News of the Day (April 30)

Radical nationalism turns overseas Chinese into fingers in the Long Arm of Lawlessness: On American campuses, thuggish behavior continues (National Review Online - Media Blog). Elsewhere, death threats come to overseas dissidents (Epoch Times), amid earlier violence (see also the Uyghur American Association).

More arrests in Tibet: Several Tibetans are being whisked off to jail without any of their relatives being told (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, 30 more "rioters" were sentenced to prison term (Washington Post), and the cadres claim that a protest leader shot a police officer (BBC).

Whoops! Factory in Communist China making Free Tibet Flags: Cadres in Guangdong might as well set aside the cost of their execution bullets now (BBC, h/t NRO - Media Blog).

More Tibet and East Turkestan news: Zhang Tianliang (Epoch Times) warns us not to expect too much from the regime's offer to talk with some of the Dalai Lama's aides. Meanwhile, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization and the East Turkestan Foundation hold a joint anti-Communist protest in the Hague (UNPO via UAA).

As torch arrives in Hong Kong, cadres try to recast Olympiad: The manufactured celebrations are under way in Beijing (BBC), but in Hong Kong, protesters are ready (CNN). Meanwhile, commentary like Jin Jung-kwon (Chosun Ilbo, South Korea, via Boycott 2008) won't make things any easier for the regime.

Communist China blocks UN action on Zimbabwe: The cadres are still managing to protect Robert Mugabe from the will of the people of Zimbabwe and the rest of the world (CNN).

Communist China may rent foreign farmlands to fight food price hikes: This is a novel approach (BBC), but perhaps this wouldn't be so much of a problem if the cadres weren't throwing farmers off the land to clear the way for corrupt and unnecessary development projects.

Japan finds more contaminated food from Communist China, ensuring that the issue of export safety will be a topic in upcoming talks between Hu Jinato and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (Epoch Times).

South Korea's doves get a de facto press release in the Washington Post: Aside from a decent quote by a human rights activist in Seoul, the piece reads like campaign ad for what's-that-lefty-party's-name-this-week. I eagerly await the takedown by One Free Korea.

More news on "another Chinese province": The evidence of SNK-Syrian nuclear cooperation was released to push the Stalinists toward "complete disclosure," according to President Bush (Washington Post). Senator Obama tries to argue for direct talks with Pyongyang, and OFK crushes him. Retired Professor Yearn Hong Choi comments on the new U.S-South Korea relationship in the Washington Times.

News of the Day (April 29)

North Korea Freedom Week in full swing: The North Korea Freedom Coalition has the list of events (h/t One Free Korea).

More news on "another Chinese province": OFK hears that food-rationing has reached the Stalinist military officers. The head of the CIA says Syria's would-have-been nuclear reactor (built with Stalinist aid), was very close to making "enough plutonium for one or two bombs" (AP via OFK). James Carafano (New York Post via Front Page) rips the Singapore Surrender.

Remembering Lin Zhao: Forty years ago today, a woman who had the courage to stand up to the Communists during the madness of the Cultural Revolution was executed. Jennifer Chou (Weekly Standard Blog) reminds us how her life and death are still relevant (and feared by the CCP).

One country, one-and-a-half systems rolls on: A student in Hong Kong who supports the Tibetan pe0ple receives threats and suffers vandalism. The police respond by demanding to know if she's talked to the anti-Communist Apple (Epoch Times reporting).

Meanwhile, in Beijing, the endless propaganda coming from the CCP appears to be having an effect - although you never can tell in a dictatorship (Washington Post).

Meanwhile, in Tibet, seventeen "rioters" were sent to prison (BBC and CNN), as a supporter of the Tibetans is kicked out of Nepal (BBC).

News of the Weekend (April 25-28)

The Singapore Surrender continues to rack up opponents: As news of the Stalinists' aid to Syria's nuclear ambitions continued to reverberate (National Review Online, One Free Korea, Washington Post, and Washington Times), the Bush Administration is scrambling to put lipstick on the pig (Washington Times). Judging from the reactions of the editors of NRO, Winston Lord and Leslie Gelb (Washington Post, h/t OFK), and Senator Sam Brownback (OFK), the effort is failing spectacularly.

Pro-Communist students attack Olympic protesters in Seoul: One Free Korea has the story on the latest violence by demonstrators sent by the regime to drown out anti-Communist protesters (the Epoch Times has more on the cadres' role). Things went much more smoothly in "another Chinese province" (BBC and CNN).

More news on "another Chinese province": A lieutenant from the Stalinist military defects to South Korea (BBC and CNN); James Zumwalt talks about the new wind blowing in South Korea (Washington Times).

Interpol falls for the Communist propaganda on Olympic "terrorism": The head of Interpol cited "recent reports of thwarted plots in China" as evidence of the need for greater security (CNN); the fact that at least one of those reports was debunked was not discussed.

More Olympic news: Tibetan cadres are threatening anyone who would "excite popular feelings" during the Olympic torch relay in the occupied nation (Washington Post). The Int'l Olympic Committee returns to its apologist role (United Press Int'l, h/t Andrew Stuttaford at NRO - The Corner). Serge Schmemann discusses the popular outcry over the Communist Olympiad (Int'l Herald Tribune via Uyghur American Association).

Meanwhile, in occupied East Turkestan, a king is reduced to a tourist attraction (Christian Science Monitor via UAA) and those who support an end to Communist occupation risk imprisonment, or worse (Channel 4, UK, via UAA).

On nationalism and the CCP: Stephanie Ho (Voice of America) examines effect of Communist-fanned nationalism on the Olympics, and vice versa (via UAA). Zhang Tianliang finds the notion of the Communists as the defenders of the Chinese people to be utterly laughable (Epoch Times). Xing Fei (also in the Epoch Times), examines the true meaning of patriotism.

Zimbabwe arms ship still looking for a port: A British Trident submarine is keeping an eye on it; it may head to Venezuela (World Net Daily). Meanwhile, Michael Sheridan (Times of London) details the Communist-run COSCO's ties to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe.

The Canada File: Bob Rae, the foreign policy spokesman for the opposition Liberal Party, dutifully spouted the party line on "engagement" with Communist China (Epoch Times), and quickly earned the opprobrium of Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun, h/t Between Heaven and Earth). Meanwhile, Falun Gong demonstrators lose a court battle in Vancouver (BH&E).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Falun Gong practitioners in New York mark the ninth anniversary of the April 25, 1999 protest (Epoch Times). The Australian Resource Minister comments on Communist investments in his country (AAP via Epoch Times). Finally, Stephen Hutcheon (Brisbane Times via UAA) examines the Communist hacker brigade.

Communists open the door to talks with the Dalai Lama's aide, then rip him: The cadres' back and forth is tracked by AAP (via Epoch Times), the BBC, CNN, and the Washington Post.

News of the Day (April 24)

Note: there will not be a post on Friday; I'll be visiting my sister, who's getting married this weekend. The next post will likely be the News of the Weekend post on Monday.

Bush Administration to reveal evidence on Syria-North Korea nuclear ties: Today is the day that Congress finally gets to see the evidence of Kim Jong-il's aid to Syria's nuclear weapons program (BBC). Among other things, the Administration will present a video which "shows that the Syrian reactor core's design is the same as that of the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, including a virtually identical configuration and number of holes for fuel rods" (Washington Post). Whether or not the Stalinists gave the Syrians nuclear fuel was unclear (CNN), but the plant was "nearly complete when Israel bombed it in September" (Washington Times), and it "would have been capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons" (Newsmax).

Why did we surrender to the Stalinists in Singapore again? That's the question being asked by the Wall Street Journal (h/t Tom Gross at NRO Media Blog), the Washington Times, and most importantly of all, 14 Republican Senators (One Free Korea, which gave this debacle another well-deserved beat-down here).

