News of the Weekend (November 27)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance (and related posts): Between Heaven and Earth has several posts on human rights in Communist China, including the regime's organ harvesting (see also Agence France Presse via Nine News and these Epoch Times links) and the beating of Gao Zhisheng's wife (see also Epoch Times). Boycott 2008 has a post on pollution in Communist China (see also BBC, BBC again, China Brief, and Time). One Free Korea was also very busy, with posts on Stalinist North Korea playing the nationalist card (see also BBC and Daily NK), the suffering northern Koreans refusing to play along (see also Daily NK), and more South Korean silliness (see also these Daily NK links).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: James G. Zumwalt (Washington Times) asks the perfect question: "how can any rational person now think direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington will reduce tensions?" Runner-up went to Mark Levin (yes, twice) for reminders of Communist China's ties to America's Middle Eastern enemies in his National Review Online blog.

More on Communist China's Korean colony: Communist China denied earlier reports that it had unfrozen some SNK assets (Daily NK), but Zhongnanhai has been quite busy keeping Kim Jong-il afloat in other ways (Daily NK). Concerns over SNK's currency counterfeiting have reached Interpol (Daily NK). The Stalinist regime is tagged as the least democratic on earth by the Economist (Daily NK). Daily NK also examines the future of SNK, how Japan can tighten the screws, and the painful story of a family separated by the Stalinists. The Red Cross gets tricked into a "historic" (Agence France Presse via Washington Times) deal with SNK.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Fareed Zakaria (Newsweek) is more than willing to see Vietnam in Iraq, but he doesn't mention Iran once. He's the runaway winner.

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number One (Iran): Martin Beck Matustik ponders the possibility of a "Velvet Revolution" in Iran (Logos Journal). Talking to Iran earns maddening praise (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) and well-deserved criticism (National Review Online, World Net Daily, and Worldwide Standard). The mullahs' military suffers a plane crash (BBC). Tehran gets a Russian missile system, but not IAEA help for its nuclear reactor (Washington Times). Meanwhile, President Bush is hoping "to marshal a force of friendly Sunni regimes against the radical leadership of Shiite Iran" (London Telegraph via Washington Times).

On Middle East Proxy Number Two (Syria): The murder of Pierre Gemayel (Voice of America via Epoch Times and United Press Int'l via Washington Times) is having many question the idea of talks with Syria (London Telegraph, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times) - and for good reason (Small Dead Animals).

More on Iraq (the next Middle Eastern Proxy?): Two defenders of the need to persevere in Iraq step forward - Victor Davis Hanson (Washington Times) and Fouad Ajami (U.S. News).

More on Communist China and the United States: Stephen Dinan (Washington Times) interviews China e-Lobby favorite Duncan Hunter. Bill Gertz (Washington Times) reports that the Communists bought America's B-2 bomber stealth technology from a spy. Meanwhile, Communist China's geopolitical and military ambitions continue to grow (China Brief and Newsmax).

On Communist China and Canada: Finance Minister Jim Flaherty reveals a new policy to prevent foreign acquisitions of Canadian assets that could be "a threat to Canada" (Globe and Mail); analysts say Communist China is the main target. While Communist China still gets "aid" from the Great White North, its days appear numbered (Globe and Mail). Meanwhile, the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights hears more about Communist China's human rights abuses (Epoch Times).

Hu Jintao visits Pakistan: The Communist leader inked a new trade deal with his old ally (BBC twice).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Ren Zihui (Epoch Times) examines Communist China's charm offensive on Japan; Colum Lynch (Washington Post) finds the cadres getting more involved in United Nations "peacekeeping." Meanwhile, Communist Embassy officials attack Falun Gong practitioners in Israel (Epoch Times).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: Ching Cheong's appeal is rejected (BBC), while Chen Guangcheng is dragged back into court (Epoch Times). AIDS activist Wan Yanhai is arrested, again (Washington Times). What Communist China calls "elections" are less than meets the eye, both on the mainland and in Hong Kong (Epoch Times). Communist China's internet crackdown extends to Skype (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). However, the World Council of Churches plays see-no-evil (Washington Post).

Rebiya Kadeer's son arrested in East Turkestan: Alimu Ahbudurimu is the son of the longtime activist for the Communist-occupied Muslim nation. He is now in jail for "tax evasion" (BBC).

Communist satellite breaks down: The Sino-Sat 2 "stopped working" (Taiwan Central News Agency via Epoch Times) due to a solar array malfunction.

Taiwan's President survives motion to recall him; Ma Ying-jeou investigation expands: President Chen Shui-bian's "pan-green" supporters stood by him (BBC), while the man likely to carry the opposition "pan-blue" banner is facing more questions (Time).