News of the Day (August 31)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator makes a series of excellent points about Communist China's geopolitical objectives; TKL also interviews Chuck Downs (who is great on Korea, but not-so-great on Communist China, IMHO) and also has the latest on dovish South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun's political stumbles (see also Daily NK and United Press International via Washington Times).

Ching Cheong sentenced to five years in jail: The Straits Times (Singapore) reporter was "convicted of spying" (BBC) for Taiwan. Some suspect Ching's real crime was looking for a book of interviews with the late Zhao Ziyang, the Communist Party leader was was purged in the runup to the Tiananmen Massacre. Zhao was under house arrest for over fifteen years until his death last January. The editors of the Washington Post ripped the jail sentence.

Define "Christian": World Net Daily deeply disappoints with this de facto advertisement for a book evangelist Luis Palau co-wrote with high-ranking cadre Zhao Qizheng.

Apple subcontractor drops lawsuit: The recent flap over Apple's I-pod factory in Shenzhen (seventh item) appears to have entered its denouement. Apple's Taiwanese subcontractor is "dropping its claim for compensation to a symbolic one yuan - about 12 cents" (Time Asia). The cadres allowed their domestic blogosphere to take up the cause against the foreign firm, leading the more cynical among us (i.e., me) to wonder if this was a diversion from abuses by regime-owned firms.

Cadres admit bribery in Communist China is "universal": The regime made the admission via its media (Voice of America via Epoch Times).

Iran "frees" Canadian scholar - and arrests three activists - on UN deadline day: Ramin Jahanbegloo, the Iranian-Canadian scholar imprisoned by the Communist-backed mullahcracy in Iran for months (fifth item), is out of jail, but only "on bail" (Macleans and Steve Janke). Oddly enough, the fact that he was released on the same day as the United Nations Security Council deadline for the regime to stop developing nuclear weapons has gone somewhat unnoticed. Kudos to Macleans' Luiza Ch. Savage, who did notice Tehran's bait-and-switch included the arrests of three pro-democracy Iranian activists.

As for the mullahs' nuclear ambitions, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency "concluded that Iran has not complied with Security Council demands to verifiably suspend all nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities" (Kenneth R. Timmerman, Newsmax, emphasis added). The United States will apparently respond with nothing, which rightly infuriated the editors of National Review Online (Amir Taheri is also non-plussed about the world's weak-kneed reaction: New York Post). Meanwhile, the Pentagon projects the mullahs' nuclear timetable to be "five to eight years" (Washington Times).

Khatami to visit Harvard: The Ivy League institution will be among the many in America to host the man who appointed the 1979 hostage takers' spokeswoman as his Vice President (second item). The editors of the New York Sun are understandably aghast.

Syria sent its own arms to Hezbollah, too: In addition to letting his country be a throughput for Iranian arms headed to Hezbollah, Syrian tryant Bashar Assad sent the terrorists "large numbers of medium-range rockets" (Los Angelese Times via Worldwide Standard) from his own military arsenal. This should surprise anyone, as the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's David Schenker noted (National Review Online), but will certainly come as news to Virginia Senate candidate James Webb (whose silly statements on Syria led this corner to endorse his opponent - Senator George Allen). Meanwhile, the post-mortem on the Israeli-Hezbollah battle continues (Newsmax and Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The plan to give Communist China more power in the International Monetary Fund has the full backing of the Bush Administration (Worldwide Standard, who joins the rest of us in angry disbelief). Textile-makers in Ghana are facing competition from smuggled-in Communist knock-offs (BBC); the European Commission calls for tariffs on Communist shoe exports (BBC). Jaya Gibson and Steven Smith (Epoch Times) has the latest from the Falun Gong trial in Singapore.

News of the Day (August 30)

Communist China says sanctions against Iran are bad - for us: The cadres have suddenly acquired a concern for the welfare of the democratic world, insisting that any sanctions against the Communist-backed mullahcracy for its nuclear weapons program "could harm the United States and Europe too" (Cybercast News). Perhaps if Zhongnanhai wasn't too busy arming the mullahs, its "analysis" would be more credible.

Mohammed Khatami to come to Washington: The former top mouthpiece for the Iranian mullahcracy - as it was stocking up on Communist arms and had its nuclear weapons program exposed (third item) - won a visa to speak at the National Episcopal Cathedral (National Review Online). Khatami will even meet former President Jimmy Carter (Washington Post), the fellow who was in the White House during the 1979-81 hostage outrage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. This leads yours truly to wonder: Does Carter, or anyone else for that matter, know that Iranian hostage-taker/spokeswoman Masumeh "Screaming Mary" Ebtekar was appointed by Khatami as one of his Vice Presidents (BBC)?

