Eyewitness talks about the Tibet shooting: The climber who saw Communist guards shoot and kill seven refugees talks to the BBC.
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 has links on Communist China's abuse of athletes, doping issues, and extravagance, plus commentary on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear test and Don Feder's one-on-one with a Communist mouthpiece (see also Front Page Magazine). One Free Korea has far more on the SNK nuclear issue (as one would expect), including reports about a proposed arms embargo, SNK threats (see also BBC, Fox News, Newsmax, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, Voice of America via Epoch Times, and World Net Daily), the reaction in Asia, Democrats trying to make political hay (see also Newsmax, Wall Street Journal, World Net Daily, and The Worldwide Standard), the latest from the United Nations (see also BBC, Time, UPI via Washington Times, and Washington Times), and the reaction from South Korea's desperate doves (see also Daily NK, Newsweek, Washington Times, and Yonhap via Daily NK - note: "DJ" is a reference to Kim Dae-jung, not yours truly).
Was the nuclear test really for Iran? That's what one source told Michael Yon (National Review Online), and if so, it may have failed (BBC, UPI, and Washington Times). The ties between the Communists' Korean colony and Middle-Eastern Proxy Number One also caught the attention of Small Dead Animals, the Washington Times, David Frum (NRO), and Charles R. Smith (Newsmax).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: He could be our youngest winner; Benjamin Shapiro takes the prize (World Net Daily).
More on the Stalinists' nuclear test: The head of the North Korea Democracy Forum calls for the liberation of northern Korea (Daily NK). John Derbyshire (NRO) prefers a liquidation. Jimmy Carter, watching his 1994 deal bow up in his ace, calls for another one (National Review Online). Japan announces sanctions against SNK (BBC and Steve Janke), but the land of the rising sun does not want nukes (Washington Times) - a disappointment to this quarter and Mark Levin (NRO). President Bush goes over the history of failed diplomacy with SNK (Cybercast News) before calling for even more of it (BBC, Fox News, and MSNBC). Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld notes the proliferation danger (Newsmax and VOA via Epoch Times). Britain's Foreign Minister rips the test (BBC). The pundits were at their usual sound and fury (BBC, BBC again, Boston Globe, Newsweek, Steve Janke, Time twice, Washington Post, and World Net Daily), although the decent exceptions were more numerous (Daily NK, Toronto Sun, Washington Times). Steve Janke takes note of Canada's funding of SNK and ponders its future.
More on Stalinist North Korea: The BBC has two stories about the suffering of the people of northern Korea.
More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: The Iranian mullahcracy is going full-speed ahead on its nuclear program (Cybercast News and Newsmax). Meanwhile, Israel has had enough of Syria's "peace" overtures (Cybercast News).
On Pakistan and the War on Terror: The Communist Chinese ally's support for the Taliban catches the attention of Small Dead Animals.
More on the Communist Olympiad: The Communists aren't living up to their promises to the Int'l Olympic Committee (Epoch Times) - all the more reason the free world should stay away.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: The cadres dig deeper into Argentina (Epoch Times), ban Jay-Z (BBC), and take 60 jobs out of the UK (BBC). A Communist envoy heads for the United States (Fox News). The U.S. picks a terrible time to talk defense cost with Japan and South Korea (UPI via Washington Times).
Communists arrest more appellants and fire two netizens: The petitioners arrested this time include a group of farmers from Hubei and the husband of a woman raped by a cadre (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, two NetEase officials are fired - over a survey (Epoch Times).
More on matters inside Communist China: VOA (via Epoch Times) talks to average citizens of Communist China on the firing of Shanghai boss Chen Liangyu; a pension fund in Shenzhen is missing over $200 million (Sound of Hope via Epoch Times). Tong Chuan (Epoch Times) discusses the Communist control of the domestic telecommunications industry.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
News of the Day (October 10)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator notes some doubt as to whether Stalinist North Korea's blast was actually nuclear (see also Bill Gertz, Washington Times).
The viceroy suddenly becomes vague: Communist China went back to the boilerplate on the nuclear ambitions of its Korean colony, calling for "appropriate action" (BBC) without giving any indication of what that meant - except that any military action was "unimaginable." The Communist press slammed economic sanctions as "not the best way to resolve the problem" (BBC). Meanwhile, the regime's previous statements (second item) accomplished its objective in distracting the punditry and the powerful (BBC, China Confidential via Epoch Times, Cybercast News), but the editors of the Washington Post remain unconvinced.
