News of the Weekend (October 9)

Death toll from Communist shooting of Tibetans reaches seven: According to International Campaign for Tibet, the number of Tibetan would-be refugees murdered by Communist border guards is now up to seven (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, James Pitkin (Washington Times) provides a glimpse of what those who stay behind must face.

The Korean colony joins the nuclear club, but liberation remains the unspoken word: Stalinist North Korea followed through on its threat to test a nuclear weapon (BBC, The Korea Liberator, Newsmax, Small Dead Animals, Time, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, World Net Daily, and Yonhap via Daily NK). As one would expect, most of the world was not happy (BBC, BBC again, BBC - last one, Times of London). President Bush called the test "unacceptable" (Newsmax) but still punted to the United Nations Security Council (Fox News). There are, however, many in the Administration who hope the SNK test will finally stiffen Washington's spine (Washington Post). Even the colonial viceroy had harsh words, but said nothing about any concrete consequences (Newsweek, Times of London, United Press Int'l via Washington Times). There have been some reports that Middle Eastern Proxy Number One sent scientific observers (Newsmax and SDA). The punditry's response was voluminous (Daily NK, Daily NK again, Daily NK - last one, The Korea Liberator, National Review Online, Shaun Kenney, Time, Times of London, and World Net Daily), but sadly, liberation for the northern Korean people was never mentioned. One more thing, the Stalinists may do it again soon (The Australian).

SNK troops cross border into South Korea: This mini-incursion was right before the nuclear test (BBC).

More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy: As the Tehran regime thumbed its nose at the rest of the world (BBC), further cracked down on dissenters (BBC and UPI via Washington Times), and watched its Sadrist proxies kill more Americans (Washington Post), the Administration seems prepared to surrender on all fronts (National Review Online). Meanwhile, the Weekly Standard has the latest on this quarter's candidate to be the local anti-mullah nuclear power: Georgia.

On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Syria may have decided this is a good time to attack Israel (World Net Daily), while Hezbollah may come after the United States (again - UPI via Washington Times).

Communist China's espionage-intimidation operation catches MSM's attention: It took a while, but give credit where credit is due - in this case, to Fred Hiatt (Washington Post) for ripping Communist China's harassment of exiled dissident and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Rebiya Kadeer.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Japan's Prime Minister (BBC) and the leader of the Anglican Church (BBC) begin their visits to Communist China. Kent Ewing, from the Hong Kong International School, examines Communist China's neo-colonial policies in Africa (Asia Times, see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, fourteenth, sixth, fourteenth, fourth, seventh, ninth, and next-to-last items); William Underhill, Newsweek, sees something similar in Europe.

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 has a slew of pieces emphasizing reasons to stay away from the Communist Olympiad: two on religious persecution, two more on human rights in general, one each on the occupations of Tibet and East Turkestan, two on Communist organ-harvesting, two on the cadres' international perfidy, one on Communist land seizures, one on the cruelty behind Communist China's sports programs, and one on the cadres' Olympic car ban.

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: The Communist crackdown against the Pan-Blue Alliance (not to be confused with Taiwan's ridiculous "pan-blue" opposition) continues (Epoch Times). The Epoch Times highlights the plight of abuse victims. Wu Baozhang explains to the China Human Rights Forum why Communist China "promotes violence and dictatorship" (Epoch Times).

Communist Central Committee begins annual meeting: This may the meeting that ends whatever is left of the Jiang Zemin faction (BBC).