Meanwhile, the Beijing-backed regime is back in the nuclear enriching business, just in time for tomorrow's UN "deadline" to stop (United Press Int'l via Washington Times and Worldwide Standard).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: David Ignatius (Washington Post) takes the dubious honor for talking to the Iranian people and actually thinking they are free to say what they like.

As for the other Middle Eastern proxies, Syria gets some kind words from Hugo Chavez (UPI via Washington Times), and Hezbollah has an overseas account frozen (UPI via Washington Times), its indoctrination methods exposed (UPI via Washington Times), and its leader's apologetic statements examined (UPI via Washington Times).

On to the Communists' Korean colony: Has The Korea Liberator found a military site or a famine burial ground? Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il may already be visiting his colonial masters (Daily NK); defector Hwang Jang Yop says the colonial ties will remain strong (Daily NK). Kim's regime is cracking down on Bibles (Daily NK), and still printing counterfeit "super-notes" (Daily NK). Meanwhile, South Korea's doves and hawks continue to argue over the future of America's military forces there (UPI via Washington Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Communist China and Taiwan take delivery of different submarines (UPI via Washington Times). The cadres could have more power in the Int'l Monetary Fund (BBC). Warner Brothers' answer to Communist China's piracy is - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em (NBC via MSNBC). Australian MP Chris Bowen likens the cadres to the Nazis (Epoch Times). Apple Computer's I-pod subcontractor in Communist China is suing the media for exposing bad factory conditions (Boxun). Jaya Gibson (Epoch Times) has the latest from the Singapore Falun Gong trial. The U.S.-based group tracking the millions of resignations from the CCP "is harassed by continuous phone calls from Beijing and northern United States" (Epoch Times).

On Gao Zhisheng: Supporters of the jailed human rights lawyer spread from Sydney, Australia (Epoch Times) to Washington, DC (China Support Network). Caoan Jushi examines the possible motives for the Gao arrest (Epoch Times).

On Zhao Yan: Freedom House ripped the imprisonment of the New York Times staffer (Boxun, see also second, sixth, tenth, ninth, last, third, twelfth, and last items).

News of the Day (August 29)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator has the latest on Stalinist financial chicanery (see also Chosun Ilbo), refugees looking to come to the United States, South Korean nuttiness, and other Stalinist North Korea news.

South Korea inks energy exploration deal with Communist China: The agreement involves "joint projects in the fields of renewable energy, oil reserves, electricity and gas" (Washington Post, third item).

More on the Communists' Korean colony: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld plays down the Stalinist threat to the South (Newsmax), something sure to upset the growing concern among reasonable South Koreans (Washington Post). Shon Kwang Joo, Chief Editor of Daily NK, opines that Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il may be threatening a nuclear test to get American anti-counterfeit penalties cancelled. Three SNK border guards are executed, ostensibly for "hiding army prisoners to send to South Korea" (Daily NK).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today's dubious honor goes to New York University Professor Alon Ben-Meir, who calls for "direct and unconditional negotiation" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) with the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran.

On the Middle Eastern proxies: Arnaud de Borchgrave (UPI via Washington Times) suspects the U.S. will take military action against mullahcrats. Japan arrests five employees of Mitutoyo Corporation for exporting "equipment that can be used in making nuclear weapons" (UPI) to Iran; Tokyo was also warned by the regime that exploration rights in an oil field in Azadegan - currently promised to a Japanese firm - could be shifted "to the Chinese or Russians" in less than three weeks (The Australian). Meanwhile, the leader of Hezbollah is having second thoughts about starting the battle with Israel (Cybercast News and Daily Standard), but destroying the largely Jewish democracy still tops his agenda (Cybercast News).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Don Lee (Los Angeles Times) reports from occupied East Turkestan, but won't call it that (full disclosure: yours truly is V.P. of the East Turkestan National Freedom Center). The Epoch Times has the latest from the trial of Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore.

On Communist China's human rights abuses: The BBC sees "a growing clampdown" in the trials 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), Zhao Yan (second, sixth, tenth, ninth, last, third, and twelfth items), and Ching Cheong (next to last item). The Epoch Times has the latest on the plight of Gao Zhisheng. Yuan Sheng (fifth and tenth items) reveals the extent of indoctrination in Communist China (Epoch Times).

News of the Day (August 28)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest from the Vancouver protest site. The authors of The Korea Liberator discuss reports of "tensions" between Communist China and Stalinist North Korea (see also Washington Post, fourth item, and Washington Times), ponders Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il's possible motive for a nuclear test (see also Daily NK), examines some American and South Korean viewpoints (see also Agence France Presse via Breitbart, Newsmax, and Washington Times), and has the latest SNK news.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The Stalinist regime's use of public execution and its indoctrination of children are examined by Daily NK. Meanwhile, South Korea projects a slight reduction in its economic growth (United Press International via Washington Times).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Charles R. Smith (Newsmax), who details how missiles from Communist China went through its mullahcratic allies in Iran to Hezbollah.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Michael Fullilove attempts to show that Communist China is become a responsible power; he fails (International Herald Tribune via Taiwan Security Research).