Duke students call for investigation of Chinese group: The Duke Chinese Student and Scholars Association is under the microscope for its role in the harassment of Wang Qianyuan. Several student groups (including both college political parties) are calling for an investigation into the DCSSA's behavior (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, the long arm of lawlessness is reaching into Canada, too (Between Heaven and Earth).

Communist Ambassador to Canada "reassigned": The cadre will be going home, though it is not known to what post (Embassy).

Olympic torch proceeds through Australia: Protesters (AAP via Epoch Times) and enthusiasts (BBC and the Epoch Times) met the torch, while Dr. Torsten Trey reminds us of the hideous organ harvesting practices of the regime, and why it should keep us miles away from these Olympics (Epoch Times).

Communist arms shipment - meant for Zimbabwe - is heading home instead: The resistance of Zimbabwe's neighbors and the United States paid off (CNN).

From the Tibetan refugee camp in Dharamsala: Sheng Xue (Epoch Times) travels to the camp and returns with heart-rending stories of courage and pain.

Macau orders gambling freeze: The move comes amid "reports that Beijing is putting pressure on the territory to diversify its economy away from gambling" (BBC). Macau is the only place in Communist China in which casinos are legal. Left unmentioned in the story are the numerous incidents of corrupt cadres blowing public funds on the roulette wheels.

Communist coal reserve down to 12 days, a 20% reduction from just last month (News, Australia).

News of the Day (April 23)

Communist police kill land-seizure protester in Saxi (Yunnan): Local in the town who protested their land being seized without compensation for a land mine were greeted with a hail of bullets (BBC). It is merely the latest in a long line of Communist land seizures, protests, and subsequent murders.

As April 25 approaches, the Taipei Times remembers the peaceful protest that made Falun Gong a household phrase - and short-hand for the Communists' brutal persecution against people of faith (h/t, Between Heaven and Earth).

Communist China's radical nationalism hits victim to torch "attack": Put aside the still open question of whether or not the cadres staged the attack on Jin Jing. It turns out Jin herself is now being vilified, because she "she expressed a word of caution about a boycott of Carrefour, a French-branded grocery store chain in China" (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, One Free Korea sees a precedent for the Communist reaction, and it's not a good one.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Rob Breakenridge (Calgary Herald) for his defense of anti-Communist MP Rob Anders' call for an Olympic Boycott.

Other Olympic News: The torch comes to Australia (BBC), as do the protests (Epoch Times). The World Uyghur Congress calls for an Olympic boycott (Earth Times via Uyghur American Association). A pro-Tibet protester is kicked off Mount Everest by Nepalese authorities (CNN).

U.S. praises Zimbabwe neighbors for blocking Communist Chinese arms shipments: The Bush Administration went public with its opposition to the arms sale; at present, the arms still have not made landfall (Washington Post and Washington Times).

Top South Korean spymaster granted asylum in the United States: Surprisingly, an American judge has allowed Kim Ki-Sam to stay here despite the change of government in South Korea, leading One Free Korea to conclude that Kim "must know where a lot of the bodies from the 2000 North Korea summit scandal are buried." Indeed, Kim "is promising to reveal plenty of juicy detail" about the bribe to Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il that greased the skids for that summit with then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

News of the Day (April 22) - UPDATED

Communist China is " the U.S.'s biggest cyber menace": The words were from Business Week which summarized the view of top defense and intelligence officials in the United States.

Communist Chinese heparin caused "scores of deaths": The Communist-exposed version of the blood-thinner included over-sulfated chondroitin, which caused "hundreds of serious adverse reactions and scores of deaths among patients" (Washington Post). The cadres insisted their own research disproves that, based on its own research, but the firm whose samples provided the basis of that research contradicted them. UPDATE: Yours truly explores the product safety issue, and what it says about the lack of true economic freedom in Communist China, over at RWL.

The Boston Globe gets it on Communist China and nationalism: "It is not easy to determine how much of this nationalistic frenzy may have been fostered and organized by Chinese communist officials . . . nationalism has replaced Maoism or Marxism as the legitimating credo of China rulers" (h/t Boycott 2008). Xin Fei and Ren Baiming (both in the Epoch Times) discuss this further.

Will Communist China recall its Zimbabwe arms shipment? That has become a distinct possibility (BBC), as the United States began asking African governments not to let the ship dock (Mail and Guardian, SA). More surprisingly, the president of Zambia - who was backed heavily by Communist China in his re-election bid two years ago - "has urged states in southern Africa to ban the ship, the An Yue Jiang, from entering their waters" (Times of London).

Olympic torch draws more protests, this time in Indonesia (BBC and CNN).

"Education" campaign under way in Tibet: As expected, a large part of the plan is propaganda "in which the Dalai Lama will be denounced " (BBC). France may also be a target, especially after Paris made him an "honorary citizen" (BBC).

News on "another Chinese province": As the State Department's leading Korea expert visited the Stalinist North (BBC and CNN), Frank Gaffney rips the Singapore surrender in the Washington Times.

News of the Weekend (April 19-21)

Communist vessel with arms for Zimbabwe flees South Africa for Angola: The combination of the South African unions, a court order, and a German bank's demand for the entire shipment to cover an old Mugabe debt led the Communist Chinese vessel carrying the arms shipment to flee Durban (Citizen, South Africa). The shipment is now headed for Angola, whose regime is friendly with both Mugabe and Communist China, but it may not have enough fuel to get there. Meanwhile, Mugabe's regime continues to arrest opposition supporters (CNN).

Nepal tells its police it can shoot anti-Communist protesters along the Mount Everest part of the torch really (CNN).

Other Olympic News: The Thai part of the torch relay had protesters (CNN), as did the Malay leg (BBC and CNN). The Communists try their own hand at boycotts and protests - aimed at France and CNN (BBC, Small Dead Animals, and Washington Post). Australia's Prime Minister insists that no Communist goons will handle "security" during Australia's leg of the torch relay (AAP via Epoch Times). Those who remember the promises Communist China made to win the Olympic Games find the regime not fulfilling them (Washington Post). Meanwhile, inside Communist China, students are given "food subsidies" to keep them quite (Epoch Times) and more houses are meeting the Olympic bulldozer (Epoch Times).

Olympic Commentary: Nat Hentoff (Washington Times) examines who the Communist Olympiad has polluted the West, while Sue Meng (Washington Post) ponders how it might unintentionally end the Communist regime. Vietnamese dissident Pham Hông Son lists the Communist crimes against the Chinese and other peoples (Epoch Times).

The Canada file: An all-party group of MPs, led by Conservative Rob Anders, met the Tibetan leader in Michigan (CBC). Toronto Mayor David Miller visits Beijing and makes a fool of himself (Toronto Star). Marie Beaulieu takes issue with CBC's description of Falun Gong (Between Heaven and Earth). Toronto Sun columnist Salim Mansur sees the end of the Communist regime on the horizon.

Human rights abuse news: Hebei arrests AIDS sufferers who were appealing their brutal treatment by local cadres for years (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times). Meanwhile, a Beijing bookstore owner is arrested - again (World Net Daily).

News on "another Chinese province": Lee Myung-Bak and George W. Bush present a united front on the Stalinist North (BBC).

News of the Day (April 18)

Communist Chinese weapons shipment to Zimbabwe blocked by South African dockworkers: In an unexpected twist, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is refusing to unload a Communist Chinese vessel loaded with weapons for Zimbabwe (BBC). The weapons were ordered three days after the March election in Zimbabwe (Guardian, UK). South Africa's government had no objection to the Communists arming Mugabe, but the SATAWU did, and for now, the weapons, including "three million rounds of ammunition for small arms, 3,500 mortar bombs and mortar tubes, as well as 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades" (Independent, UK) aren't going anywhere.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Is Kevin Rudd about to become the most ironic and unexpected anti-Communist of 2008? Sonya Bryskine (Epoch Times) gauges Australian opinion on the question. Meanwhile, more Europeans are seeing Communist China as "the greatest perceived threat to global stability " (Speigel, Ger., via Weekly Standard Blog), a trend likely to continue as the EU takes another look at exported Communist toys (BBC).

