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), Australia (AAP via Epoch Times), and even South Korea (Yonhap via Daily NK) were much more forceful in their comments. South Koreans themselves aren't really sure how serious SNK is about all of this (BBC and UPI via Washington Times); Daily NK is certain the test is going to happen.

South Korean Christians stand up for victims of Communist China: South Korea's anti-Communist community made the news in two very encouraging ways. A church choir will be in Washington "to protest Chinese government's repatriation of North Korean refugees back to North Korea" (Boxun). Meanwhile, an unnamed South Korean Christian group is in Beijing helping abused appellants (Epoch Times).

More on South Korea: Ha Tae Kyung, Open Radio for North Korea, advises South Korea's pro-American opposition to be prepared for the end of the joint U.S.-South Korea military command (Daily NK).

As for the Iranian mullahcracy, Michael Rubin, American Enterprise Institute, calls for "war games and exercises in the Persian Gulf and on Iran's borders" (New York Daily News) to make clear that the U.S. is serious about prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. David Frum (National Review Online) has still believes - unhappily, I should add - Washington will do the exact opposite; the Washington Times presents evidence backing up that pessimism. Meanwhile, the head of American intelligence says an Iranian nuke is still four years away (Newsmax).

On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Israel finds more evidence of cooperation between the Syrian regime and Hezbollah (UPI via Washington Times).

Foreign rights activists write open letter to Hu Jintao: Human Rights Watch organized the group; the letter demands the Communist leader end the myriad abuses in his country. Specifically, it called for the release of Gao Zhisheng, Chen Guangcheng (see tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, ninth, second, fifth, and tenth items), Zhao Yan (second, sixth, tenth, ninth, last, third, and twelfth items), and Hu Jia (sixth, eleventh, twenty-first, seventeenth, second, ninth, tenth and eleventh items). Gao's arrest was made formal last week (Epoch Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Rob Nichols' assessment of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's trip to Beijing would have been a lock for Ignorant Comment of the Day if David Ignatius had taken the day off (Daily Standard). Shinzo Abe will visit Communist leaders next week (BBC). Communist China is listed as one of the worst overseas bribers (BBC).

More on matters inside Communist China: The Communists themselves admit more than 4 in 5 cadres are engaged in extramarital affairs (mistresses are the most prevalent beneficiaries of Communist corruption - Trend Magazine via Epoch Times). Conservationists blame Communist China (among others) for its role in the slaughter and trade of endangered tigers (Voice of America via Epoch Times).