At last, calls for liberation: The Enlightened Comments of the Day come from Frank Gaffney (Washington Times) and Newt Gingrich (National Review Online). Father Jonathan Morris came close with this Fox News reminder about the plight of the northern Korean people.
More on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear test: SNK threatens to fire nukes at the U.S. unless it agrees to talks; the Bush Administration rebuked the threat (Fox News), in part because the Stalinists would have a hard time following through (BBC). Japan and the United States call for sanctions against SNK (BBC, Newsmax, and Washington Times). So far, the Security Council has offered some harsh words, but nothing more (Voice of America via Epoch Times, and Yonhap via Daily NK). Domestically, the test became ensnared in the midterm election campaign (Cybercast News, Fox News, MSNBC, National Review Online, Newsmax, and Time). The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee weighed in (Newsmax). Financial effects were localized to South Korea (BBC), but it might spread (BBC). The punditry was once again all over the place (Cybercast News, National Review Online, Newsweek, Time, Washington Post, Washington Post via MSNBC, World Net Daily, Worldwide Standard), while the powerful were going wobbly (China Confidential via Epoch Times and Epoch Times). Meanwhile, the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran watches and waits (Cybercast News, Newsmax, and Worldwide Standard).
More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: The State Department's "engagement" disease hits the Iran desk (Telegraph, UK). Carleton University Professor Waller R. Newell examines the theology of mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Weekly Standard). American and European negotiators have "a heightened sense of frustration with Iran" (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Yang Jun, the previously unnamed businessman targeted by Communist bribery offers to get the Metal Storm gun (seventh item) tells his story to the Epoch Times. Communist Commerce Minister Bo Xilai visits Australia, but not for the suit filed against him by Falun Gong practitioners (Epoch Times). Reporters Without Borders asks for international help for Yang Maodong (Boxun, see also next to last and sixth items).
Anti-Chen protests return: The calls for the resignation of Taiwan's elected leader appeared unabated by the earlier news that his wife was cleared of wrongdoing charges (fourth item). Report: BBC
The viceroy suddenly becomes vague: Communist China went back to the boilerplate on the nuclear ambitions of its Korean colony, calling for "appropriate action" (BBC) without giving any indication of what that meant - except that any military action was "unimaginable." The Communist press slammed economic sanctions as "not the best way to resolve the problem" (BBC). Meanwhile, the regime's previous statements (second item) accomplished its objective in distracting the punditry and the powerful (BBC, China Confidential via Epoch Times, Cybercast News), but the editors of the Washington Post remain unconvinced.
At last, calls for liberation: The Enlightened Comments of the Day come from Frank Gaffney (Washington Times) and Newt Gingrich (National Review Online). Father Jonathan Morris came close with this Fox News reminder about the plight of the northern Korean people.
More on Stalinist North Korea's nuclear test: SNK threatens to fire nukes at the U.S. unless it agrees to talks; the Bush Administration rebuked the threat (Fox News), in part because the Stalinists would have a hard time following through (BBC). Japan and the United States call for sanctions against SNK (BBC, Newsmax, and Washington Times). So far, the Security Council has offered some harsh words, but nothing more (Voice of America via Epoch Times, and Yonhap via Daily NK). Domestically, the test became ensnared in the midterm election campaign (Cybercast News, Fox News, MSNBC, National Review Online, Newsmax, and Time). The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee weighed in (Newsmax). Financial effects were localized to South Korea (BBC), but it might spread (BBC). The punditry was once again all over the place (Cybercast News, National Review Online, Newsweek, Time, Washington Post, Washington Post via MSNBC, World Net Daily, Worldwide Standard), while the powerful were going wobbly (China Confidential via Epoch Times and Epoch Times). Meanwhile, the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran watches and waits (Cybercast News, Newsmax, and Worldwide Standard).
More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: The State Department's "engagement" disease hits the Iran desk (Telegraph, UK). Carleton University Professor Waller R. Newell examines the theology of mouthpiece Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Weekly Standard). American and European negotiators have "a heightened sense of frustration with Iran" (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Yang Jun, the previously unnamed businessman targeted by Communist bribery offers to get the Metal Storm gun (seventh item) tells his story to the Epoch Times. Communist Commerce Minister Bo Xilai visits Australia, but not for the suit filed against him by Falun Gong practitioners (Epoch Times). Reporters Without Borders asks for international help for Yang Maodong (Boxun, see also next to last and sixth items).
