Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Duncan Hunter for President (UPDATED)

Earlier this year, I did a weeklong review of possible 2008 Presidential candidates. At the time, neither I nor anyone else knew that Congressman Duncan Hunter would join the field (sixth item); in fact, my political radar missed him entirely. Had I known then what I know now, I would have placed him at the top of the list. As it is, Hunter's decision to enter the race is the best political news for anti-Communists this side of the recent Canadian election.

Duncan Hunter has served in the United States House of Representatives for over a quarter-century; and for the last few years he has been Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. During his tenure in Washington, he has been one of the loudest anti-Communist voices in town. He was a leading opponent of PNTR for Communist China (Newsmax), and an original co-sponsor of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act. He even authored a bill to revoke PNTR after the Hainan outrage, and is an original co-sponsor of the House version of the currency corrective tariff (UPDATE: He also co-sponsored the House resolution against Communist China's attempt to buy out Unocal).

Thus, Hunter has a long and detailed record of being not merely and anti-Communist vote in Congress, but an anti-Communist leader in Congress. Moreover, his tenure as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee gives him immediate credibility on other national security issues. He is also a Vietnam War veteran - the only veteran in the Republican field besides John McCain.

His biggest drawback is the fact that, outside of Washington and San Diego, he is a near-complete unknown. However, in the current political environment, that is not as much of a problem as it would normally be. The 2008 presidential race is still one of the most wide-open in recent memory, especially on the Republican side. Additionally, Hunter would be the most reliable candidate for "social conservatives," and shares Congressman Tom Tancredo's views on illegal immigration (without much of the baggage inflicted on Tancredo because he, Hunter, has approached the issue more exclusively on security grounds). In fact, given Tancredo's previous statements that he would only run "if no one else will take up" the illegal immigration issue (Parapundit), there is a good chance he might support Hunter himself (or perhaps that's wishful thinking on my part).

In any event, if Hunter can get enough recognition and traction, he could very well establish himself as a leading 2008 candidate (i.e., the alternative to John McCain), at which point, anything can happen. As for the general election, Hunter will likely be underestimated, and thus begin as the underdog. However, his record of service, coupled with his prescient views on Communist China and America's terrorist enemies, will make him a much more compelling general election candidate than most people in Washington realize. Moreover, as a Californian, he would at worst force the Democrats to expend resources and time in that state; at best, he could very well flip it into the Republican column, which would all but ensure his election.

In other words, President Duncan Hunter is not as far-fetched as it sounds.

More to the point, we will not see a more principled, venerated, and thoughtful anti-Communist in the race than we have in Duncan Hunter.

For that reason, I hereby endorse Duncan Hunter for President without reservation.

News of the Day (October 31 - Happy Halloween!)

Communist China has responded to international outrage at North Korea by increasing aid: The U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission has found that Communist China has "contributed at least indirectly to North Korea's nuclear program" (Bill Gertz, Washington Times). Moreover, the Communist regime "has actually increased its assistance and trade with North Korea" (emphasis added) as the rest of the world was pushing Beijing to rein in its Korean colony. Meanwhile, "North Korean front companies operate freely in China and have used China as a transit point for trade in missile and nuclear components."

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea unearths evidence of Communist Chinese involvement in the spy scandal roiling South Korea. OFK also excerpts a New York Times column by former Czech President Vaclav Havel, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, and former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik slamming Stalinist North Korea as "one of the most egregious human-rights and humanitarian disasters in the world today."

More on Stalinist North Korea: The Stalinists decide its time to extort Washington again - ahem - return to the six-party nuclear talks (BBC). Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill cites Australia's role in the SNK issue (China Confidential via Epoch Times). South Korean anti-Communists hold a rally calling for an investigation of the aforementioned spy scandal (United Press International via Washington Times). South Korea's dovish Unification Minister wants a Roh-Kim summit (UPI via Washington Times). Daily NK interviews the new Chairman of the South Korean's National Human Rights Commission.

U.S. wants al Qaeda anthrax researcher - but Pakistan protects him: Abdul Rauf, a Pakistani anthrax expert who reported directly to al Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri, is a free man in Pakistan today, because the Musharraf regime chose to let him go rather than hand him over to the U.S. Thanks to Pakistan's decision, as one American official put it, "the chances of getting him into the United States are slim to none" (UPI via Washington Times).

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Michael Evans (World Net Daily) echoes Michael Ledeen's exasperation (fourth item) with those who refuse to acknowledge the mullahcracy's role in supporting anti-American terrorists in Iraq. Daniel Pipes (Cybercast News) notes that time is running out regarding the mullahs' nuclear ambitions.

Anti-Communist declares Presidential campaign: Congressman Duncan Hunter "is starting the process of seeking the presidency in 2008" (Washington Post). Hunter is easily one of the best anti-Communists in Washington, and would have topped this corner's summer survey of candidates if it had been known he was running.

