News of the Weekend (January 6-8)

Communist Chinese military aid to the Taliban revealed: From Charles R. Smith (Newsmax), "the first target in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for U.S. airpower was the air defense system. B-2 bombers and F-14 Tomcats dropped precision guided weapons on surface-to-air missile sites, radars, and a Chinese made fiber optic military communications network" (emphasis added).

Communist China insists its not a threat to the U.S., all evidence to the contrary: Communist leader Hu Jintao "used a visit by American lawmakers to reassure the United States that it is not a rival on issues such as military spending or energy consumption" (Agence France Presse). Perhaps the visiting delegation should have considered the above information.

Communist China not happy with U.S. over Taiwan: The current Communist wrath is aimed at a decision to let Taiwan's elected President Chen Shui-bian visit San Francisco on his way to Latin America (BBC and Taiwan's Central News Agency via Epoch Times). Of course, the Communists have always been upset about both the island democracy (CNA and China Post) and the refusal of the United States to let it be extinguished (Bloomberg and Epoch Times).

Iranian nuclear negotiator visits Beijing: Ali Larijani, the top nuclear negotiator for the mullahcracy, visited his Communist benefactors over the weekend (BBC). Of course, the Communists issued statements that would reassure anyone who hasn't been following their double game on the Korean debacle.

More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy: As pundits turn to the possibility of military action against the mullahs (New York Post, h/t Small Dead Animals, Strategic Intel, and Washington Times), more evidence comes out that Tehran is already at war with the United States in Iraq (Washington Times).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Paul Moorcraft of the Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis takes the dubious prize for completely missing Communist China's geopolitical objectives in Africa (Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: France's major candidates for President say some good things (and some not so good things) on Communist China (BBC and Washington Times). Tom Hyland (The Age) details the struggles Australia has had with countering Communist China's espionage, including their mystifying reaction to Chen Yonglin. Richard Halloran (Washington Times) examines Japan's growing comfort with a strong military to challenge Communist China and Stalinist North Korea. In Great Britain, Emma Thompson declares herself a label shopper (AFP via Breitbart).

Speaking of Communist China's Korean colony, this month could see more six-party talks (BBC) or another nuclear test (Daily NK). Daily NK examines Japan's tenuous relationship with Stalinist North Korea; One Free Korea takes a look at the American point of view. OFK also rips Thailand's military government to taking Communist China's line on Korean refugees. South Korea continues its dovish policy (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Daily NK and Robert Fulford (National Post - h/t SDA) examines life inside SNK.

Communist China's military buildup comes amid mass corruption: While most of the world focused on Communist China's new naval ambitions (The Economist), the Epoch Times reported massive military corruption.

On human rights in Communist China: The Epoch Times examines the "release" of attorney Gao Zhiseng. Qin Zhongfei talks to the Washington Post about how a poem of his landed him in prison (MSNBC).