Anti-Chen protests return: The calls for the resignation of Taiwan's elected leader appeared unabated by the earlier news that his wife was cleared of wrongdoing charges (fourth item). Report: BBC
Monday, October 09, 2006
Communist China has killed non-proliferation. Here's how we should respond (the McGuire Doctrine).
If the Stalinist regime is to be believed, it has become a nuclear power, and so far, the American response has been troublingly weak (second item). The pundits have been loud, but not particularly helpful, largely because in their hyper-focus on Stalinist North Korea, they have missed the larger point: Communist China has enabled their colony to develop nuclear weapons, and SNK is not alone (remember Iran?). The danger is not uncontrolled nuclear proliferation (the motto here: nukes don't kill people, terrorists kill people). In fact, this nuclear proliferation is hardly "uncontrolled" for it has been aided and abetted by the Chinese Communist Party. Unless this is recognized, any policy coming out of Washington will be too narrowly focused, and likely to fail.
Now, one cannot simply criticize others ideas, particularly on something as important as this. Of course, the best solution is liberation for the people of Iran, Syria, northern Korea, and China. The question is: how can we do that? It is not enough to merely acknowledge that we are in Cold War II; one needs the proper policies to fight it. I thus present the following:
Now, one cannot simply criticize others ideas, particularly on something as important as this. Of course, the best solution is liberation for the people of Iran, Syria, northern Korea, and China. The question is: how can we do that? It is not enough to merely acknowledge that we are in Cold War II; one needs the proper policies to fight it. I thus present the following:
- Counter-proliferate with our democratic allies: In western Asia, I have already discussed the benefits of Georgia as a possible nuclear power in response Iran's nuclear ambitions. In Eastern Asia, the best candidate is Japan. The U.S. should immediately open talks with Tokyo on the deployment of American nuclear missiles there. In the 1980's NATO responded to a Soviet buildup in intermediate nuclear weapons with the deployment of Pershing II nuclear-tipped missiles into Germany. As it was under NATO command, there was no concern of a German nuke program. A similar parallel can be had in Japan. South Korea and Taiwan should receive the same offer, but they may not accept unless and until it's clear Japan is willing to go ahead. This does two things: give a level of protection to our Asian allies and give us bargaining chips of our own with Communist China. I would also note we should proceed with missile defense, but the Administration is ahead of the game on that issue (UPI via Monsters and Critics).
- Any nuclear talks should be with Communist China, not the proxies: All of the troublesome nuclear powers (Pakistan, SNK, and Iran) have one thing in common - they are backed by Communist China. Likewise, all of the terrorist groups whom we would fear if they possessed nuclear weapons are backed by those proxies, be it Hezbollah (Iran and Syria), Hamas (Iran), the Taliban (the Pakistani military), and even al Qaeda (the aforementioned Pakistan, and even Communist China itself). Yet no one has tried to hold the Communists accountable as the leading sponsor of terror in the world. It's time that changed. For starters, that means when it comes to the proxies' nuclear weapons program, go over the proxies' heads and straight to Beijing. Not that I expect the Communists to agree to any arms-control deal (or adhere to one they do sign), but it would make abundantly clear whom we would hold responsible for the proxies' nukes.
- Make clear that we will blame Communist China for any nuclear incident in the free world: If Cuba had use one of its nuclear weapons against the United States in 1962, Washington would have held Moscow responsible. President Kennedy announced that as American policy that fall; the crisis was largely resolved within weeks. Now, a similar statement would not quite have the same effect (unlike the Soviets, the CCP thinks it can win a nuclear war), but Communist China is likely counting on its proxies to hit the U.S. (or somewhere else in the free world) while it stays out of sight. We must make clear this will not happen. Any act of nuclear terrorism will have links back to Communist China. If the Communists understand there will be consequences, they will be less likely to let their proxies play around with the nukes.
- Enhance our security and counterintelligence systems (borders included): Cold War II cannot be won if we refuse to do battle with the espionage networks in this country. Moreover, we need to ensure the terrorists have as difficult a time as possible getting into the free world. That means better security on the borders and in the ports. It also means a more quickly developed missile defense. Finally, it means greater action against the spy networks here. For those worried about civil liberties, I would note that the Communist espionage network is also engaged in widespread intimidation against Chinese exile communities, so their de facto liberties will be enhanced if we do more to stop their silencers.