More on Communist China and the United States: The Bush Administration "has welcomed China's request for closer military links with its South East Asian neighbors" (BBC). Meanwhile, Microsoft and Cisco defend their cowardly behavior toward Communist China (BBC). Run, Duncan, run!

Communists to build railroad in Nigeria: The Communists will be paid $8 billion for building the railroad; a large chunk of the money will come from an earlier Communist loan to Nigeria (BBC).

Even organ recipients in Communist China are dying: The legacy of Communist organ harvesting took an unusual twist with this Epoch Times report: "Doctors from hospitals in Shanghai and Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province convinced healthy people to accept joint heart and lung transplantation surgery so the surgeons could practice their skills and complete their training." One of the patients is now dead.

Communists remove death penalty decisions from lower courts: Now only the top Communist court supposedly can execute prisoners (BBC).

Monday, October 30, 2006

News of the day (October 30)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth reports from a Vancouver rally for Jia Jia (for more on Jia, see Epoch Times, Epoch Times again, and eighth item), has the latest on Communist organ harvesting, and the latest nation to follow the Communist Party line on Falun Gong: Putinist Russia. Boycott 2008 comments on the Communists' plans to use the Olympics, provides a reminder of tyrannical Olympics from the past, and chuckles at the promise of a "green Games" (for an idea of the "coverage" for which Boycott 2008 is such a tonic, see Time). One Free Korea was quite busy, providing some badly needed truth on Communist China and Stalinist North Korea - Condoleezza Rice (Epoch Times) and Ban Ki-Moon (BBC) must have missed the memo. OFK also has a slew of reports on SNK ties to South Korea's doves and leftists (see also United Press Int'l via Washington Times), excerpts from the ICG report on refugees (see also second item) and a report on human rights in SNK (see also Cybercast News, Epoch Times, and UPI via Washington Times), links to a plan for liberation, and relays a report of a scarlet fever epidemic in SNK (see also Daily NK).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: Zhang Yuwei (Epoch Times) tells her story of persecution. Communist police savagely beat a journalist in Beijing (Boxun). Orville Schell reviews Mao's Last Revolution (and account of the harrowing Cultural Revolution) in the Washington Post. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party continues its reign of terror (Epoch Times).

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The Stalinists test-fire more missiles (Chosun Ilbo). The U.S. commander in South Korea expects another SNK nuclear test (BBC). The head of South Korea's dovish Uri Party opposes the anti-SNK Proliferation Security Initiative (Daily NK). UN sanctions on SNK, such as they are, will include Kaesung (Daily NK). Switzerland gets out of the Stalinist watch business (Daily NK).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Michael Ledeen (National Review Online) wins today's prize with his detailed description of how the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran is helping terrorists kill American soldiers in Iraq.

More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: President Bush rips the mullahs' continued nuclear program (BBC); Worldwide Standard notes that Putinist Russia is far less concerned. The mullahs' tyranny is detailed Worldpress.org. Secretary of State Rice calls on Hezbollah to lay down its arms (Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Charles R. Smith (Newsmax) examines Putinist Russia's role in building up the Communist navy. Communist China's battle with the island democracy of Taiwan goes bananas, literally (Asia Times). The Communist central bank leader opens the door to fleecing foreigners of their money - ahem - foreign investment in domestic financial firms, but the Communists will keep control of the firms "in order to safeguard national financial security" (BBC).

Hu Jintao's "anti-corruption" campaign isn't fooling anyone: When Time can see through the latest supposed Communist battle against sleaze (kudos to Susan Jakes, BTW), the public relations game is up.

Friday, October 27, 2006

News of the Day (October 27)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 has the personal account of the Tibetan refugees (the ones who survived the Communist border guards shooting at them), a quick summary of Communist China's persecution of Christians, and an excerpt from Robert Henderson's column on the Communist military (for more on the expanding Communist military, see Bernard D. Cole in China Brief). One Free Korea has the latest silliness from South Korea's doves (for more on the SK doves, see BBC, BBC again, and United Press International via Washington Times).

Don't forget the plight of Korean refugees: The International Crisis Group released a report on the suffering of those trying to escape Stalinist North Korea (Washington Times).

More pundits miss the point: Whether its Graham Allison on SNK (Washington Post) or Mario Loyola on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One (National Review Online), it seems Communist China's role in backing them both continues to be ignored.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: World Net Daily has an account on Christianity's battle against the Stalinists. SNK accuses the U.S. of "planning a nuclear war" (Agence France-Presse via News.com.au). Daily NK reveals the struggle Kim Jong-il's subjects must endure to make him happy on his birthday.

The Communist-backed mullahcracy expands its nuclear development: The news (Agence France-Presse via News.com.au, BBC, and London Telegraph) comes as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency continues to play apologist for the mullahs (UPI via Washington Times).

