News of the Day (December 13)

Communist China "was an active participant" in helping Saddam Hussein's military: In reaction to indictment against Andrew Huang for "participating in a scheme to sell telecommunications equipment to Saddam Hussein" (Newsmax), FBI special agent James Trainor called the Communist regime "an active participant in this transfer." The equipment in question was used for military command and control, and according to Trainor, "With this equipment, they [Iraqi forces] were far better able to respond to U.S. forces." In other words, Saddam Hussein was more effective in killing Americans thanks to the Chinese Communists.

Communist China in talks with Iran for joint exploration of massive oil field: Meanwhile, the regime-run Sinopec "is near to clinching one of its biggest overseas deals, to develop Iran's giant Yadavaran oilfield" (China Intel), which "is expected to produce 300,000 barrels per day." Should the deal go through, it would be yet another example of Communist China's support for the Iranian mullahcracy.

More on Communist China and the United States: Sadly, CATO's Daniel Ikenson doesn't include either of the above facts in his paean to Communist China's tenure in the World Trade Organization; in fact, there's no mention of any geopolitics in Ikenson's National Review Online piece. Meanwhile, the massive U.S. imbalance with Communist China looks set to top $200 billion this year, just like last year (BBC).

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea had a busy couple of days, with posts on Stalinist North Korean espionage (including an alleged Canadian SNK agent), possible good news from South Korea's six-party nuclear negotiator (for more on the upcoming talks, see BBC and United Press International via Washington Times), definite bad news from its human rights commission (see also Daily NK), and more evidence SNK is headed for another terrible famine (see also Daily NK).

Back to Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Kenneth R. Timmerman (Newsmax) projects an Iranian nuclear weapon by September 2008; one new source the mullahs are pondering - Somalia (Small Dead Animals). The United Nations appears to be slouching toward weak sanctions against Tehran's nuclear ambitions (Newsmax, NRO, and Voice of America via Epoch Times). How weak? A Russian nuclear power plant in Iran is not covered by them (Cybercast News). The Holocaust conference gets more flak (National Review Online, Washington Post, and Washington Times), but David Duke was happy to show up (World Net Daily). At least two Senators think the current trend towards negotiations with the mullahs will actually make things worse (NRO and World Net Daily); Condoleezza Rice says such talks are "not an issue" (Newsmax and VOA via Epoch Times). S. Enders Wimbush calls for Radio Free Iran to return (Weekly Standard).

Are Lebanese and Syrian democrats linking up? As Syria's Ambassador to the U.S. rips the Bush Administration (Cybercast News), and its Hezbollah allies continue to threatened the Lebanese government (NRO), some in both Lebanon and Syria's democracy movements are seeing common ground against a common foe (NRO and Washington Post).

Gao Zhisheng tried for "subversion" as his lawyer was refused entry: Renowned human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng "is reported to have been put on trial for subversion" (BBC). This comes despite the fact the Gao's attorney, Mo Shaoping, was not allowed to join the trial - the Communists forced two other lawyers on Gao (Epoch Times).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: Human Rights Watch details Communist China's battle against lawyers (Epoch Times). China Aid reveals the plight of Christians in Anhui, where the cadres are "forcing them to join the Three-Self Church" (Epoch Times). The Times of London speaks to Tiananmen dissident Chen Ziming, who is stil determined to bring democracy to China. The Asia Pacific Human Rights Foundation recognizes Wang Wenyi (Epoch Times).

Communist Chinese banking system in big trouble: At least one financial analyst projects "a crisis in the financial sector in China in 2009-2010" (Daily Telegraph); another calls the regime-run banks current prospectuses (prospecti?) a "comedy show."