More On the Middle Eastern Proxies: As the U.S. continues to ponder sanctions against the Iranian regime (Bill Gertz, Washington Times), Israel is considering military action (London Sunday Telegraph via Washington Times); Stanley Kurtz (National Review Online) speculates about a future with a nuclear-armed mullahcracy. Oliver North joins in the sober gloom (Washington Times). Former regime mouthpiece Mohammad Khatami ripped the democratic world for annoying Iran about its nuclear program (Newsmax and Voice of America via Epoch Times). Finally, Ezra Levant (Calgary Sun) calls the United Nations to the carpet for allowing Tehran to turn Lebanon into a de facto colony.

More on Communist China and the United States: American Trade Representative Susan Schwab is hoping the Communists can bring international trade talks back to life (BBC). A human rights rally is held in Atlanta (Epoch Times).

Canada file: Canadian blogger Steve Janke has nothing good to say about the 2008 Games; pro-Communist tycoon Li Ka-shing makes clear he'll hang on to Alberta's Husky Energy for quite some time (Canadian Press).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: As Japan makes a diplomatic foray into Central Asia (BBC), columnist George Will (Washington Post) loudly endorses the growing Japanese role in world affairs. Great Britain may deport someone who risks being executed in Communist China (Agence France Presse via Yahoo); the Epoch Times remembers how the Communists destroyed Britain's embassy during the Cultural Revolution. Meanwhile, Communist China continues to run interference for Sudan (Worldwide Standard), worries about its geopolitical investment in Cuba (Intelligence Summit), and continues its charm offensive on India (Los Angeles Times via Taiwan Security Research). In reaction, Russians start wondering if being Zhongnanhai's friend is such a good idea (Radio Free Europe, fifth item); the editors of the Washington Times look askance at the Communists' ties to Hugo Chavez; and Taiwan's Cabinet proposes a steep increase in defense spending (Intelligence Summit).

Human rights activists in Communist China running in local "elections": Several advocates for the Chinese people have taken to standing for office in the largely cosmetic "elections" for local offices in Communist China. As one would expect, "independent candidates . . . have been suppressed" (VOA via Epoch Times) by the cadres.

Imprisonments of Gao Zhisheng and Chen Guangcheng get more attention: The plight of the human rights lawyer was condemned by Wei Jingsheng (Epoch Times), Yuan Sheng (Epoch Times), and John Taylor (Correspondents Report); meanwhile, Gao's daughter managed to escape house arrest - for now (Epoch Times). As for Chen (see tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, ninth, second, and fifth items), Jay Nordlinger (National Review Online, sixth item) lamented his capture.

Catholic Bishop freed after a decade: The Communists are trying to play nice with the Vatican again (BBC, and London Daily Telegraph via Washington Times).

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: James Rose, of Corporate Governance Asia, concedes that the accounts of Communist organ harvesting are true, and laments what it means for humanity (Hong Kong Standard). Reporters Without Borders rips the cadres for sending Zhao Yan (second, sixth, tenth, ninth, last, and third items) to prison (Boxun). Wen Hua, Epoch Times, finds a five-year-old victim of Communist persecution.

High-tech military exercise held: Communist China's military held its "first-ever war exercise involving joint forces at a northern training base to test its high-technology combat capabilities" (Intelligence Summit). The forces included "a PLA area command, the Air Force, the Second Artillery and the Chinese People’s Armed Police."

Whither the Communist economy? Questions linger about the real state of Communist China's economy (Japan Times via Taiwan Security Research). Even if the Communist numbers are accurate, the white-hot growth that would imply is generating worries of a meltdown (Guardian, UK, via Taiwan Security Research, and Newsweek) and recognition that few outside of the regime itself have benefited: "The social contract hashed out by Deng -- you can get rich if you keep your mouth shut -- is fraying because too few people have won their share of the bargain" (Washington Post columnist John Pomfret in China Lessons).

Communist China suffering acid rain: Polluted precipitation is now affecting one third of Communist China. The cause is as one would expect: "rapid industrial growth" (BBC).

News of the Day (August 25)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on the battle between Communist China and human rights attorneys. The Korea Liberator relays the North Korea Freedom Coalition's open letter on the refugees in Thailand (full disclosure: the China e-Lobby is a member of the NKFC) and a review of Abduction.

More on the Chinese Communist Party v. the legal profession: Human Rights Watch condemns "the recent spate of harassment, detentions, and physical attacks on human rights lawyers" (Boxun) in Communist China. David Kilgour comments on the arrest of Gao Zhisheng (Epoch Times).