It should be noted that this set of policies will, at most, only lead to a steady-state in Cold War II. It will not end the war, nor will the danger be removed. That can only happen when we help the Chinese, Korean, Iranian, Syrian, and Pakistani peoples take their countries back from tyrannical oppressors. Otherwise, these policies will reduce and delay the threat of a nuclear terrorist attack, but not eliminate it. Once again, America will never be secure until China is free.
What the above policies will do is give us the time to help the Chinese people take their country back, without resorting to military force against the Communists or their proxies (not that I would oppose liberation by force). This set of policies - the McGuire doctrine, if you're willing to indulge my ego - can help the democratic world win the Second Cold War with a minimum loss of life. We can all quibble over the details, but at its heart, this doctrine is about recognizing Communist China as the enemy it is. Without that central tenet, alternative policies will ensure a longer Cold War II, or even worse, a Communist-terrorist victory.
News of the Weekend (October 9)
Death toll from Communist shooting of Tibetans reaches seven: According to International Campaign for Tibet, the number of Tibetan would-be refugees murdered by Communist border guards is now up to seven (Epoch Times). Meanwhile, James Pitkin (Washington Times) provides a glimpse of what those who stay behind must face.
The Korean colony joins the nuclear club, but liberation remains the unspoken word: Stalinist North Korea followed through on its threat to test a nuclear weapon (BBC, The Korea Liberator, Newsmax, Small Dead Animals, Time, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, World Net Daily, and Yonhap via Daily NK). As one would expect, most of the world was not happy (BBC, BBC again, BBC - last one, Times of London). President Bush called the test "unacceptable" (Newsmax) but still punted to the United Nations Security Council (Fox News). There are, however, many in the Administration who hope the SNK test will finally stiffen Washington's spine (Washington Post). Even the colonial viceroy had harsh words, but said nothing about any concrete consequences (Newsweek, Times of London, United Press Int'l via Washington Times). There have been some reports that Middle Eastern Proxy Number One sent scientific observers (Newsmax and SDA). The punditry's response was voluminous (Daily NK, Daily NK again, Daily NK - last one, The Korea Liberator, National Review Online, Shaun Kenney, Time, Times of London, and World Net Daily), but sadly, liberation for the northern Korean people was never mentioned. One more thing, the Stalinists may do it again soon (The Australian).
SNK troops cross border into South Korea: This mini-incursion was right before the nuclear test (BBC).
More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy: As the Tehran regime thumbed its nose at the rest of the world (BBC), further cracked down on dissenters (BBC and UPI via Washington Times), and watched its Sadrist proxies kill more Americans (Washington Post), the Administration seems prepared to surrender on all fronts (National Review Online). Meanwhile, the Weekly Standard has the latest on this quarter's candidate to be the local anti-mullah nuclear power: Georgia.
On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Syria may have decided this is a good time to attack Israel (World Net Daily), while Hezbollah may come after the United States (again - UPI via Washington Times).
Communist China's espionage-intimidation operation catches MSM's attention: It took a while, but give credit where credit is due - in this case, to Fred Hiatt (Washington Post) for ripping Communist China's harassment of exiled dissident and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Rebiya Kadeer.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Japan's Prime Minister (BBC) and the leader of the Anglican Church (BBC) begin their visits to Communist China. Kent Ewing, from the Hong Kong International School, examines Communist China's neo-colonial policies in Africa (Asia Times, see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, fourteenth, sixth, fourteenth, fourth, seventh, ninth, and next-to-last items); William Underhill, Newsweek, sees something similar in Europe.
More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 has a slew of pieces emphasizing reasons to stay away from the Communist Olympiad: two on religious persecution, two more on human rights in general, one each on the occupations of Tibet and East Turkestan, two on Communist organ-harvesting, two on the cadres' international perfidy, one on Communist land seizures, one on the cruelty behind Communist China's sports programs, and one on the cadres' Olympic car ban.
More on human rights abuses in Communist China: The Communist crackdown against the Pan-Blue Alliance (not to be confused with Taiwan's ridiculous "pan-blue" opposition) continues (Epoch Times). The Epoch Times highlights the plight of abuse victims. Wu Baozhang explains to the China Human Rights Forum why Communist China "promotes violence and dictatorship" (Epoch Times).