Communist China orders the "spontaneous" citizen reaction to end: The cadres clearly believe the anti-Tibet/pro-Communist-Olympiad propaganda has served its purpose, or perhaps it became too embarrassing (BBC for the report, and WS Blog to get an idea of how things went off the rails).

Japanese Buddhist temple won't host the Olympic torch: The stunning rejection was due in part to security issues and "concern over recent unrest in Tibet" (BBC). One temple official was specific: "Indiscriminate killings were undertaken in Tibet. We were concerned about Buddhists in Tibet who rose up and a subsequent crackdown against them" (CNN).

More Olympic news: Canadian Rob Anders, en route to meet the Dalai Lama today (CBC), took aim at the "torch goons" (CanWest via Boycott 2008) who have already darkened the Olympic relay (Stratfor, also via Boycott 2008). Officials from the Flemish region of Belgium will skip the opening ceremonies (Epoch Times). Amnesty Int'l asks the Int'l Olympic Committee to clarify its ban on athletes' "propaganda" (Epoch Times).

Persecution news: Between Heaven and Earth reprints a Nigerian Times post on the casualties from the Falun Gong War.

Communist stock market hits 12-month low, dragged down mainly by PetroChina (BBC).

Washington Post editors aren't happy with the Singapore surrender either, and their editorial highlighting the problems with the disaster win them Enlightened Comment of the Day honors. Meanwhile, the deal actually got worse as the U.S. has agreed to keep the Stalinists' nuclear disclosures secret (Washington Times) - I can't wait to see how One Free Korea reacts to this.

More news on "another Chinese province": The Democratic Chairman and Republican ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee co-sponsor a new North Korea human rights bill (and OFK approves). Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak reveals his plans (Washington Post) for dealing with the Stalinist regime, while Sung-Yoon Lee reveals what should be our plans (OFK).

News of the Day (April 17)

One Chinese student in the United States speaks her mind, and the cadres release the hounds: Of course, the Washington Post authors are ignorant enough to believe that the avalanche of criticism and threats that hit Wang Qianyuan after she spoke up for the human rights of Tibetans was spontaneous - oddly enough, the paper's editors seem to know better.

More on the long arm of lawlessness: The Communists don't think CNN has groveled enough in response to Jack Cafferty's truth blast. Sadly, a Canadian media empire appears to be more malleable (Epoch Times), while Google continues in its attempt to please the cadres without appearing to do so (Weekly Standard Blog).

Now Australia will let Communist thugs shadow the Olympic torch after all, but the goons will be "subject to arrest in fact if they laid a hand on somebody" (AAP via Epoch Times). I'll believe that when I see it.

More Olympic news: The torch came to New Delhi, "surrounded by Tibetan flags, cameras and young men wearing headbands with 'Free Tibet' on them" (BBC). Meanwhile, Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch talked to Ling Baizeng, a Beijing resident who was kicked out of his house due to Olympic construction (Epoch Times).

Olympic commentary: Father Raymond De Souza details Communist China's repression of all people of faith, and how the Olympic torch relay has brought it into clear view (National Post, Cdn., h/t Boycott 2008).

Communist official calls Taiwan situation "a bit more relaxed": As the cadres fell better, I feel worse (Bill Gertz, Washington Times).

Cadres claim Tibetan monasteries in Gansu held arms: The Communists had their usual itemized list, but presented no concrete evidence (BBC). Meanwhile, the latest from Tibet comes courtesy of blogger Tsering Woeser (via Epoch Times).

News on "another Chinese province": When One Free Korea sees a dispute between South Korea and the United States and takes South Korea's side, you know there's been a sea-change, both over there (Washington Times) and - sadly - over here. John Bolton weighs in on the deal I blasted last week - and I'm happy to say he is no kinder than I was (OFK). Finally, OFK has the latest Pyongyang Kremlinology - or, if you prefer, Kimlinology.

News of the Day (April 16)

American commission details plight of Korean refugees in Communist China, in particular how the Communists treat them as non-persons and send back any escapee they can find back its colonial viceroy, Kim Jong-il (BBC).

More news on "another Chinese province": The upcoming famine predicted earlier by One Free Korea catches the eye of the United Nations (BBC and Washington Post). Speaking of OFK, he has the latest links on northern Korea (and other things). Meanwhile, CNN and the Washington Times profile South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.

Communist soldiers stationed with leading Zimbabwe thugs: The Holiday Inn in Harare is hosting "about 70 Zimbabwean senior army officers" (Zimbabwe Journalists) - and nearly a dozen PLA members "in their full military regalia and armed with pistols." Meanwhile, the Mugabe regime - a close ally of Communist China - is arresting more of the opposition (BBC).

The long arm of lawlessness reaches into Canada once more, with death threats for a Vancouber reporter (Boycott 2008).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: The editors of the Washington Post win the prize with a spectacular takedown of the cadres and their various apologists' claims of speaking for "the Chinese people."

More Olympic news: Communist China is demanding CNN's Jack Cafferty apologize for telling the truth. Clarence Page (Washington Times) calls on President Bush to stay home. Pat Robertson sticks up for the cadres - again (World Net Daily). Tibetans in India (Washington Post) await the Olympic torch, which is currently in Pakistan (CNN).

Communist China pledges to work with incoming Taiwanese President: The more I see this, the more it worries me (Washington Post).

Communist line on East Turkestan continues to draw cat calls: This time it's from Richard Weitz, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, who calls the cadres' claims of fighting terrorism in the occupied nation "dubious" (World Politics Review via Uyghur American Association).

Persecution news: Yanling Zhang tells her story in a letter to the Epoch Times.

News of the Day (April 13)

Has the blogosphere nailed the Communists faking an attack on the Olympic torch? One of the incidents in the Paris leg of the Olympic torch fiasco that has turned into good propaganda for the cadres was an attack on torch bearer Jin Jing by a pro-Tibet protester (BBC, Washington Times, and Weekly Standard Blog). The only trouble with this is that bloggers in Japan "have been doing some research, and Dafydd ab Hugh's wife Sachi, who reads those blogs in Japanese, notes that they made an interesting discovery: there are other photographs of the protester who attacked Jin Jing, taken the same day, including this one, which shows him in the company of a group of pro-China protesters" (Powerline, emphasis in orginial). Given what happened in San Francisco last week, odds are fairly low that the pro-ChiCom folks would have ignored the fellow with the Tibetan bandanna - unless, as Powerline and the aforementioned Sachi susupect, the fellow was a plant for the Beijing regime. TI wouldn't be the first time the cadres have been caught staging events (in fact, both Powerline and Sachi lump this in with more possible, albeit disputed, evidence of the Communists sparking the Tibetan "riots"). Stay tuned for further updates as more information comes in.

Upcoming Olympiad bring focus to the cadres' treatment of refugees from the Stalinist North: One Free Korea has the details. For more news on "another Chinese province," see the end of this post.

More Olympic news: Communist China announces its latest attempt to get the smog out of Beijing in time for the Games (BBC and Washington Post). The torch re-route comes under derisive scrutiny in San Francisco (Epoch Times). New Zealand's leaders face pressure to skip the opening ceremony (Epoch Times).

Olympic Commentary: Anne Applebuam (Washington Post) comments on "the latest Olympic sport: Put Out the Torch." John Tkacik (Washington Times) calls on President Bush to consider, at least, skipping the Games.

Communist China confirmed as the largest carbon emitter: A University of California team has confirmed that Communist China's "greenhouse gas emissions have been underestimated, and probably passed those of the US in 2006-2007" (BBC, emphasis added). That's not all: " unless China radically changes its energy policies, its increases in greenhouse gases will be several times larger than the cuts in emissions being made by rich nations under the Kyoto Protocol."

The Canada file: The cadres get their own demonstration in Ottawa (Epoch Times), while the Ontarian government smarts from criticism of its coziness with the Beijing regime (Globe and Mail).