Zhao Yan acquitted of "leaking state secrets," but is still sent to prison for "fraud": After holding New York Times staffer Zhao Yan for nearly two years in jail (second, sixth, tenth, ninth, and last items), the Communist regime still couldn't convict Zhao on "leaking state secrets" (BBC). However, embarrassing the regime is embarrassing the regime, so Zhao will spend three years in prison for unspecified "fraud."

Book editor suspended for revealing internal Party discipline: Zhuang Daohe is the author of a book detailing the arbitrary nature of Communist discipline against its members for " failure to adhere to the party's political line" (Boxun). The cadres responded by suspending Zhuang from his job as Zhejiang University publishing editor for seven months, and counting.

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: Hannah Beech comments on the sentencing of Chen Guangcheng (Time Asia, see also tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, ninth, and second items). Yuan Sheng reflected on what Falun Gong practitioners and dissidents faced at home (Epoch Times). Keith Bradsher (New York Times via International Herald Tribune) examines how the beating of Albert Ho (tenth item) has damaged the city's reputation. Lev Navrozov (Newsmax) compares Communist China and the late, unlamented Soviet Union.

Communist China playing the "good cop" on Stalinist North Korea again: Amid reports Kim Jong-il may be preparing a nuclear test (Epoch Times), his colonial master is inviting him to Beijing for talks (Channel News Asia), while hearing pleas from Washington and Seoul "to exert its crucial influence on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Perhaps the folks looking to recruit Zhongnanhai will examine how the Communists are breaking their word on acting against the Stalinists' currency counterfeiting operations (Daily NK).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Jonathan Erasmus (Epoch Times) has the best overview of the situation Israel faces from Communist China's Middle Eastern proxies (Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah).

ECOD runner-up: Special praise should go to Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank (The New Republic), who examine the role of Kashmir terrorist groups in Britain's "home-grown" terrorism problem without calling on India to cave into the demands of Communist ally Pakistan on the issue.

More on Communist China's Middle Eastern proxies: The Communist-backed mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions continue to befuddle the international community (UPI via Washington Times, Washington Post), leaving Israel to consider unilateral military action (Jerusalem Post). Meanwhile, Ellen Knickmeyer's second installment on the Iranian-backed Moqtada al-Sadr (Washington Post via MSNBC) focuses on the brutality of the cleric's Mahdi Army. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni establishes herself as out of her league by insisting Hezbollah will "become an integral part of Lebanese politics" (Ynet). This would be the same Hezbollah that is conducting revenge attacks on pro-Israel Lebanese (Ynet) and alienating nearly everyone else in Lebanon (Wall Street Journal).

Venezuela looks to become a major exporter to Communist China: Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez "plans to double (oil) sales to China next year and more than triple them within five years to lessen its dependence on the U.S. market" (Bloomberg). For Communist China, this all merely part of its thirst for oil and its policy of making the world safe for dictators (Bill Gertz, Washington Times).

Reports of Communist organ harvesting continue to reverberate "Down Under": As David Kilgour and Edward Macmillan-Scott bring the issue of organ harvesting to New Zealand (Epoch Times), Australian MP Victor Perton, a backbencher with the governing Liberal Party, tells the Epoch Times how the Communists tried to disrupt his attempts to bring more MPs to an Australian forum on the subject.

U.S. still trying to send back 40,000 escapees from Communist China: One can certainly understand why the Department of Homeland Security has problems with illegal immigrants, but why 40,000 escapees from Communist China hold such importance to them is mind-boggling (Agence France Press via Yahoo).

News of the Day (August 24)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the report from a rally in Victoria, BC for Falun Gong practitioners and lawyers arrested by the Communists (see also Victoria Times-Colonist). Meanwhile, The Korea Liberator takes up the cause of the refugees currently under arrest in Thailand (see also BBC) and has the latest counterfeiting news.

Chen Guangcheng sent to prison for four years: The anti-"one child" activist whose lawyers themselves were arrested to keep them away from the trial (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, and ninth items) was sentenced to four years in jail (BBC).

More on the Communist war against the lawyers: Jennifer Chou, Radio Free Asia, documents how attorneys in Communist China are trying put the regime on trial (Daily Standard). Fang Han, Epoch Times, focuses on the arrest of Gao Zhisheng.

More on human rights abuses in Communist China: A woman in Henan Province "who contracted HIV during hospital surgery" (Agence France Presse via Breitbart) was assaulted by a security guard "protecting" the local mayor from her pleas for help. A Buddhist monk in Yichun, Jiangxi was thrown out by the cadres for holding "a religious ritual for people killed in the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989" (Boxun). The Communists tighten their grip on Wal-Mart employees (BBC). Meanwhile, an art presentation for human rights in China wins praise in Brooklyn (Epoch Times), and the embattled Falun Gong exhibit in Vancouver (thirteenth) wins support (Vancouver Courier).