On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Syria prepares for war (World Net Daily); Hamas spreads its propaganda wings (National Review Online) - with some outside help (Jerusalem Post) - as it still holds an Israeli hostage (UPI via Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales talks about how to keep one's principles when faced with a cadre crackdown (Epoch Times). Wenran Jiang (China Brief) gushes ad nauseam about the Abe-Hu summit.

Taiwan sends back Communist defector: Given the island democracy's proximity to the Communist mainland and concern for espionage, deporting ex-cadre Jia Jia is an understandable mistake, but a mistake all the same (Epoch Times).

Shanghai corruption enters billion-dollar range, but the Shanghai faction is unscathed: Mu Muying (Dong Xiang Monthly via Epoch Times) reports that Shanghai cadres have pocketed over $10 billion in ill-gotten gains. However, outside of deposed local boss Chen Liangyu, the "Shanghai faction" (i.e., the Jiang Zemin faction) will suffer no consequences, according to Willy Lam (China Brief).

Statistical problems hit the energy sector: Jianjun Tu (China Brief) has the details.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

News of the Day (October 26)

Guess who's in charge of North Waziristan? It's the Taliban, settling in and taking control after Communist Chinese ally Pakistan ceded control of the province to them (London Telegraph via Washington Times).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea posts on Stalinist North Korea's counterfeiting, America's growing weakness in reacting to the SNK test, and a leading South Korean leftists being exposed as a Stalinist agent, respectively.

More on Communist China and its Korean colony: The Epoch Times hosts a cyberdebate between Cao Mei of Huaxia Weekly and yours truly on Zhongnanhai's role; Daily NK continues to lean toward the former. Meanwhile, Japan's pro-Americanism is on the rise (Daily Standard) and South Korea's doves are in political chaos (BBC and Washington Times).

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Argentina fingers "former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani and other Iranian officials in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center that killed 85 persons" (Washington Times). Condoleezza Rice calls for sanctions against the mullahcracy (Newsmax). The editors of the Wall Street Journal would like to know why International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei is angrier at the United States than at Tehran. Finally, Ralph Peters (New York Post) calls for the head of the mullahs' puppet in Iraq - Muqtada al-Sadr.

On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Syria's Ba'athist regime takes advantage of the chaos in Iraq it is helping to create (Washington Post). Meanwhile, Hezbollah is busily rebuilding homes (Macleans) that they were largely responsible for having destroyed (Washington Times).

Airbus inks another plane deal with Communist China: The deal was signed as Communist China's favorite Frenchman - Jacques Chirac - was in Beijing (BBC).

Communist China's crackdown against the internet continues: As a cyberjournalist is sentenced to two years in prison (Boxun), the "Internet Society of China" becomes the latest Communist group used in the crackdown (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).

More on human rights in Communist China: House churches are suing their cadre oppressors (China Aid Association via Epoch Times); Wang Jiajia tells an audience in Washington, DC, about the Communists' abuses against her family (Epoch Times).

On pollution in Communist China: As the Yellow River turns red - well, OK, "magenta" (Time) - Susan Jakes examines the ecological disaster the Communists have wrought.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

News of the Day (October 25)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 has another report of Communists abusing the Chinese people and a rather distressing speak-no-evil attitude from a member of the International Olympic Committee, respectively. One Free Korea has evidence of Stalinist North Korean chicanery with international aid, the latest on South Korean doves, and the latest SNK threats (see also BBC and United Press International via Washington Times).

More on Communist China's rights abuses: Quentin Sommerville (BBC) examines the latest in the Communist media crackdown. The Shotgun Blog slams Communist organ harvesting.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Dick Morris wins in a runaway with this opening quote - "President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have succeeded beyond expectations in lining up China as a strong ally in forcing North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions." (The Hill). Sadly, Condoleezza Rice seems to be listening to this trash (Washington Times).

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Vladimir Putin calls for a soft touch on SNK (BBC). The Stalinist regime is still the worst for press freedom (Daily NK). A Mongolian parliamentarian sees liberation on the horizon for northern Korea (UPI via Washington Times).

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Israel casts its eye on the Communist allies in Tehran (Cybercast News), as the mullahs rearm Hezbollah (Washington Times). The U.S., Britain, and France are calling on the UN "to ban the sale of missile and nuclear technology to Iran" (Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: James Burke (Epoch Times) talks to Yang Jun, the businessman who spurned Communist China's requests to help it acquire the Metal Storm gun (seventh and sixth items). The European Union rips Communist China's trade policies (International Herald Tribune), but French President Jacques Chirac appears to have missed the memo (BBC).