Cadres buy 1% of British Petroleum (BP): The regime didn't even bother to hide behind one of its state-owned enterprises for this one - "The investment was made by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, a unit of the Central Bank managing $1.6 trillion in foreign exchange reserves" (BBC).

Ma Ying-jeou happy with meeting his running mate had with Hu Jintao: Taiwan's president-elect said the meeting "started to thaw the ice" (BBC).

Tibet under "relentless" surveillance: The Communist-run People's Armed Police are practically everywhere (Washington Post); meanwhile, Chen Weijian (Boxun via Epoch Times) sees the recent events within the long-running Communist objective of destroying Tibet's culture and its people.

Communist China continues to lead the world in executions, although this time the cadres hid enough of them that their official number is no longer more than the rest of the world combined (BBC). Communist China's range of capital crimes includes white-collar offenses and others for which no one else would even dream of using a bullet.

Yet another victim of religious persecution tells of her ordeal to the Epoch Times.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: One Free Korea takes the prize for this stinging commentary on the Singapore surrender (the excellent label is his).

News of the Weekend (April 12-14)

Communist China keeps IOC in the dark about "terror" plots: One would think the cadres would let the Int'l Olympic Committee know as much as possible about the supposed plots against the Games - if only to ensure the IOC is spouting the right words. Guess again - "The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says it has received no information from China about alleged terrorist plots targeting the Beijing Games" (Agence France Presse via Uyghur American Association). If the Communists can't even provide the IOC with info . . .

How the cadres keep East Turkestan occupied: It should surprise no one that a shadowy group "(n)ot subject to the Xinjiang government" - and which "reports directly to Beijing and retains a central role in Beijing’s strategy for the region" (Asia Sentinel via UAA) - is the main instrument for the cadres' brutal occupation of the country they conquered in 1949.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Ethan Gutmann, author of Losing the New China, has a terrific description of what the Olympics have meant and still mean for Communist China and for the democratic world. It is a must-read, in the Weekly Standard.

Runners-up: The editors of the National Post (via Boycott 2008) call for an Olympic opening-ceremony boycott; Peter Worthington (Toronto Sun via Boycott 2008) revels in the embarrassment the cadres have suffered.

Pervez Musharraf sticks up for his Communist allies: The Pakistani head of state blasted democratic nations for their reaction to the Tibet crackdown and the Olympics (CNN) - not that this should surprise anyone, since Communist China has been an ally of Pakistan for decades (Gulf News via UAA).

Canadian Int'l Olympic Committee tells athletes with consciences to "stay at home": In a breathtaking display of arrogance, Richard Pound - the senior Canadian on the IOC - had this to say about Olympians who do not wish to be gagged, "The moral dilemma, you solve it before you get on the plane. If it is so tough for you that you can't bear not to say anything, stay at home" (Epoch Times).

Other Olympic News: The Epoch Times gives a blow-by-blow account (literally) of the torch protests and violent counter-protests in San Francisco. President Bush still plans on attending the opening ceremonies (Washington Post). The torch meets some protests in Argentina (Washington Post) and is now in Oman (BBC).

Now we have "bomb plots" in Tibet: The latest Communist attempt to demonize the Tibetan people takes a new, but expected, turn (BBC). Meanwhile, the cadres continue to rip anyone even remotely critical of them (BBC again), while Edward Cody (Washington Post), details how the Communists let the quasi-military "People's Armed Police" take the lead role in the Tibetan bloodshed.

Taiwan's Vice-President-elect meets Hu Jintao: Annette Lu hasn't even left her post yet, and the actions of her successor already make me miss her (BBC).

U.S. Pacific Commander wants more transparency from Communist military: Admiral Timothy Keating sees "some contradiction in their stated goal " (Epoch Times) of a "peaceful rise" with their continuing military buildup. Admiral Keating has asked the cadres to clear this up in the past, and they have refused.

Ex-Communist reporter leaves the party: Li Yuanlong, who once wrote for the Bijie Daily (Guizhou), called membership in the Communist Youth League "a moral debt" (Epoch Times).

PEN to give award to writer jailed in Communist China: Yang Tongyan, who is serving a 12-year prison term for daring to speak his mind, will be the 2008 recipient of the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award (Washington Post).

More news on "another Chinese province": One of Stalinist North Korea's best friends in the South Korean legislature was Kim Won Ung - until the voters bounced him in last week's elections. One Free Korea celebrates the political cleansing.

North Korea won

There is no other way to describe the "tentative deal" (Washington Post) that was struck between the Bush Administration and Stalinist North Korea. In every matter that was important to Kim Jong-il - going back more than five years - he got what he wanted. In the meantime, not only have we not had our 2002 concern addressed - namely, the Stalinists' uranium-enrichment efforts and their abduction of Japanese citizens - but we do not even have full cooperation on subsequent Pyongyang actions - namely plutonium production and the efforts to help Syria become a nuclear power before the Israeli air force permanently altered the plan.

When the Agreed Framework - the 1994 debacle in which we pledged to build two nuclear reactors in northern Korea if Kim Jong-il stopped his nuclear-weapons program - fell apart amidst the revelation that Kim had a uranium-weapons program on the side, The U.S. and its allies (Japan and South Korea) demanded three things: a shut down of all nuclear weapons activities, disclosure of said activities in complete detail, and a complete account of the kidnapping of Japanese citizens by Stalinist agents in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Kim regime responded by demanding to be taken off the list of terrorist-sponsoring states and full diplomatic relations.

Since 2002, the Stalinist regime has produced weapons-grade plutonium, launched several missile tests, conducted a nuclear test, provided help for fellow tyrant Bashar Assad to develop his own nuclear-weapons program (again, wiped out by the Israeli Air Force, we think), and possibly even helped the Iranian mullahs become a nuclear power.

What was the result of these brazen actions?

Well, last February, the Stalinists won a resumption of the fuel oil that was part of the 1994 deal, talks on full diplomatic relations, in exchange for shutting down a nuclear reactor and plutonium producer that was on its last legs anyway. Within months, they even managed to wring $25 million in "earnings" from counterfeiting and other illegal activities from a desperate Bush Administration.

The uranium, the plutonium already produced/weaponized/stored, and the abduction issues were placed aside for future discussions. Those future discussions ended with this month's debacle.

How bad was it? Check out the Post's description (link above, emphasis added):

The United States is prepared to lift two key economic sanctions against North Korea under a tentative deal reached with that country this week, which requires Pyongyang to acknowledge U.S. concerns and evidence about a range of nuclear activities, U.S. and Asian diplomats said yesterday.

The agreement also requires North Korea to finish disabling its main nuclear facility and provide a full accounting of its stockpile of plutonium. But, in a key shift, the two sides agreed to sidestep a dispute over how much detail North Korea must provide about any past uranium enrichment-related activities and its involvement in a mysterious Syrian facility bombed by Israel last September.

North Korea had balked at confirming the Bush administration's allegations, stalling for months a process designed to eliminate its nuclear programs. But after negotiations this week in Singapore and last month in Geneva, the United States and North Korea agreed that Pyongyang must "acknowledge" the allegations without precisely admitting them publicly.

That paves the way, diplomats said, for President Bush to remove North Korea from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and to exempt it from the Trading With the Enemy Act.

In other words, the Stalinists get the last thing they hadn't won yet - being taken off the terrorist list - in exchange for absolutely nothing. They don't have to divulge any information about their uranium efforts or their aid to Bashar Assad. They don't have to hand over any plutonium (notice the Administration only asked for "a full accounting").

Abductions? What abductions? it takes eleven paragraphs for the Japanese victims to even be mentioned. While normally, one would look to the Post for blame, in this case an Administration that actually cared about their fate would have ensured resolution on this issue before any deal was accepted.

To sum up the last five-plus years: the North Korean regime broke its word, then continued to act badly and add to the list of American demands, held out until the Americans turned them into suggestions, then held out more until it got everything it wanted (including the benefits of the aforementioned bad actions) in exchange for window dressing that amount to no substantive concessions on its part whatsoever - and it did all of this to the supposedly tough-minded, neo-conservative riddled, unilateralist "cowboy" President.