Communist Central Committee begins annual meeting: This may the meeting that ends whatever is left of the Jiang Zemin faction (BBC).
The Korean colony joins the nuclear club, but liberation remains the unspoken word: Stalinist North Korea followed through on its threat to test a nuclear weapon (BBC, The Korea Liberator, Newsmax, Small Dead Animals, Time, United Press Int'l via Washington Times, World Net Daily, and Yonhap via Daily NK). As one would expect, most of the world was not happy (BBC, BBC again, BBC - last one, Times of London). President Bush called the test "unacceptable" (Newsmax) but still punted to the United Nations Security Council (Fox News). There are, however, many in the Administration who hope the SNK test will finally stiffen Washington's spine (Washington Post). Even the colonial viceroy had harsh words, but said nothing about any concrete consequences (Newsweek, Times of London, United Press Int'l via Washington Times). There have been some reports that Middle Eastern Proxy Number One sent scientific observers (Newsmax and SDA). The punditry's response was voluminous (Daily NK, Daily NK again, Daily NK - last one, The Korea Liberator, National Review Online, Shaun Kenney, Time, Times of London, and World Net Daily), but sadly, liberation for the northern Korean people was never mentioned. One more thing, the Stalinists may do it again soon (The Australian).
SNK troops cross border into South Korea: This mini-incursion was right before the nuclear test (BBC).
More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy: As the Tehran regime thumbed its nose at the rest of the world (BBC), further cracked down on dissenters (BBC and UPI via Washington Times), and watched its Sadrist proxies kill more Americans (Washington Post), the Administration seems prepared to surrender on all fronts (National Review Online). Meanwhile, the Weekly Standard has the latest on this quarter's candidate to be the local anti-mullah nuclear power: Georgia.
On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Syria may have decided this is a good time to attack Israel (World Net Daily), while Hezbollah may come after the United States (again - UPI via Washington Times).
Communist China's espionage-intimidation operation catches MSM's attention: It took a while, but give credit where credit is due - in this case, to Fred Hiatt (Washington Post) for ripping Communist China's harassment of exiled dissident and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Rebiya Kadeer.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Japan's Prime Minister (BBC) and the leader of the Anglican Church (BBC) begin their visits to Communist China. Kent Ewing, from the Hong Kong International School, examines Communist China's neo-colonial policies in Africa (Asia Times, see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, fourteenth, sixth, fourteenth, fourth, seventh, ninth, and next-to-last items); William Underhill, Newsweek, sees something similar in Europe.
More from the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Boycott 2008 has a slew of pieces emphasizing reasons to stay away from the Communist Olympiad: two on religious persecution, two more on human rights in general, one each on the occupations of Tibet and East Turkestan, two on Communist organ-harvesting, two on the cadres' international perfidy, one on Communist land seizures, one on the cruelty behind Communist China's sports programs, and one on the cadres' Olympic car ban.
More on human rights abuses in Communist China: The Communist crackdown against the Pan-Blue Alliance (not to be confused with Taiwan's ridiculous "pan-blue" opposition) continues (Epoch Times). The Epoch Times highlights the plight of abuse victims. Wu Baozhang explains to the China Human Rights Forum why Communist China "promotes violence and dictatorship" (Epoch Times).
Communist Central Committee begins annual meeting: This may the meeting that ends whatever is left of the Jiang Zemin faction (BBC).
Friday, October 06, 2006
News of the Day (October 6)
NATO Commanders in Afghanistan detail Pakistan's support for the Taliban: The military commanders reveal that the level of support for Osama bin Laden's former hosts in Pakistan ranges "from ISI-run training camps near Quetta to huge ammunition dumps, arrival points for Taliban's new weapons and meeting places of the shura, or leadership council, in Quetta" (Daily Telegraph, UK, emphasis added). ISI is a reference to the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence; Quetta is city in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, and it is also the source for "Hundreds of Taliban reinforcements in pick-up trucks . . . waved on by Pakistani border guards" (emphasis added). The information on the support from Pakistan - Communist China's fifty-plus-year ally - comes from Taliban members themselves, "many of them Pakistanis" captured in a recent two-week battle. The NATO commanders who presented the evidence are from the U.S., Great Britain, Denmark, Canada, and the Netherlands; these are the nations "whose troops have just fought the bloodiest battle with the Taliban in five years." One NATO chief put it thusly: "It is time for an 'either you are with us or against us' delivered bluntly to (Pakistani strongman) Musharraf at the highest political level." The Musharraf regime signed a peace deal with the Taliban last month.