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Communist China isn't part of the solution on North Korea; it's part of the problem

Anyone who has seen a police drama - from Dragnet to Law and Order and anything in between - has seen the "good cop, bad cop" routine. One officer antagonizes the suspect, while the other plays it cool, pretends that his partner is "out of control," and extracts the confession. Well, "good cop, bad cop" works in international politics, too, and there's no better example of that than Communist China and its third item). Sadly, even some in the Korean and Chinese democracy movements (Epoch Times: Chinese) have fallen for the routine. I remain unconvinced; there's far more reason to believe Communist China sees the nuclear test as an opportunity rather than a headache.

Prior to the nuclear test, anti-Communism was slowly gaining currency in Washington. The Defense Department issued a report highlighting Communist China's military buildup and geopolitical antics. Less than two months later, Canadians David Kilgour and David Matas released a damning report on Communist organ harvesting. Communist espionage operations were getting enough attention to inspire a Congressional investigation. Last but hardly least, news leaked out - complete with videotape - on a horrific outrage in occupied Tibet where Communist border guards used fleeing Tibetans for target practice.

Then, on October 9, North Korea re-arranges part of the Earth's surface, and the ensuing political earthquake levels all of the above.

Am I saying Zhongnanhai knew what was coming before the twenty-minute heads-up from Pyongyang? Not necessarily. The cadres are smart enough to ensure "plausible deniability" - especially in the modern media environment where they can't prevent their invasion plans for Taiwan from hitting the front page of the Epoch Times. More to the point, Communist China didn't need to know the exact timeline of the NK nuclear program to use it as a card against the United States.

However, given the whispers that the test "embarrassed" the Chinese Communist Part in the middle of its latest plenum, it should be noted that the timeline was in fact quite fortuitous for a regime eager to keep its cold-blooded Tibet murder off the political radar. Moreover, if one is prone to track specific timelines, the fact that North Korea's earlier missile test came one day after Mr. Kilgour's announcement of what was in his and Mr. Mata's report and two days before the report's release cannot escape one's attention.

In reality, what matters here is not the exact timing of North Korea's tests. Rather, it's the events that have occurred after it. While the United Nations Security Council has spoken, it has hardly acted. In fact, only Japan has taken concrete action directly resulting from the test. The United States, by contrast, has merely been building upon its already active (and praiseworthy) program to interdict North Korean shipping - better known as the Proliferation Security Initiative. Communist China, by contrast, hasn't lifted a finger (second item).

The reason for this is simple: Communist China does not have the same interests as the democratic world. The free world wants to prevent North Korea from harassing its neighbors and arming terrorists with nuclear weaponry. Communist China, by contrast, is already doing both of these things, so having Kim Jong-il do them on its behalf allows it to accomplish its objectives without any consequences.

So what can we expect from Communist China? We can expect more of the same: more boilerplate rhetoric, more visits to Pyongyang, more messages from Kim Jong-il through Beijing, and more stories about how much the cadres want nothing to do with the Stalinist regime's antics, written by people who really should know better.

In the long term, the democratic world is playing into Communist China's hands. Already, the "academic community" in Beijing is dropping hints that northern Korea was once "Chinese" territory (third item); similar hints were dropped regarding Tibet before the Communists removed it from the fraternity of independent nations. For a regime using radical nationalism to distract the attention of ordinary Chinese from rampant corruption, constant land seizures, and nearly six decades of brutality, annexing northern Korea - with the requisite payoffs to Kim Jong-il and his cronies - is a lot easier than taking on Taiwan, especially if the regime has managed to convince the rest of the world that Kim et al are dangerous loners.

As Kevin Spacey's character from The Usual Suspects put it: "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist" - and just like Kaiser Soze, Communist China is convincing the world the devil is actually someone else. Kim Jong-il's regime lives or dies only on Communist China's sufferance. It is in Beijing, not Pyongyang, where the epicenter of evil resides, and it must be rooted out. The free world will never be secure until China is free.

News of the (somewhat longer than expected) Weekend (October 21-24)

Communist China still tricks those who should know better about its Korean colony: Among those still falling for the "good cop" routine are Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (Washington Post) and Daily NK.

Are the people of northern Korea ready to liberate themselves? One Free Korea examines the possibility, and also presents another reason liberation is necessary.

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: OFK was quite busy, with several posts on the reaction to Stalinist North Korea's nuclear test (see also AAP via Epoch Times, Asia Times, BBC, BBC again, BBC 3rd time, Christian Science Monitor via Washington Times, CNN, Mainichi Shimbun via Washington Times, Toronto Sun - Ignorant Comment of the Day, and Washington Times). OFK also had the latest South Korean silliness (see also United Press Int'l via Washington Times).

On the Middle Eastern Proxies: As the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran continues to move closer to becoming a nuclear power (Fox News and UPI via Washington Times), we find out any international sanction against the mullahs "could take weeks" (Agence France Presse via Breitbart); as one would expect that wasn't good enough for Israel (UPI via Washington Times). The mullahcracy is also keeping track of "enemies" (Iran Focus) and evading Canadian justice (Macleans). Meanwhile, Syria is causing more problems in the Golan Heights (World Net Daily), and Hamas gets a possible olive branch from the United States (Washington Times) and burns it (Der Spiegel).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The Communist military, which is facing new problems (Central News Agency via Epoch Times and Epoch Times), orders another round of surface-to-air missiles from Russia for $1 billion (Epoch Times). India's National Security Council calls for a new law restricting investment from Communist China (BBC). Bryan Walsh (Time) reviews Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's trip to Communist China.