You don't think Iran has been watching all of this, taking copious notes at every turn? How about the Taliban and al Qaeda? Did anyone really think this appalling weakness would go unnoticed?

History will record this as the greatest failure of the Bush Administration. It may very well overshadow all the good it has done in Afghanistan and tried to do (and - I would opine, slowly doing) in Iraq. It is that bad.

Every terrorist and tyrant - most especially Communist China, colonial master to Kim Jong-il and friend to tyrants and terrorists everywhere - now knows the United States can be worn out, worn down, and defeated at the bargaining table. This is a dark day for America and the free world. We all have become far less safe.

Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal

News of the Day (April 11)

Stalinist North Korea gets a free-pass on uranium and Syria disclosures: The Bush Administration has decided "to remove North Korea from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism and to exempt it from the Trading With the Enemy Act" (Washington Post) without getting details from the Stalinists as to their uranium enrichment program (which started the entire issue back in 2002) or their involement with Syria's nuclear weapons program. This is a terrible debacle, and One Free Korea provides the details why in today's Enlightened Comment of the Day.

More news on "another Chinese province": Japan - which has always been the more realistic ally in the SNK-nuclear episode, renewed sanctions against the Stalinist regime (BBC). Meanwhile, the food shortage appears to be worsening (OFK).

John McCain on Olympics - "If Chinese policies . . . do not change, I would not attend": The Republican nominee for President made the comments yesterday (Washington Times) and also advised current incumbent George W. Bush to skip the ceremonies "unless they change some things pretty quickly" (Washington Post). Numerous other Republicans and conservatives - including some "engagement supporters - are urging President Bush to stay home (National Review and the Washington Times). President Bush has, so far, chosen not to heed the advice.

What happens if Americans are arrested during the Games? Three members of Congress would like to know, but the State Department has repsonded with deafening silence (One Free Korea).

More Olympic news: Int'l Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge talked out of both sides of his mouth on the right of athletes to speak their minds during the Communist Olympiad (Boycott 2008, Times of London, and the Washington Post), but the cadres were still unhappy with him (Globe and Mail, Cdn). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says "scheduling issues" (CNN) may keep him away from the opening ceremonies. The torch realy will continue as planned (Washington Post).

The Canada file: Communist China is upping the propaganda in Canada - on television (Epoch Times) and in print (Montreal Gazette). They are also "ignoring or twisting" the words of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to fit their purposes (Globe and Mail).

Russian forests illegally harvested for Communist China: Lucy Ash (BBC) has the details.

Speaking of corruption, Chen Liangyu, former party boss in Shanghai and a leading buddy of Jiang Zemin, was given an 18-year prison sentence for "taking bribes and abusing his position" (BBC).

Persecution news: Communist China's crackdown on Christians is "getting worse" (World Net Daily); David Matas discusses the organ harvesting tragedy to the Cross Cultural Center (Epoch Times).

News of the Day (April 10)

Communists float another accusation against East Turkestanis, just after the last one cratered: The cadres are now insisting they had "cracked a terror plot to kidnap athletes, journalists and tourists at August's Beijing Olympics" (BBC). The "terror plot" was supposedly centered in occupied East Turkestan (called "Xinjiang" by the Communists). The Communist regime even tried to link this new "plot" to the phantom January "raid" in Urumqi, which was exposed as a fake just two days ago (also reporting: Guardian, UK, via Uyghur American Association and the Washington Post - neither of which included the fact that the January "raid" was a fake).

Other East Turkestan News: Alimujiang was a Uyghur who had made peace with the Communist occupation of his country. However, he was also a devout Christian who "simply wants the freedom to quietly express his faith" (China Aid Association via UAA). Thus he is in a prison cell, and possibly facing the gallows.

"In the end, San Francisco punted": That was how Karl Vick began his Washington Post piece on how the city made a last-minute re-route of the Olympic relay to avoid anti-Communist protesters (also reporting: ABC via UAA, BBC, Epoch Times, Market Watch, Washington Times). It was just the latest embarrassment to befall the relay, which "saddened" Int'l Olympic Committee Chief Jacques Rogge (BBC and CNN) and led Mario Vazquez Rana, president of the Association of National Olympic Committees to rip the protests (Washington Post) - and Rana wasn't alone (New York Sun). Meanwhile, the traveling Communist "security" squad gets more less-than-rave reviews (Times of London), but the regime will be looking to them and every other good cadre to ensure none of the previous protests happen anywhere in Communist China (News 24, South Africa).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: L. Ling-chi Wang (CNN) takes the dubious prize for appalling moral relativism.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: There was more competition on this end, but Barry Farber (Newsmax) wins with his call for a Boycott of the entire Olympic fiasco.

Olympic views: Jill Savitt, executive director of Dream for Darfur, responds to the ICOD at CNN. Among those who come to her side are Joseph Farah (World Net Daily), John Derbyshire (National Review Online - The Corner), Kathryn Jean-Lopez (NRO - The Corner).

Tibet news: Tsering Woeser gives the latest report from Tibet on her blog (via Epoch Times). The United States would like to put a consulate in Tibet (Washington Times). On the analysis side, Gordon Chang talks about why the cadres had to crackdown on Tibet so violently (Weekly Standard), while John Derbyshire (The Corner) rips apart the Communists' historical justification on Tibet.

Communists take TV program criticizing the regime off the air: On Half An Hour For the Economy, a scholar offered "criticism of Chinese authorities' failure to save the stock market" (Epoch Times); hesto presto - the show is off the air, and two producers "are reportedly under investigation." Meanwhile, the cadres readjusted their already questionable economic growth numbers for 2007 - upward (BBC).

Ontario (Canada) trade mission to Communist China criticized: Ontario Economic Development Minister Sandra Pupatello waited until Monday to announce she was headed for Shanghai this weekend (Epoch Times); opposition MP Randy Hillier expressed his disappointment (You Tube).

Did Stalinist North Korea help the Communist-allied mullahcracy become a nuclear power? That's what Ha'aretz is reporting (via One Free Korea). Meanwhile, the SNK regime - also known as "another Chinese province" - wins more concessions from the U.S. to fulfill nuclear disclosure promises it first made years ago (BBC).

South Korean anti-Communist win far greater than initial appearance: While the anti-Stalinist Grand National Party did indeed win a majority in the legislature as noted yesterday, one thing yours truly missed was the performance of two other South Korean hawkish parties, which between them won just under 40 seats (Washington Times). This gives the anti-Communist right in South Korea a near two-thirds majority in the National Assembly (for particular details and bitingly funny commentary, see One Free Korea).

News of the Day (April 9)

How can you wage a “war” on terror on people who are not terrorists? That is the question the Taipei Times asks regarding Communist China's brutal occupation of East Turkestan (h/t Uyghur American Association).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: John Noonan edges past the above link with his excellent commentary on the need to build up the U.S. Navy and Air Force to meet the Communist threat (Weekly Standard Blog).

Other Runners-up: Congressman Dana Rohrbacher calls for an Olympic Boycott in USA Today (h/t Boycott 2008) and Andy McSmith has an illuminating historical review of the Olympic flame (Independent, UK).

Australian Prime Minister criticizes Communist treatment of Tibet - in Beijing: Kevin Rudd, not previously known for being tough on Communist China, told a Beijing University audience that the regime had to address the "significant human rights problem in Tibet" (AAP via Epoch Times). The cadres were not happy. Several U.S. Senators also called for an end to the repression (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, in Tibet itself, monks crashed a Communist propaganda tour in Xiahe (Below the Beltway).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Joan Chen takes the prize with an awful Washington Post column on the Communist Olympiad, nudging out James Dorn, who continued to ignore national security in the Washington Times.

Irish athletes face Olympic gag order, but the Olympic Council of Ireland says athletes could still boycott the opening ceremony by saying they are "training" (Independent, Ire., via Boycott 2008). How nice.