A new member for the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Welcome to the CBFA, Boycott 2008 Communist Olympics.
Will Stalinist North Korea conduct a nuclear test this weekend? Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister certainly thinks its possible (Daily Telegraph and The Korea Liberator). Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld highlighted one of the critical dangers of SNK's nuclear program - namely the regime's history of arms deals with terrorists (Yonhap via Daily NK). Other reaction to the possibility was maddeningly boilerplate (South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, interviewed by Time, Peter Brookes in the New York Post, and even Australian Prime Minister John Howard, as cited by United Press Int'l via Washington Times).
Other news on the Korean colony: Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il met with his military commanders (Fox News). Daily NK examines the recent military talks between SNK and South Korea. Anne Morse, of the Wilberforce Forum, reviews Yoduk Story in National Review Online.
Iraq the Model calls for the liberation of Middle Eastern Proxies One and Two: Mohammed, as he is known, echoed what this corner has long said, "The insurgents, terrorists and militias operating in Iraq depend on foreign support for money, training, technology and in some cases men. Moreover the influence of foreign interference is clear even in the political arena in Iraq through the numerous political crises the country had faced. Thus, this war will not see an end unless America revives the preemptive war strategy and start chasing the enemies and striking their bases in the region, especially in Syria and Iran" (emphasis added).
More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: Exiled Iranian dissident Amir Abbas Fakhravar calls for the U.S. to help bring the Communist-backed mullahcracy to an end (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Claude Salhani (UPI via Washington Times) takes the dubious honor with a column calling for talks with the Syrian regime.
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Joshua Kurlantzick has a very informative piece in The New Republic on Communist China's machinations in Africa - and the damage done to Africa in the process (see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, fourteenth, sixth, fourteenth, fourth, seventh, and ninth items).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Doug Bandow, of Citizen Outreach, examines the state of the internet in Communist China - and how American companies are making it easier for the Communists to crack down on web surfers - in The American Spectator. The cadres threaten to retaliate against the European Union over shoes (BBC). The U.S. India Political Action Committee will push the Senate hard to pass the U.S.-India nuclear deal next month (Washington Times).
A new member for the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Welcome to the CBFA, Boycott 2008 Communist Olympics.
Will Stalinist North Korea conduct a nuclear test this weekend? Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister certainly thinks its possible (Daily Telegraph and The Korea Liberator). Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld highlighted one of the critical dangers of SNK's nuclear program - namely the regime's history of arms deals with terrorists (Yonhap via Daily NK). Other reaction to the possibility was maddeningly boilerplate (South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, interviewed by Time, Peter Brookes in the New York Post, and even Australian Prime Minister John Howard, as cited by United Press Int'l via Washington Times).
Other news on the Korean colony: Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il met with his military commanders (Fox News). Daily NK examines the recent military talks between SNK and South Korea. Anne Morse, of the Wilberforce Forum, reviews Yoduk Story in National Review Online.
Iraq the Model calls for the liberation of Middle Eastern Proxies One and Two: Mohammed, as he is known, echoed what this corner has long said, "The insurgents, terrorists and militias operating in Iraq depend on foreign support for money, training, technology and in some cases men. Moreover the influence of foreign interference is clear even in the political arena in Iraq through the numerous political crises the country had faced. Thus, this war will not see an end unless America revives the preemptive war strategy and start chasing the enemies and striking their bases in the region, especially in Syria and Iran" (emphasis added).
More on the Middle Eastern Proxies: Exiled Iranian dissident Amir Abbas Fakhravar calls for the U.S. to help bring the Communist-backed mullahcracy to an end (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Claude Salhani (UPI via Washington Times) takes the dubious honor with a column calling for talks with the Syrian regime.