More on the Stalinist North Korea: Reverend Philip Buck, who helped refugees escape from the Communists' Korean colony, is finally out of a Communist jail cell after 15 months (Time Asia); he is now in the U.S., but "he intends - again - to go back." Daily NK analyzes the possibility of an SNK nuclear test; the dissident publication also reports harrowing pictures of Korean suffering are circulating in - of all places - Communist China's internet.

On Communist China and Iran's nuclear weapons program: The editors of the Washington Post call on the cadres to be "the forces for global stability that they claim to be" and help the U.S. stop the mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions. Don't hold your breath.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today's dubious honor goes to the editors of the Washington Times, for endorsing the visit of former mullahcracy mouthpiece Mohammed Khatami to Washington, D.C.

On Tehran's influence in Iraq: Ellen Knickmeyer (Washington Post via MSNBC) calls the Moqtada al-Sadr outfit "the most pivotal force in Iraq after the United States," but somehow ignores the role of the Iranian regime in funding and supporting him (if not for the Washington Times, she would have scored the ICOD).

More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One (Iran): The regime's call for "serious" talks about its nuclear ambitions was so weak even the State Department had to admit it (BBC, Fox News, Washington Times); the Center for Security Policy was far more detailed in its criticism of Tehran. Meanwhile, the House Intelligence Committee blasted the nation's intelligence community for having effective nothing of value on the mullahcracy's plans (Washington Times); Worldwide Standard joined in the concern. Martin Walker (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) ponders possible next moves for the regime and the U.S.

Syria (Middle Eastern Proxy Number Two) demands UN stay away from its Lebanon border: Most believe Bashar Assad is making this demand so he can keep arming Hezbollah without anyone noticing (Cybercast News, Washington Times), but World Net Daily proposes an additional reason: "Syria is forming its own Hezbollah-like guerrilla organization to fight Israel in hopes of 'liberating' the Golan Heights."

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number Three (Hezbollah): One of the terrorist group's Canadian apologists - Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj - heads for the political hills (Shotgun, Steve Janke).

News of the Day (August 23)

Communist China on sending weapons to Hezbollah: who, us? Sun Bigan, Communist China's point man in the Middle East, insisted his regime "never exported arms to Hezbollah" (News.com.au), but he "could not rule out that the weapons may have been transferred by a third party" - i.e., the mullahcracy of Iran (Hezbollah's sponsor and longtime Communist ally). The Communists tried a similar "third party" cop-out when its other longtime Muslim ally Pakistan was caught sending Beijing-made arms to the Taliban and al Qaeda. For more on the Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah, see the New York Sun).

More on Communist China's Middle Eastern Proxy No. 3 (Hezbollah): As it becomes more clear that the terrorists won the cease-fire in Lebanon (Washington Times) - if not the actual war itself (Washington Times) - the discussion has moved on to what the democratic world must do when, not if, hostilities break out again (National Review Online). Meanwhile, the nature of Hezbollah continues to be debated in Canada with the governing Conservatives sounding the right notes (CBC), and a Liberal MP reminding us all why the Canadian electorate tossed them out of power last winter (Steve Janke).

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Barry Rubin (Jerusalem Post), who provides detailed and cogent argument against negotiating with Syria's Assad regime.

Speaking of Communist China's Middle Eastern Proxy No. 2 (Syria), Max Boot (Los Angeles Times) advises Israel to skip the symptom (Lebanon) next time and go after the nearest cause (the Assad regime). Peter Brookes (Cybercast News) calls for diplomatic isolation, but for some reason clings to the notion that Assad "should see that paling around with Tehran and supporting Hezbollah is counterproductive to the health and wealth of the regime."

On Communist China's Middle Eastern Proxy No. 1 (Iran): The mullahcracy claims to be ready for "serious" talks on its nuclear weapons development, but the regime itself is not serious enough to stop the program (Cybercast News, Washington Times). The United States is looking to impose sanctions (Ha'aretz), a move that gets two cheers from Anne Leslie (Daily Mail, UK). Philip V. Brennan (Newsmax) rightly prefers helping the Iranian people take their country back. The urgency of all of this is emphasized by Claude Salhani and Ghazal Omid (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), both of whom note that the mullahcracy is on the rise geopolitically.

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Harlan Ullman (Washington Times) practically asks for the dubious honor with this line: "Ways to contain and deter Iran and North Korea have been presented in this column using direct negotiations to determine whether intransigence can be replaced with some measure of cooperation." Has Mr. Ullman simply ignored the last dozen years?