Communists create a new legal status - "guilty but free": That's the fate of Yang Xiaoqing (fourth, tenth, fifth, and fifth items) who is no longer in prison, but still considered a criminal for exposing corruption (Reporters Without Borders via Boxun).

Church pastor jailed for printing Bibles: The cadres refer to Bible printing as "illegal business practices" (China Aid Association via Epoch Times) - unless it's the Communist-controlled church doing the printing.

More on matters inside Communist China: As the cadres argue over the brutal Mao Zedong (Epoch Times), pollution (Epoch Times) and corruption (BBC and BBC again) are widespread. Meanwhile, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China IPO (third item) makes the cadres more millions (BBC), but average citizens continue to be mired in poverty (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).

Friday, October 20, 2006

News of the Day (October 20)

Lin Mu's funeral brings Communist spies: The funeral of the late Lin Mu, former aide to Hu Yaobang, attracted Communist "monitors" who seized "wreaths and floral tributes sent to the family" (Asia News) of the cadre-turned-pro-democracy campaigner. Many of Lin's friends were shocked and saddened by his death (Epoch Times).

More on human rights in Communist China: A reporter is fired for exposing a housing corruption scandal in Henan (South China Morning Post via Asia Media). Hong Kong Councilor Leung Kwok-hung is arrested for an "illegal" radio broadcast (SCMP via Asia Media). Zhao Zifa (Epoch Times) highlights the plight of appellant (petitioner) Zhong Yuhuan. Xin Fei (Epoch Times) examines the continuing movement of Communist Party members out of the CCP.

More on matters inside Communist China: The regime-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China launches an IPO (BBC). The cadres conduct another "anti-terrorism" exercise (Intelligence Summit).

More falling for Communist China's "good cop" routine on the Korean colony: Among those becoming smitten by the cadres include Arnaud de Borchgrave (Washington Times), Daily NK, The Guardian, and the Washington Times. However, Worldwide Standard isn't buying it. Neither is Charles Krauthammer (Washington Post) who pens the Enlightened Comment of the Day.

More on Stalinist North Korea: Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il now says he "regrets" the nuclear test (MSNBC), and is apparently not planning any more tests after all (BBC and CNN). The pundits examine KJI's motives (Washington Times and Worldwide Standard). As the Stalinists' military strains their resources (Strategy Page), South Korea's doves stand ready to help them (United Press Int'l via Washington Times).

More evidence the U.S. is ready to give in to the Communist-backed mullahcracy: David Ignatius (Washington Post) makes note of recent disturbing news (sadly, he isn't nearly as disturbed as he should be).

More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Israeli analyst Menashe Amir calls for the liberation of Iran (Cybercast News). Regime mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rips the United Nations (Newsmax and Voice of America via Epoch Times). Meanwhile, the mullahs' Sadrist puppets take control of an Iraqi city (National Review Online); Hezbollah is condemned for using cluster bombs (Washington Times); and Hamas gets around U.S. financial sanctions (Washington Times).

On Taiwan: The island democracy confronts AIDS (BBC).

Thursday, October 19, 2006

News of the Day (October 19)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea has the latest silliness from South Korea's doves (see also the BBC and United Press Int'l via Washington Times), who are still benefiting from the protection provided by the very nation they can't stand - the United States (UPI via Washington Times).

Communist China sends private "message" to its Korean colony: Communist Chinese ex-Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan visited Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il, supposedly "carrying a message from China's President Hu Jintao calling for restraint" (BBC); the cadres were willing to publicly tell the rest of the world to back off the colony (same link). As Time magazine put it, for Communist China, "it's pretty much business as usual with North Korea" (emphasis added), although some Communist "investors" are getting nervous (Epoch Times). Sadly, even leading defector Hwang Jang Yop is falling for Communist China's "good cop" performance (Daily NK), as to a lesser extent does Richard Spencer (London Telegraph via Washington Times) and Anne DeCecco (UPI via Washington Times).

More on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear ambitions: SNK is dropping hints of a second test (UPI via Washington Times), and one analyst thinks it may be for a hydrogen bomb (Daily Standard). The regime also threatened war, again (ABC News). Secretary of State Rice and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso planned more sanctions (Voice of America via Epoch Times), and met with their South Korean counterpart - future UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (Daily NK and UPI via Washington Times). Daily NK reports that SNK repaired the physical damage done by the test with concrete from South Korea. Michael D. Evans (World Net Daily) ponders the frightening possibility of SNK nuclear cooperation with Iran.