As the Games approach, the cadres get tougher on dissidents: The Washington Post details the treatment of Shanghai lawyer Zheng Enchong; Hu Jia's house is now off limits to anyone not approve by Communist police - even though he is already in jail (Epoch Times).

More Olympic news: As protesters in Paris celebrate their success (BBC), relay organizers in San Francisco - who already shortened the route (Epoch Times) - consider change it again (Washington Post). Australians prepare for their own protests against the torch (AAP via Epoch Times). President Bush's spokesperson bobs and weaves when asked about the Games (World Net Daily). Steve Janke recommends sending Jason Kenney. The German press comment on Europe's Olympic torch debacle (Der Spiegel), while Communist China basically asks for more (BBC). Finally, more than two-thirds of Americans say award the Games to Communist China was a mistake (One Free Korea).

Anti-Stalinist party wins South Korean legislative elections: Building on the victory of Lee Myung-Bak, the Grand National Party unseated ex-President Roh Moo-hyun's dovish allies in the legislature (BBC).

News of the Day (April 8)

"Terror" raid in occupied East Turkestan is "news to residents": A supposed Communist raid against terrorists in the Happiness Garden apartments of Urumqi, East Turkestan never actually happened, according to residents interviewed by Agence France Presse (h/t Uyghur American Association). Tellingly, even an ethnic Chinese apartment dweller contradicted the Communist account (local police refused to talk to AFP). Still, the phantom terror raid was a wonderful excuse to crack down on Uighurs in both occupied East Turkestan and China proper (Wall Street Journal via UAA).

As for actual terrorists, the cadres gave Iranian nuclear info to change the subject from Tibet: The cadres apparently decided that admitting to helping Iran become a nuclear power would get them better publicity than the Tibetan bloodshed (Epoch Times). Sadly, it actually worked for a few days - to this day, no one has called the Communists to account for their long-time alliance with the mullahcracy. Meanwhile, said mullahcracy is charging ahead with their nuclear ambitions (Bloomberg).

Communist China is helping its colonial Korean regime avoid U.S. and UN sanctions by allowing Stalinist firms to due business in Communist China - even setting up accounts in Communist Chinese currency for them. One Free Korea explains how this basically makes any international sanction against Stalinist North Korea's nuclear ambitions utterly useless.

Other news on "another Chinese province": Christopher Hill has more talks with the Stalinists, and more happy words after (BBC); James Zumwalt praises South Korea for standing up to the Stalinist North (Washington Times); and the Stalinists resort to public executions - again - to terrify the populace (OFK).

More espionage arrests: Chao Tai Wei and Guo Zhiyong were charged with trying to ship hi-tech, dual-use cameras to Communist China (Newsmax).

Okinawa furthers Japan's claim to the Senkaku islands with a goat cull, of all things (Weekly Standard Blog).

Protesters force Olympic torch relay in Paris to shut down: In a further sign of the deep revulsion to the Communist Olympiad, anti-Communist protesters in Paris were so numerous that the torch route had to be shortened (BBC, Boycott 2008, and Sky News). The Int'l Olympic Committee is even considering dropping the entire international part of the relay (Times of London - h/t Andrew Stuttaford), but Communist China insisted the spectacle must go on (BBC and CNN). Meanwhile, the presence of Communist Chinese "security" during the British leg of the relay angered many Brits, including 2012 Olympic organizer Sebastian Coe (Curly's Corner Shop and Epoch Times).

Will Canada stay home? That is still a possibility, according to CTV. Edward Greenspan (Toronto Sun) and Steve Janke support the idea; Johann Hari (Independent, UK via Boycott 2008) and apparently, President Bush (World Net Daily), do not.

More Olympic news: As the torch reached San Francisco overnight (Washington Post), politicians across the spectrum called on President Bush not to attend the opening ceremony - Senator Hillary Clinton (Jim Geragthy) for the Democrats, and Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (Human Events) for the Republicans.

Leading lawyers in Communist China offer to help Tibetan detainees: Eighteen lawyers have signed on so far. One of them, Wen Haibo, explained his motives to the Epoch Times, "We believe Tibetans may encounter greater cultural and legal difficulties. With these considerations in my mind, I feel, as a lawyer, I have the obligation to provide some free legal assistance to them." Thus is Shakespeare refuted.

More on Tibet: The Dalai Lama takes (rhetorical) aim at the propagandists in Beijing (National Post, Can.), as does Sushil Seth in the Taipei Times (h/t Boycott 2008).

Daughter of "Taiwanese spy" says her father "could have been forced to confess": Ran Chen is trying to save her father's life (BBC). Wo Weihan was convicted of being a Taiwanese spy, but her daughter is certain he is innocent, and "has not received a fair trial."

News of the Weekend (April 5-7)

Communist police kill more Tibetans: At least eight Tibetans were murdered by Communist police for the crime of marching peacefully and calling for the release of two arrested monks (Times of London).

Pro-Tibet protesters wreak havoc on Olympic torch procession: Nearly three dozen Britons were arrested for trying to halt the procession (BBC, Epoch Times and Daily Telegraph). As the Olympic torch crossed the channel into France, authorities chose "to twice extinguish the flame and put the torch on a bus" (CNN).

"Many politicians have still not come to terms with China, the terror state" - these were the words of British Conservative MEP Edward MacMillan-Scott, who penned Enlightened Comment of the Weekend in the Guardian (via Boycott 2008). A close second were the editors of the Washington Post.

More Olympic news: The Washington Post reprints the letter that got co-author Hu Jia jailed (h/t Boycott 2008). The head of the Int'l Olympic Committee finally spoke out on the bloodshed in Tibet (BBC). Australian PM Kevin Rudd insists he won't boycott the Beijing Games, but he won't say for certain if he will attend (AAP via Epoch Times). Human rights activists mount an anti-Communist Olympic campaign in New Zealand (Stuff NZ via Boycott 2008). Finally, Rebecca Novick (Huffington Post via Boycott 2008) examines how the Communists' great propaganda coup has gone horribly wrong.

More Tibet and East Turkestan news: Communist police are now seizing ceremonial swords and knives held by Tibetans in order to frame them for the recent "riots" (Epoch Times); Sethu Das, founder of Friends of Tibet, and Tsepak Rigzin, from Atlanta's Drepung Loseling Monastery, speak to the Epoch Times about their journeys in support for the Tibetan cause. Meanwhile, many analysts believe the problem for the Communists has only gotten worse with the spread of protests to occupied East Turkestan (Inter-Press Service via Uyghur American Association and Time via UAA).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The CBC is upset at being blocked by Communist China. The United States and the European Union join forces to "persuade Chinese toy-makers to improve the safety of their products" (BBC). A French utility company get fleeced by the Communist-run Chongqing Water Group (BBC). New Zealand signs a free-trade deal with Communist China (BBC), even as the Long Arm of Lawlessness wreaks havoc in Auckland (Epoch Times).

Another tale of Communist persecution, this one comes from Gong Yu, the seven-year-old daughter of a prisoner in a Communist labor camp (Epoch Times).

Zimbabwe dictator clings to power: Communist China's best friend in Africa is getting ready to pull out all the stops to stay right where he is, the will of the voters be damned (Washington Post).

News on "another Chinese province" (Stalinist North Korea): One Free Korea compares Japanese and Communist Chinese colonization of Korea (albeit without that actual term), and finds the latter to be far worse. Meanwhile, the Washington Post re-tells the strange tale of Charles Robert Jenkins.

Why Zimbabwe matters

If there is one place that has ridden the Zeitgeist in the early 21st century, it is Africa. From the bleeding of Darfur to the crippling weight of debt burdens built by kleptocratic dictators, the continent's suffering has been a literal cause celebre for years. Yet now, at a time when one African nation in particular (Zimbabwe) needs it more than any other, there is a shocking and painful silence. I would humbly submit, however, that Zimbabwe is more important than Sudan, the Congo, or anywhere else on the African continent.