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Stalinist North Korea tries to play the "pre-emptive strike" card against the U.S. again (Korea Liberator, Washington Times). Thailand arrests 175 Korean refugees, but if its statements are any indication, it has no intention of sending them back to SNK (BBC, Daily NK, UPI via Washington Times). The dovish South finally gets around to telling the Stalinists not to conduct a nuclear test (BBC). Daily NK has the latest on a joint Stalinist-Communist development project. The Korea Liberator reveals how the Stalinists execute prisoners.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The Communists' attempt to keep a lid on the findings in the Kilgour-Matas report is starting to wear thin even in the circles of the pro-"engagement" Australian government (Epoch Times). The cadres are not happy with Mongolia hosting the Dalai Lama (BBC). Meanwhile, Beijing signs a trade deal with Chile (BBC), hosts Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez (BBC), and joins up with Russia to send a probe to Mars(MSNBC).

Human Rights Watch demands an end to the Communist crackdown on lawyers: The group cited the arrest of Gao Zhisheng and the actions against Chen Guangcheng's attorneys (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, and ninth items).

News of the Day (August 22)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator finds South Korean doves getting blocked by the State Department and made to look like the fools they are by recent events, but the campaign of dovish Foreign Minister for Ban Ki-Moon for UN Secretary General wins another endorsement.

Enlightened Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Tim Johnson (Wichita Eagle) for his piece on the dangers facing Korean refugees in Communist China.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: The Stalinists rip ongoing U.S.-South Korea military drills (BBC).

On Middle Eastern Proxy Number One (Iran): The Communist-backed mullahcracy seized a Romanian oil rig this morning (Bloomberg), and proposed new talks on the nuclear weapons program it refuses to end (Washington Post). To drive the point home, top mullahcrat Ali Khameini publicly announced uranium enrichment would continue (Newsmax), and the regime barred UN inspectors from its Natanz plant (Washington Times). For good measure, it also "vowed to repel any foreign attack" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) on its nuclear facilities. Maddeningly, the U.S. decided to grant former regime mouthpiece Mohammad Khatami a visa to come to Washington (Washington Post via MSNBC). Finally, former U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander James A. Lyons calls on the U.S. to kick Iran out of Iraq (Washington Times).

Israel rules out talks with Syria, for now: The Israeli government ruled out any talks with Communist Middle Eastern Proxy Number Two "as long as it supports terrorist groups" (Cybercast News).

This brings us to Middle Eastern Proxy Number Three (Hezbollah), which may soon find the new UN "peacekeeping" force in Lebanon as useful as the old one (Cybercast News); the UN resolution creating that "force" is panned in the Worldwide Standard. Meanwhile, Fred Gedrich and Paul E. Vallel remind Washington Times readers of Hezbollah's true nature; Mindelle Jacobs does the same for the Edmonton Sun readership. Lastly, Babak Dehghanpisheh and Christopher Dickey (Newsweek) profile Hezbollah boss Hassan Nasrallah.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Numerous organizations (including this one) call on Singapore to stop kowtowing to the Communists on Falun Gong (Epoch Times). The cadres rip the United Nations for fingering Communist China as the source of bird flu outbreaks (Agence France Press via Taipei Times).

From Gao Zhisheng: The human rights attorney had conducted one last interview before he was seized by Communist police (Epoch Times).

News of the Day (August 21)

From the China Support Network: The founder of the parent org comments on Gao Zhisheng's arrest; Between Heaven and Earth puts the seizure in the context of the larger crackdown against attorneys in Communist China. For more on the arrest of the human rights lawyer (fifteenth item), the Epoch Times is all over the case.

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: BHaE also has the latest from the Canadian theatre of the Falun Gong War (see Epoch Times for more). The Korea Liberator, meanwhile, is busy as ever with analyses on a Stalinist "human rights organization", SNK counterfeiting (see also Daily NK), Asia Times views on the Stalinist military, and the latest SNK news.

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Remember when South Korea threw cold water on reports of a possible Stalinist nuclear test (second item)? They've stopped the waterfall (Yonhap via Yahoo). Daveed Gartenstein-Ross (Counterintelligence Blog) thinks the two nuclear satellites (SNK and Iran) may be coordinating their programs. South Korea also began military drills with the United States (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) and arrested an alleged Stalinist spy (BBC). The floods in northern Korea leads to the dovish South pledging 100,00 tons of food aid (BBC), and has Time Asia thinking they could become a convenient excuse for Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il (Daily NK is worried about this, too). Daily NK sees SNK expecting an American pullout from the peninsula. KJI's top talks envoy dies (Washington Times).

On Middle Eastern proxy one (Iran): Speculation runs rampant as to how the Communist-backed mullahcracy will respond tomorrow to calls to end its nuclear weapons program (Cybercast News, Newsmax, Sunday Times - UK, UPI via Washington Times). Meanwhile, the regime conducts "defensive" (Newsmax) military exercises, and further cracks down on its own people (Sunday Times). John R. Thompson (National Review Online) and Robert Novak (Cybercast News) have conflicting views on how to handle Tehran (Thompson is much better). Peter Brookes (Cybercast News) ponders the mullahcracy's next move. Rich Galen (Cybercast News) laments Kofi Anna's plans to visit Tehran.