Enlightened Comment of the Day: Joshua Kurlantzick has a very informative piece in The New Republic on Communist China's machinations in Africa - and the damage done to Africa in the process (see also ninth, fourth, last, fifteenth, sixth, lead, ninth, eighth, fifteenth, seventh, twelfth, last, fourth, fourteenth, sixth, fourteenth, fourth, seventh, and ninth items).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Doug Bandow, of Citizen Outreach, examines the state of the internet in Communist China - and how American companies are making it easier for the Communists to crack down on web surfers - in The American Spectator. The cadres threaten to retaliate against the European Union over shoes (BBC). The U.S. India Political Action Committee will push the Senate hard to pass the U.S.-India nuclear deal next month (Washington Times).
Thursday, October 05, 2006
News of the Day (October 5)
Communist guards kill Tibetans trying to escape: The Tibet Refugee Reception Centre in Nepal reported that Communist Chinese border guards shot and killed at least two Tibetans who were trying to escape (BBC). The refugee organization said seven other would-be escapees were wounded; the web site MountEverest.net has an eyewitness account of the shooting.
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth comments on the Human Rights Watch letter (ninth item). Meanwhile, The Korea Liberator makes the Washington Post for its views on the possible Stalinist North Korea nuclear test (i.e., "Go ahead, make my day").
"It can have a future or it can have these weapons . . . It cannot have both." That was the reaction of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill to the SNK's announcement of a future nuclear test (Voice of America via Epoch Times). Does it mean the Administration is finally considering liberation for northern Korea? Hill himself never used the l-word, but no Administration official had used language like this either - until now. This comes as surveillance satellites find "unusual activity at a suspected North Korean nuclear test site, suggesting that Pyongyang is preparing to carry out its threat" (Times of London). As one would expect, the United Nations remains deafeningly silent (United Press Int'l via Washington Times).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: I really like Daily NK, but Chief Editor Sohn Kwang Joo lapped the field for today's dubious honor with this whopper: "In the end, the only solution is to peacefully guide the Kim Jong Il regime to reform."
More reaction to the nuclear plans of the Communists' Korean colony: James S. Robbins (National Review Online) takes the TKL line. The editors of the Washington Post come close to scoring Enlightened Comment of the Day honors for demanding "action by the governments that now shirk their responsibility to stand up to (SNK) - South Korea and China." Tony Karon (Time Asia) offers some boilerplate "conventional wisdom;" Penny Spiller (BBC) examines how the outside world could determine if the Stalinists conducted a test.
Human Rights Watch pans Kaesung industrial zone: South Korean firms are sacrificing labor rights by doing business the Stalinists' way in the zone (Daily NK).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: The prize goes to Amir Taheri (New York Post) for laying out the case that the "division" among the Communist-backed mullahcrats in Iran is not over whether to become a nuclear power and eliminate America's allies in the Middle East, but over how best to do it.
More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy (a.k.a. Middle Eastern Proxy Number One): The mullahs' proposal to let France enrich its uranium is not even convincing to the French (UPI via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres ripped the free world for its weak reaction to the mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions (Cybercast News).
Taiwan's opposition puts words in Shinzo Abe's mouth - and Abe is not happy about it: Buried in a China Brief account of Taipei Mayor and leading Kuomintang politician Ma Ying-jeou to Tokyo was a shocking report that "Ma's camp" had claimed Ma met with current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The truly disturbing part was the claim the Abe met with Ma "to 'personally express his firm stance against Taiwan independence' . . . and bemoaned the influence of politicians such as Lee Teng-hui who had led the Japanese to believe that the Taiwanese people seek independence." Abe himself "was annoyed with the fabrications that originated from Ma’s camp," and Japanese PM's staff made it abundantly clear he said no such thing; in fact, Abe never even met Ma.
More on the island democracy: Sadly, the China Brief's other three pieces on Taiwan are making me think its sponsor (the Jamestown Foundation) could come off the Friendly Sites list. Meanwhile, David Frum (National Review Online) finds that Bob Woodward's new book (State of Denial) has some passages that give the "engagement" crowd their pound of flesh against President Bush for his 2001 pledge to defend Taiwan.
On the 2008 Olympic Games: Louise Evans (The Australian) examines the Communists' attitude toward the foreign press, and concludes that if said attitude continues through the Olympics, "The international shame and loss of face would be enormous." Meanwhile, Charlotte Cuthbertson (Epoch Times) examines the possibility of a boycott of the 2008 Games by her home country (New Zealand). Has she seen this?