For those unaware, this has come to a head last month because, for the first time since a constitutional referendum eight years ago, Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe lost control of the election process, and his party was actually defeated in Parliament. It is widely believed that he finished second in the presidential election as well, although it's in dispute whether a run-off is required. At first, it appeared Mugabe might actually step aside. Now, it's becoming clearer he is playing for time (BBC) as he arrests journalists (Committee to Protect Journalists), ransacks the offices of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (Guardian, UK), and hoping that the world will become exhausted and relent before he does.

So why does this matter? Why is Zimbabwe so important? Why must Robert Mugabe go?

Mugabe does not survive because of the support of his people. He has already stolen two elections this decade, and clearly has his eye on a third. The force that keeps him in power is his foreign ally - the only true friend he has - Communist China.

I've explained before what Zimbabwe means to the Communists, but suffice to say, Robert Mugabe is Exhibit No. 1 to terrorists and tyrants everywhere of just what Communist China can do for them. Beijing has helped Mugabe build up his military, block opposition radio transmissions, and take advantage of oceans of "investment" money. In exchange, the Communists get two things: the best of the Zimbabwean economy, and an enthusiastic salesman for them around the world (all is discussed in detail in the above link).

Should Mugabe survive, he will remain a symbol to all other tyrants that the West can be resisted, especially with the aid of the Chinese Communist Party. All other anti-American thugs - including many of the enemies we face in the War on Terror (or as I call it, the Wahhabist-Ba'athist-Khomeinist War) - will take notice, and be drawn even further into Communist China's orbit. This holds especially true of the Khomeinist mullahs who imprison the Iranian people and Kim Jong-il.

From the narrow perspective of the War on Terror (WBK War), Zimbabwe is peripheral. From the broader perspective - one that recognizes we are in fact in a nearly two-decade long cold war with Communist China - Zimbabwe is a central battleground. We must give it the importance it deserves.

Does that require military action? I don't believe so, at least not yet. However, we must make clear a few things. First of all, that we will honor the true election results - meaning that if Mugabe succeeds in stealing another election, we will recognize only Morgan Tsvingirai as the true leader of Zimbabwe. Second, we should also make clear to the rest of Africa that we expect them to follow suit (support for Tsvingirai and the MDC could be an excellent condition for the debt relief that so many of these nations want and need). Finally, if the MDC needs help, we should come to its aid as we came to the aid of Solidarity in the 1980s and the Serbian opposition to Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s.

If we do this, can we also send a message of our own - a message to every other tyrant who relies on Communist China to survive: namely, that we will do whatever we can to help their own people take their country back. However, we must not only do this for Communist China's allies and satellites; we must do it for China itself. Without the CCP, tyranny around the world would suffer a crushing blow, one from which several tyrants - including Mugabe, if he still lives, or his successor, if he doesn't - would not recover.

Victory in the War on Terror, and the larger Cold War of which it is a part, cannot be achieved in Harare, or Tehran, or Baghdad, or Kandahar, or even in the mountains of western Pakistan. Victory will come - and can only come - in Beijing. America and her allies will never be secure until China is free - and that day will be much closer if we can help the people of Zimbabwe free themselves from their Communist-supported tyrant.

Eight years on . . .

On April 5, 2000, I sent an email with all of the news from Communist China that I could find on the internet. Twelve people received that message. If memory serves, it rose to about 20 by the time the next Update would be sent a week later.

It's been a dramatic eight years, for me, for my country, and for this cause. Yet somehow, I am still here, drawn to the cause of the Chinese people and their struggle for freedom.

I could give several reasons why: the horrifying treatment of the Chinese people by their Communist rulers, the arms deals with terrorist regimes, the anti-American ambitions of Beijing, the gutsy resistance of the Taiwanese people (now joined, and perhaps replaced, by the people of southern Korea). In the end, however, they all wrap into one -because the fate of the planet is in the hands of the Chinese people.

The day will come when the Communist regime falls, and once China enters the free world, its resources and its resourceful people all but ensure it will lead that free world within one or two generations. The question is this: how will it happen? Germany and Japan, after all, went from irridentist tyrannies to democratic models in six decades - but would anyone want a repeat of those sixty years? By constrast, Eastern Europe was liberated with only two shots fired (into the heads of the Ceaucescus).

If we can help the Chinese people liberate themselves, it can be done without bloodshed, and China can be the model for every tyranny left on earth whose people yearn to be free. If it takes a war, it will likely be the bloodiest the world has ever seen.

It is that war and carnage that those of us who support the Chinese democracy movement from outside are desperate to prevent. Thus, we are not only trying to help the Chinese people, but all the world's peoples. As Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (or Michael Shaara) put it: "in the end, we're fighting for each other."

So I will go on fighting - through the Olympics, through the anniversaries (Tibet's 50th, East Turkestan's 60th, and Tiananmen's 20th are next year), through the various change in deck chair on the Zhongnanhai Titanic - and I will not rest - in fact, I cannot rest - until China is free.

News of the Day (April 4)

Details of Communist support for Iran's nuclear weapons program comes to light: Among the documents Communist China just happened to have for the Int'l Atomic Energy Agency were "blueprints for 'shaping' uranium metal into warheads, the testing of high explosives used to detonate radioactive material and the procurement of dual-use technology." Yet even the London Telegraph (source for the quote) couldn't bring itself to admit that these documents meant detailed Communist support for the mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions. That said, at the paper acknowledged the regime's long-time alliance with Iran.

Stalinist North Korea to beg Communist China for "massive" food aid: Desperate to stave off food protests, prying eyes from South Korea, and famine (in that order), the Stalinists will go hat in hand to their colonial masters to bail them out again, according to One Free Korea (more SNK news at the end of this post).

Leading retired U.S. flag officers "seem more afraid of The Washington Times" than the CCP: That was the jaw-droppping but accurate conclusion of Gabe Schoenfeld, senior editor of Commentary, upon hearing that several retired generals and admirals have decided to "provide a counterpoint to the current writing about China's military, for example that of Bill Gertz of The Washington Times" (which was the source for the story and the Schonfeld quote, which in its entirety was as follows:

I was struck that American generals singled out Bill Gertz as someone they needed to answer. It seemed remarkable that in a joint document with Chinese generals, these Americans seem more afraid of The Washington Times than the People's Liberation Army. It left me puzzled, perplexed.

You're not alone on that one, Mr. Schonfeld.

Enlightened Comment(s) of the Day: I officially have a new favorite paper - the Washington Examiner. Its editors responded to the Chi Mak case and other Communist saber-rattling brilliantly: "Such aggressiveness requires a no-nonsense response that sends an unmistakable message of firmness to China. A U.S. boycott of the Olympics in Beijing along with the European Union would be an excellent amplifier" (emphasis added). In a strong second came retired Admiral James Lyons, who set out a military blueprint for countering the regime's plans to "to become the dominant player in the Western Pacific and force our allies to sever their relationship with the U.S. and seek accommodation/subjugation to the People's Republic of China" (Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (CNN) and Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier (Agence France Presse) criticize the jailing of Hu Jia. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made clear he would not attend the Beijing Olympics (Epoch Times), but he did plan to send an envoy, for now (CTV).

Communist regime orders an intensified pre-Olympic crackdown: The cadres are calling on every security force under their command to increasing domestic spying and come down like a ton of bricks an anyone not spouting the CCP line (the terrifying Bill Gertz, Washington Times).

New protests in Tibet: Yes, I called them protests; I refuse to call them "riots" until the cadres answer the now multiple accounts of them staging the violence (Asianews) and allow outside media to get a look for themselves, which they still can't (BBC). Meanwhile, an American Congressman floats the idea of a U.S. envoy in Tibet (Washington Times); the government in exile responds to the cadres' suicide-bomber charges (CNA via Epoch Times); younger Tibetans share their frustrations with Jason Motlagh (Washington Times); and Syrian tyrant Bashar Assad shows his solidarity with Hu Jintao (National Review Online).