On Middle Eastern proxy two (Syria): Claude Salhani (UPI via Washington Times) calls for talks with Syria and takes the Ignorant Comment of the Day award. However, the worse news comes from the Israeli government, which is seriously considering talks with the Assad regime (Washington Times).

On Middle Eastern proxy three (Hezbollah): The terrorist group is rearming (World Net Daily) and once again threatens to destroy Israel (Ynet). The role of the United Nations is, as expected, harmful (National Review Online, Toronto Sun, Washington Times). Canadian MPs (none of whom from the governing Conservative Party) join in the terrorist propaganda campaign (Small Dead Animals, Steve Janke). Lee Smith, from the Hudson Institute, examines the reactions of the U.S. and Israel (Daily Standard).

Canadian rabbi joins Olympic boycott call: Rabbi Reuven Bulka, a member of the Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation, tells an organ donation panel that if Communist China continues the organ harvesting exposed in the Kilgour-Matas report, the democratic world should stay away from the 2008 Games (Ottowa Citizen). Meanwhile, the dark side of the regime's preparation for the Olympics is revealed in The Concrete Revolution (reviewed in the Epoch Times).

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation examines the ties between the U.S. and Communist Chinese ally Pakistan with surprisingly clear eyes (National Review Online). Time Asia examines the prospect of Shinzo Abe becoming Japan's Prime Minister, as fellow hawk Taro Aso throws his hat in the ring (BBC). Communist China continues to decide it's better to feed anyone other than the Chinese people (Epoch Times). Jerome Corsi examines Communist China's economic damage to North America (Human Events). Xin Fei (Epoch Times) examines the effects of Yuan Sheng's defection.

Cadres worried about population shrinkage (but nothing else in "one child"): Communist China may finally be starting to have second thoughts about its hideous "one child" policy (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, and sixteenth items). Was it the forced abortions, infanticides, and forced sterilizations? Of course not - Chen Guangcheng is still in jail, after all (National Review Online - sixth item, Time Asia, Voice of America via Epoch Times). The problem , from the cadres' perspective, is this: "after 2030 . . . China's labor force will shrink, putting China at a competitive disadvantage with India" (Taiwan Central News Agency via Epoch Times).

Leading Hong Kong Democrat attacked: Albert Ho, a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council and Vice-Chair of the city's Democratic Party, "was attacked by three or four men using baseball bats and batons as he ate at a fast-food restaurant" (BBC). While the attackers are still at large (and thus their actual motive unknown), at least some speculation centered around Ho's decision to support an investigation into Communist organ harvesting (Epoch Times).

More on human rights in Communist China: Simon Elegant (Time Asia) examines the battle between the Chinese Communist Party and millions of non-Communist Christians. The editors of the Washington Post lament the continued imprisonment of Ching Cheong. Xin Fei, Epoch Times, reviews the growing movement to leave the Chinese Communist Party.

More news from inside Communist China: Confucious has a new friend in Britain - the CCP (Independent, UK). The regime's central bank raises interest rates "to cool its booming economy" (BBC); said "booming economy" did little for the Communists' flagship airline, Air China, which had a spectacularly weak initial public offering (BBC).

News of the Day (August 18)

Communist envoy tells U.S. to "shut up" on CCP military, which infiltrated U.S. military network: Sha Zukang, Communist China's Ambassador to the United Nations, demanded the United States "shut up" about the Communist military buildup: "It is much better for you to shut up, keep quiet" (Daily Telegraph, UK). Perhaps he was concerned about someone like Major General William Lord (USAF), who admitted to civilian Air Force workers that Communist China had penetrated NIPRNet, one of the major communications networks for the American armed forces (Intelligence Summit).

Is Stalinist North Korea planning a nuclear test? Sources are telling ABC News it is "a real possibility" (see also The Korea Liberator, CNN, and Newsmax). The dovish government of South Korea, however, "has seen no evidence" (Newsmax) of an upcoming test.

Speaking of nuclear ambition, Henry Sokolski (National Review Online) reveals the danger of the Administration's carrots-and-more-carrots approach to the Communist-backed mullahcracy in Iran.

Iran replenishes Hezbollah's depleted arsenal - Communist-made c-802s included: An unnamed American arms control official told Fox News that the Iranian regime "is using Syrian channels in its effort to give Hezbollah weapons it has used in the past, including Chinese-built C-802 radar-guided anti-ship missiles." Some of Iran's earlier weapons shipments to the terrorist group were blocked by the United States, Turkey, and Iraq (USA Today).

More on the Middle Eastern proxies: Anti-Syrian Lebanese leader Walid Jumblatt is accusing the Assad regime of planning to replace Lebanon's already fragile government with a Hezbollah tyranny (Cybercast News). Saad Hariri, son of murdered Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, also had harsh words for Syria (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Meanwhile, the New York Sun revealed that Hezbollah fighters in some areas disguised themselves as Israeli soldiers during the fighting.