More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy: Mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Israel will fall (Agence France Presse via Breitbart), as his regime is caught paying Hamas to keep an Israeli soldier (Cybercast News). Meanwhile, the mullahcracy cracks down on the Internet (Guardian, UK).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Alan J. McCombs (UPI via Washington Times) turns a survey on Communist China's growing threat to the U.S. into an "engagement" ad. Meanwhile, India officially labels Communist China a security risk (Asia Times). Finally, Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun) laments the imprisonment of Husseyin Celil (eighth and sixth items).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: He Qinglian wins again for yet another insightful analysis of the Communist regime's plans (Huaxia Weekly via Epoch Times).

Another clash between police and protestors in Guangdong: We can now add Guangzhou (Asia News/Radio Free Asia) to the list of Guangdong towns - Taishi, Shanwei, Sanshan (fifth item), and Sanjiao (third item) - where land seizures have led to protests - and police violently attacking protestors.

Another cyberdissident arrested: The Communist police seized Yan Zhengxue and ransacked his home (Boxun).

More corruption: The firing of the Communists' top statistician (last item) is linked to the Shanghai pension scandal (BBC). Meanwhile, judges in Shenzhen are arrested on corruption charges (Asia News).

Speaking of statistics, Communist China's economy "slowed slightly" (BBC).

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

News of the Day (October 18)

Mullah Omar himself approved peace deal with the Pakistani military in Waziristan: According to United Press International (via Washington Times), the Pakistani surrender to Waziristan was accepted "by fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar" himself. Even more maddeningly, the Pakistani regime is hoping the surrender "could be used to help negotiate an agreement to bring the Taliban into an arrangement with the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai in Kabul." Then again, this should be no surprise regarding Communist China's oldest Central Asian ally, who also set free the founder of the al-Qaeda linked Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist group (BBC).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 rips Communist China's human rights abuses once more (and deservedly so). One Free Korea interviews Gordon Flake of the Mansfield Foundation.

More on Communist China's human rights abuses: The Boxun news service reports an arrest, a sentencing, and journalist groups railing against both. Meanwhile, Free China - a pro-democracy exile group, organizes a march in support for the 14 million-plus ex-Communists (Epoch Times).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is He Qinglian (Epoch Times) for her dissection of the latest "anti-corruption" campaign in Communist China.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The viceroy cometh to Pyongyang (Fox News). Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Japanese hosts talk of acquiring nuclear weapons (BBC and Jonathan Beale, BBC). Two Congressmen call on Rice to include Taiwan in her Asia trip (Washington Times). The United States issued another warning to SNK (UPI via Washington Times and Voice of America via Epoch Times), but is still looking to the toothless UN Security Council to back it up (Newsmax). An Australian analyst warns of the possibility of a nuke from SNK being smuggled into a free-world port (UPI via Washington Times). South Korean dovishness lives on (UPI via Washington Times). Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il pops out (UPI via Washington Times), and dusts off an American "defector" to praise him (Washington Times). The punditry's performance was a little better today, with excellent pieces by Peter Brookes (Cybercast News), E. Ralph Hostetter (Cybercast News), Barry Farber (Newsmax), and Mario Loyola (National Review Online). Daily NK even discussed liberation. Sadly, some pundits were fooled by the Communists' "good cop" routine (Washington Times); Harlan Ullman's Washington Times column was bad enough to take Ignorant Comment of the Day dishonors.

On the Middle Eastern Proxies: Israel is trying to convince Russia to stop helping the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran become a nuclear power (Newsmax), not that it expects Russia to listen (Cybercast News). Perhaps Israel should try the Georgia line of argument. Henry Sokolski has his own set of ideas for dealing with the mullahs (Weekly Standard). Meanwhile, Mark Dubowitz and Jonathan Snow, of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, call for a boycott of Hamas TV (Wall Street Journal).

Communist China freezes out foreigners from its corporations: The surprise about this report is that anyone is surprised (UPI via Washington Times).

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

News of the Day (October 17)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea has more on South Korean silliness (see also BBC, Washington Times) and Communist China's duplicity (see also Chicago Sun-Times, National Review Online, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, and Washington Post) in re Stalinist North Korea.

More on the Korean colony: The Stalinists appear to be prepping for a second nuclear test (BBC and Kyodo News Agency via Breitbart) while calling the UN resolution (third item) a "declaration of war" (Fox News, Newsmax, UPI via Washington Times). Said UN resolution is still unenforced at this hour (UPI via Washington Times). Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice begins a trip to East Asia for talks on SNK (Voice of America via Epoch Times and Washington Times). Australians are pondering becoming a nuclear power themselves (Epoch Times). Daily NK ponders the effects of international reaction from the nuclear test. Samanthi Dissanayake (BBC) asks a defector what average northern Koreans think about all of this, and gets this answer: "There's only one television news and the announcer told them to be proud of the test and that it was a good thing, so they believe this" (emphasis added). Martin Sieff (UPI via Washington Times) ponders possible U.S. actions with analysts from the do-what-Communist-China-wants school, and thus liberation is never mentioned.