East Turkestan news: The Communists are using home invasions to find and silence anti-Communist Uighurs (Radio Free Asia via Uyghur American Association); Rebiya Kadeer talks to Newsweek (also via UAA); and Dru Gladney of the Pacific Basin Institute debunks the Communists' attempt to link all dissent in the occupied nation to terrorism (Monsters and Critics via UAA).

As promised, more news on "another Chinese province": One Free Korea catches the Stalinists making arms deals in violation of Security Council directives and posits some questions for Ambassador-designate Kathleen Stephens in these respective posts. Meanwhile, John Sudworth (BBC) talks to some Koreans who are ready to risk life and limb to get out the truth about the Stalinist North.

News of the Day (April 3)

Suddenly, Communist China comes clean about its alliance with Iran: Of course, that wasn't what any of the headlines for this Associated Press report (via Newsmax) - and in fact, the AP writer himself missed the point. Instead, the regime's presentation of "intelligence linked to Tehran's alleged attempts to make nuclear arms" is being spun as a sign of "growing international unease over Iran's atomic agenda." It would be nice if more Americans were wondering why Communist China continued (and, in fact, continues) to stand with the Iran mullahcracy while coming clean only when it can maximize international praise and avoid well-deserved outrage. As for the mullahs' reaction, they are still applying to become a full-fledged de jure Communist ally, which speaks volumes about the actual relationship between Beijing and Tehran (Washington Times).

Communist spy sent into U.S. twenty years before he was activated: Chi Mak, the Communist spy busted two years ago and sentenced to more than two dozen years in prison, "acknowledged that he had been placed in the United States more than 20 years earlier, in order to burrow into the defense-industrial establishment to steal secrets" (Counterintelligence Chief Joel Brenner to the Washington Post, emphasis added). Chi is just one of a slew of Communist sleeper agents who in some cases have been here, in active and passive roles, for nearly thirty years.

More on Communist China and the United States: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulsen visits Beijing, holds the usual meetings, and spouts the usual boilerplate (BBC).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Canadian blogger Ezra Levant discusses on the slew of pro-Communist commenters who show up whenever he criticized the regime.

With Olympics on the horizon, Communist China's behavior is getting worse: Amnesty Int'l has found that the cadres' "bid to portray a stable and harmonious image ahead of the Games in August" (BBC) has led to more arrests and torture, not less (AAP via Epoch Times). One such example is drummer and Falun Gong practitioner Yu Zhou, one of more than 100 who died while in Communist police custody this year alone (Epoch Times). Sadly, some leaders, such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (BBC) are still missing the point.

The latest from Tibet: Paul Danahar, Asia bureau chief for the BBC, discusses the challenges of trying to get the truth out of Tibet. Foreign diplomats who were actually in Tibet had the same problem, since they "were prohibited by China from having any independent contact with locals - those imprisoned after the protests or even those on the street" (Globe and Mail via Uyghur American Association). Ren Baiming (Epoch Times) examines the deplorable performance of the Communist media. Meanwhile, Ho Qinglian (Huaxia Electronic News via Epoch Times) details how the cadres' brutal policies in Tibet have failed.

The latest from East Turkestan: The protests in Khotan reached the rest of the media, albeit with plenty of Communist spin (Guardian via UAA, Wall Street Journal via UAA, and the Washington Post, more balanced versions from the BBC and the Taiwanese Central News Agency via Epoch Times). One hopeful sign - the CNA actually referred to East Turkestan by its proper name.

"Herein lies the problem: the darkness of tyranny fears the light of freedom": Those were the words of Zhang Tianliang; in fact, they were at the center of his argument that it is the Communists who are deathly afraid of reunification with democratic Taiwan (Epoch Times). While I am unconvinced (Zhang left out the possibility of military conquest), it is a compelling piece.

Hu Jia jailed for more than three years: What was his crime, you ask? According to the cadres, it was "inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system" (BBC) - in other words, highlighting the Communists' human rights abuses, including its abhorrent treatment of AIDS patients who were infected during the regime's unhygienic blood drives of the 1980s (sixth, eleventh, twenty-first, seventeenth, second, ninth, and tenth items). Hu's lawyer was furious - and said so (BBC) - ensuring he'll be joining Hu in prison at some point.

On the state of the workers in the workers' state: Pilots forced to sign "99-year deals with state-owned airlines which force them to pay up to 2.1 million yuan ($300,000; £150,000) if they quit" (BBC) have responded with an airline version of "blue flu." Lest anyone forget, independent labor unions are banned in Communist China.

News on "another Chinese province" (Stalinist North Korea): The Stalinists ratchet up their war of words with the democratic South (CNN and the Washington Times), including an accusation of naval incursions (BBC); South Korea's government asked the regime, in effect, to cut it out (CNN). Meanwhile, Christopher Hill is expecting the Stalinists to move the nuclear talks forward "in the next few days" (BBC), although One Free Korea thinks this Hill is just "expressing impatience" (I agree). OFK also reminds us that Kim Jong-il has not shut down his counterfeiting operations.

News of the Overnight (April 1-2)

Pentagon official admits to espionage role: Gregg Bergersen pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to disclose national defence information 'to persons not entitled to receive it'" (BBC). Bergersen handed over information on Taiwanese defenses, but the island democracy has said the spy ring "had not compromised key technology."

Bleeding Tibet continues to shadow upcoming Olympics: A pro-Tibetan Indian athlete refuses to carry the Olympic torch (BBC). Rebiya Kadeer compares the Olympic ideal with the Communist reality (Washington Post), as does Trudy Rubin (Dallas Morning News via Uyghur American Association).

More Olympic news: The International Olympic Committee asks the cadres to lift their internet crackdown (BBC and Below the Beltway). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls on President Bush to "consider boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games in Beijing" (CNN), as do pro-Tibet protesters in the nation's capital (Washington Post).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Matthew Claxton (Chilliwack Times via UAA) wins the honor by emphasizing the main point of the Tibetan crackdown - "The primary victims of the Chinese government are the people who live inside its borders, whether Tibetan, Uighur or Han Chinese."

More Tibet news: Desperate to turn aside the public relations wave against them, the Communists now claim Tibetans are becoming suicide bombers - with no evidence, of course (BBC and CNN). At least one Tibetan monk dies under siege by Communist police (Epoch Times). Los Angelenos protest the crackdown (Epoch Times). India's government goes very wobbly on Tibet (BBC) - although the opposition doesn't (Washington Post) - while Nepal continues slavishly following the Communist line (CNN). Michael Richardson (New Zealand Herald via UAA). Tibetans in Canada call for the Communist TV station to be taken off the air there (Epoch Times).

One country, one-and-a-half systems rolls on: Li Zhen (Epoch Times) examines how the Hong Kong press is starting to fall into line with the Communists.

More on Communist media suppression: Not even foreign press were immune, as was evidenced in the detailed screening the cadres implemented for its little Tibet tour last week (Epoch Times).

Protests spread to occupied East Turkestan: Following the death of Mutallip Hajim - in a Communist prison cell - and orders from the cadres to the family "to bury him immediately and inform no one of his death" (Radio Free Asia via UAA), Uighurs took to the streets with autonomy demands similar to Tibetans, plus a call for the Communist regime to "release all political prisoners."

Corruption news: The trial of ex-Shanghai boss Chen Liangyu was held in secret last week, turning the Jiang Zemin crony into the latest (and one of the least likely) human rights causes (Epoch Times).

U.S. provides Stalinists with list of the regime's nuclear personnel who were in Syria: While it might help convince the rest of the world that the Stalinists were helping Syria's Bashar Assad become a nuclear power, but One Free Korea is right to wonder why this information is too dangerous for Congress.

More news on "another Chinese province": The Stalinists continue to blast South Korea's new president (BBC). One Free Korea explains why the would-be American Ambassador to South Korea - Kathleen Stephens - is not the should-be Ambassador. OFK also rips Glenn Kessler and highlights the stories of defectors from northern Korea running for office in the South.