Here in the U.S., some go wobbly: Former U.S. envoy Dennis Ross calls for talks with Syria (Washington Post); a group of retired American generals want talks with Iran (Cybercast News); and the ever maddening William S. Lind calls for talks with both of them (UPI via Washington Times).

Others stay firm: Christopher G. Adamo (Cybercast News) pens a healthy reminder of how pusillanimity in dealing with Iran and Syria gets one nowhere; Charles Krauthammer (Washington Post) calls on the U.S. to ensure Lebanon does not sink further into Hezbollah's grip; and Victor Davis Hanson not only puts forth the need to remain tough on the Middle Eastern tyrannies, but presents some largely ignored reasons for optimism (National Review Online).

More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: TKL also pans a proposed reconstruction plan for SNK, and has the latest Stalinist news. Meanwhile, Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on the effect of David Kilgour's visit to Australia (fourth item), including reports that the Australian government requested that the Communists allow an impartial investigation (see also Lateline), and the cadres' attempt to intimidate members of the Australian Parliament (which, thankfully, was not entirely successful - Epoch Times).

More on the Communists' Korean colony: Security analyst Richard M Bennett sketches out the Stalinists' military arsenal (Asia Times Online). SNK sends an "inspection task force" (Daily NK) to its border with Communist China. Japan is trying to figure out how far up the Stalinist ladder a fake cigarette scheme went (Daily NK). Kwak Dae Jung, Daily NK, calls on South Korea to end its dovish policies toward the Stalinist North; the doves do not appear to be listening (Daily NK). The infant mortality rate in SNK passes 2% of all births (Daily NK). The Stalinists are now willing to take food aid from the World Food Program again (BBC).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: The prize nearly went to Princeton University Professor G. John Ikenberry for seeing the rising tension in East Asia, blaming Japan for it, and calling for - get this - an European Union style arrangement in East Asia (Washington Post), but University of Alberta Professor Wenran Jiang, wrote more words with less value on this subject in China Brief, so the dubious honor is his.

More on Communist China and Japan: The editors of the Epoch Times set Ikenberry and his ilk straight on how the Communists use Japan as a whipping boy to distract from their own failures in the Enlightened Comment of the Day.

More on Communist China and the rest of the world: University of New South Wales Senior Lecturer You Ji examines the Communist navy's plans for the conquest of Taiwan (China Brief). The cadres worm their way into the Philippines (China Brief).

Mayor of Vancouver continues push to clear his streets of Falun Gong: Vancovuer Mayor Sam Sullivan "is sticking to his guns on a decision to dismantle Falun Gong's protest display outside the Chinese Consulate on south Granville" (CANOE). Sullivan is relying on a by-law that hadn't been enforced on the display in nearly five years; many suspect it has something to do with ensuring "smooth trade" (Globe and Mail) between Vancouver and Communist China. Also reporting: CBC

Singapore to deport practitioner: The Singapore regime came up with an alternative to jailing Chen Pei Yu for the crime of - I kid you not - "harassment by displaying insulting writings" (Today Online); it will send her back to Communist China instead.

Gao Zhisheng seized by Communist police in Shandong: The human rights attorney (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, fifth, second, lead, next to last, seventh, last, next to last, lead, second, last, sixth, tenth, eighth, second, eighth, ninth, lead, sixth, eighth, seventh, fifth, fourth, last, fifth, seventh, next to last, fourth, last, twenty-first, twenty-second, seventh, fourth, sixth, fourth, sixth, eleventh, eleventh, fourth, last, sixth, eighth, tenth, thirteenth, eleventh, eighth, tenth, last, next-to-last, next-to-last, twelfth, seventh, tenth, and sixth items) was visiting his sick brother-in-law near Dongying City, Shangdong when he was taken away (Epoch Times). Before he was seized, he wrote two more letters detailing the Communists' persecution of him (Epoch Times).

Chen Guangcheng's lawyers arrested by Communist police to keep them out of courtroom: The blind anti-one-child activist (tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, and ninth items) was tried for "public order offences" (BBC), but his lawyers were not there with him. They were themselves detained by police, so that the cadres could saddle Chen with two regime-appointed attorneys.

Drought victims in the millions: The cadres themselves are admitting that nearly 18 million people "have been affected by China's worst drought in 50 years" (BBC). Naturally, the cadres won't mention that as far back as last winter, they were facing a water shortage of over 1.5 trillion gallons.

Deaths going unreported: Communist Chinese hospital "failed to report one third of deaths to the national health surveillance network" (Boxun).

On the future of the Chinese Communist Party: Sushil Seth (Taipei Times) doesn't see much of one.