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: The as-of-yet unenforced UN resolution on SNK is held up as an example of what the mullahcracy would face if it becomes a nuclear power (VOA via Epoch Times). However, Germany's foreign minister (UPI via Washington Times) and Iraq panel head James Baker (Worldwide Standard) hold out talking to the mullahs. Meanwhile, mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad added "Satan inspires Mr. Bush" (World Net Daily) to his sound-bite lexicon.

On the other Middle Eastern Proxies: The UN and France go back on their word to prevent arms flowing from Syria to Hezbollah (Small Dead Animals).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Taiwan's Vice President rips Communist organ harvesting (Epoch Times). The cadres' foreign reserves approach $1 trillion (UPI via Washington Times).

Monday, October 16, 2006

News of the Weekend (October 16)

Video of Tibet shooting released: Romania's ProTV broadcast the recording of the shooting of Tibetan refugees by Communist border guards. The climber himself put it best: "the police . . . shot them like dogs" (Time). In what may be a related incident, the Communists shut down a Tibetan blog (Boxun).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 highlights Communist China's other recent human rights abuses. One Free Korea has quite a bit on the reaction to Stalinist North Korea's nuclear test, including the Security Council resolution (see also BBC, BBC again, More BBC, CNN, Daily NK, Newsmax, Time, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, Voice of America via Epoch Times, and Yonhap via Daily NK) and South Korea's politicians (see also Newsmax and Washington Times). OFK also highlighted the plight of Korean refugees in Communist China and the probe of Curt Weldon, one of our least favorite Congressmen.

Communist China votes for UN resolution against SNK, but won't enforce it: Kim Jong-il's colonial masters reached new heights of unmitigated gall this weekend. The Communist regime voted in favor of the aforementioned Security Council resolution - which calls for inspections of shipments to and from SNK - then "said after the vote that it would ignore" the inspection part (Washington Post). The U.S., meanwhile, is hoping Communist China will actually do what it voted to do (CNN, Washington Post, and Washington Times); outside analysts are being far more realistic (Macleans, National Review Online, and Washington Post). In fact, the Communist intransigence may give KJI the opening he needs to "return to stalled six-party disarmament talks" (China Confidential via Epoch Times) and reap the political rewards.

Communist China relents on Wikipedia's English edition: The cadres unblocked Wiki's English-language version, a surprising victory for the net-info service, which stubbornly refused to censor itself (Boxun); however, the Chinese-language version is still blocked.

More on Communist China's human rights abuses: The Epoch Times examines the plight of Gao Zhisheng. The cadres arrest two Catholic priests (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). Protests are on the rise due to "land expropriation disputes, election embezzlement, state-owned enterprise reforms, environmental pollution, and denial of justice" (Epoch Times). The Communists are adding carrots to their hideous "one child" policy (Report: BBC, see also see tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, ninth, second, fifth, and tenth items).

More on the SNK nuclear issue: The U.S. finds radioactive fallout - albeit not much - from the test (BBC, CNN, and Washington Times). Australia joins Japan in banning SNK shipping (BBC). The Stalinists recalled their nuclear negotiator (Newsmax). Newsmax also reports that SNK is looking to put nukes on missiles next. The pundits used nearly every word in the dictionary (Daily NK, Edmonton Sun, NRO, Newsmax, Newsweek, Time, Time again, third Time, Toronto Sun, Washington Post, Washington Times, and Weekly Standard), but only one (Mark Katz, UPI via Washington Times) was willing to bring up liberation.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Suki Kim (Wall Street Journal) and David W. Jones (Washington Times) recount their visits to SNK. Future UN Security Council Secretary General Ban Ki Moon - who is a problem in and of himself, as Mario Loyola (NRO) reveals - talks to the Washington Post about SNK. When the Stalinist-in-chief is not conducting nuclear tests, he is overseeing "the killing of disabled infants and forced abortions of babies believed fathered by Chinese men in an obsessive program based on mystical notions of Korean racial superiority" (World Net Daily, emphasis added).

On the Middle Eastern proxies: Syria is militarizing its border with Israel (World Net Daily); Hamas is considering "attacks against the U.S. in the Middle East" (World Net Daily).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The Communist regime's skillful use of "soft power" is examined by Pete Engardio (Business Week via Taiwan Security Research) and Joshua Kurlantzick (Washington Post). Asahi Shimbun (via Washington Times, second item) comments on the Abe-Hu summit.

On Taiwan: Time interviews the leader of the movement to oust Chen Shui-bian: Shih Ming-teh.

On matters inside Communist China: Lin Mu, the former secretary to the late Hu Yaobang, has died (Boxun). The National Bureau of Statistics head is canned (Epoch Times). Yan Yan (Epoch Times) examines Communist China's environmental problems. Finally, the Epoch Times examines the Communist regime's past and future.

Friday, October 13, 2006

2006 Endorsements (Part V)

Building upon the previous four slates, here are twenty-two more House endorsements. I should note, for reasons that will become obvious, that no endorsement is being made for Speaker.

Robert Aderholt (Republican - Alabama 4th District)
Shelley Berkley (Democrat - Nevada 1)
Steve Buyer (R-IN 4)
Jerry Costello (D-IL 12)
Nathan Deal (R-GA 9)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL 21)
Elliot Engel (D-NY 17)
Robert Filner (D-CA 51)
Robin Hayes (R-NC 8)
J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ 5)
Tim Holden (D-PA 17)
Duncan Hunter (R-CA 52)
Dale Kildee (D-MI 5)
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ 2)
Charlie Norwood (R-GA 10)
Richard Pombo (R-CA 11)
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 8)
Hal Rogers (R-KY 5)
Jim Saxton (R-NJ 3)
Zach Wamp (R-TN 3)
Robert Wexler (D-FL 19)
Frank Wolf (R-VA 10)

News of the Day (October 13)

Communists admit to shooting in Tibet, but they call it "self-defense": That's their story and they're sticking to it (BBC and Times of London).

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth laments the formal arrest of Gao Zhisheng (see also BBC) and praises Taiwan MPs for taking a stand against Communist organ harvesting. Meanwhile, One Free Korea finds someone else willing to call Communist China to the carpet for protecting its Korean colony (see also BBC, BBC again, BBC a 3rd time, CNN, Epoch Times, Fox News, Newsmax, Newsmax again, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, and Washington Times) and the nuttiness of South Korea's doves (see also UPI via Washington Times and Washington Post via MSNBC).

Speaking of people willing to call Communist China on the carpet: George Putnam (Newsmax) puts plenty of helium in my ego.

More on Communist China's abuses of human rights: The wife of 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) laments her husband's plight (Washington Post). Maureen Fan (Washington Post) examines the plight of the children of those arrested by the Communists. Hong Kong's Communist-appointed leader calls bringing democracy to the island "extremely complicated" (Washington Post), i.e., not happening. On the mainland, the cadres are once again turning local "elections" into a joke (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).

More on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear test: Australia's Prime Minister talked about a military strike against SNK (AAP via Epoch Times). President Bush responded to Democratic critics (Washington Times). It appears the nuclear test went awry, but so did intelligence efforts designed to help stop it (Bill Gertz - Washington Times and Daily NK). Whatever the United Nations does, Japan is going full speed ahead with its own embargo (Daily NK). The punditry felled several more trees, some wondering what Kim Jong-il's next move will be (Daily NK, Daily Standard, Steve Janke, TCS, and UPI via Washington Times), the rest pondering what the democratic world should do (Cybercast News, Daily NK, National Review Online, Times of London, Washington Post, Washington Times, and Worldwide Standard). Sadly, the L-word (liberation) was once again missing.

Will the Bush Administration hand Iraq over to the Middle Eastern Proxies? David Frum (NRO) has reason to believe Washington in prepared to leave the infant democracy to the mercy of the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran and its Syrian ally. Be afraid; be very afraid.

More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: Tehran mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offers more support for Hamas (Israel National News). David Kay says the Iranian regime is "not an immediate threat" (Cybercast News); Jerome Corsi disagrees (World Net Daily). Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun) and David Pryce-Jones (NRO) highlight Tehran's human rights abuses. Meanwhile, Syria's "peace overture" divides Israel (Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Joshua Kurlantzick examines Communist China's geopolitical ambitions (Commentary); Jan Jekielek and Caylan Ford (Epoch Times) finds that the Great White North no longer dances to Zhongnanhai's tune. The cadres open free trade talks with South Korea (UPI via Washington Times) and sign a major power deal with Russia (BBC). As Communist China's trade surplus breaks another record (BBC), Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Asia Times) finds that even Communist China's ally (Pakistan) is suffering from the relationship. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson talks up "engagement" to UPI (via Washington Times). BBC reporter Rupert Wingfield Hayes ends his time in Beijing with a timely reminder of Communist China's problems.

Taiwanese opposition again fails to oust Chen: For the second time this year, Taiwan's elected leader survived an effort to oust him (BBC).

Homeowners in Communist China don't really own their home: In Communist China, the regime owns the land - period. The residents merely have a temporary "right-to-use" (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). Once the time period runs out, the cadres can run you out.

Communists admit millions of coastal acres are polluted: Roughly 5% of coastal area in Communist China - over 34 million acres - is contaminated (UPI via Washington Times).

Hu Jintao calls for a "harmonious society": As expected, there was no mention of giving society greater control over its government (Washington Post).