Getting around "one child"? Couples are stocking up on fertility drugs to take advantage of a loophole in the hideous "one child" policy (see tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, ninth, twelfth, and second items) - "Parents who have twins and triplets . . . are exempt from the rule" (VOA via Epoch Times).
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth comments on the Human Rights Watch letter (ninth item). Meanwhile, The Korea Liberator makes the Washington Post for its views on the possible Stalinist North Korea nuclear test (i.e., "Go ahead, make my day").
"It can have a future or it can have these weapons . . . It cannot have both." That was the reaction of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill to the SNK's announcement of a future nuclear test (Voice of America via Epoch Times). Does it mean the Administration is finally considering liberation for northern Korea? Hill himself never used the l-word, but no Administration official had used language like this either - until now. This comes as surveillance satellites find "unusual activity at a suspected North Korean nuclear test site, suggesting that Pyongyang is preparing to carry out its threat" (Times of London). As one would expect, the United Nations remains deafeningly silent (United Press Int'l via Washington Times).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: I really like Daily NK, but Chief Editor Sohn Kwang Joo lapped the field for today's dubious honor with this whopper: "In the end, the only solution is to peacefully guide the Kim Jong Il regime to reform."
More reaction to the nuclear plans of the Communists' Korean colony: James S. Robbins (National Review Online) takes the TKL line. The editors of the Washington Post come close to scoring Enlightened Comment of the Day honors for demanding "action by the governments that now shirk their responsibility to stand up to (SNK) - South Korea and China." Tony Karon (Time Asia) offers some boilerplate "conventional wisdom;" Penny Spiller (BBC) examines how the outside world could determine if the Stalinists conducted a test.
Human Rights Watch pans Kaesung industrial zone: South Korean firms are sacrificing labor rights by doing business the Stalinists' way in the zone (Daily NK).
Enlightened Comment of the Day: The prize goes to Amir Taheri (New York Post) for laying out the case that the "division" among the Communist-backed mullahcrats in Iran is not over whether to become a nuclear power and eliminate America's allies in the Middle East, but over how best to do it.
More on the Communist-backed mullahcracy (a.k.a. Middle Eastern Proxy Number One): The mullahs' proposal to let France enrich its uranium is not even convincing to the French (UPI via Washington Times). Meanwhile, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres ripped the free world for its weak reaction to the mullahcracy's nuclear ambitions (Cybercast News).
Taiwan's opposition puts words in Shinzo Abe's mouth - and Abe is not happy about it: Buried in a China Brief account of Taipei Mayor and leading Kuomintang politician Ma Ying-jeou to Tokyo was a shocking report that "Ma's camp" had claimed Ma met with current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The truly disturbing part was the claim the Abe met with Ma "to 'personally express his firm stance against Taiwan independence' . . . and bemoaned the influence of politicians such as Lee Teng-hui who had led the Japanese to believe that the Taiwanese people seek independence." Abe himself "was annoyed with the fabrications that originated from Ma’s camp," and Japanese PM's staff made it abundantly clear he said no such thing; in fact, Abe never even met Ma.
More on the island democracy: Sadly, the China Brief's other three pieces on Taiwan are making me think its sponsor (the Jamestown Foundation) could come off the Friendly Sites list. Meanwhile, David Frum (National Review Online) finds that Bob Woodward's new book (State of Denial) has some passages that give the "engagement" crowd their pound of flesh against President Bush for his 2001 pledge to defend Taiwan.
On the 2008 Olympic Games: Louise Evans (The Australian) examines the Communists' attitude toward the foreign press, and concludes that if said attitude continues through the Olympics, "The international shame and loss of face would be enormous." Meanwhile, Charlotte Cuthbertson (Epoch Times) examines the possibility of a boycott of the 2008 Games by her home country (New Zealand). Has she seen this?
Getting around "one child"? Couples are stocking up on fertility drugs to take advantage of a loophole in the hideous "one child" policy (see tenth, second, ninth, ninth, thirteenth, lead, tenth, fifth, tenth, sixth, ninth, eighth, ninth, eighth, ninth, sixteenth, ninth, twelfth, and second items) - "Parents who have twins and triplets . . . are exempt from the rule" (VOA via Epoch Times).
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Would a nuclear-armed Georgia change the equation on Iran?
As the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran moves closer to becoming a nuclear-armed state (it could be at most four years away - seventh item), Washington is wringing its hands about what to do. Depending on whom one reads, the United States is either preparing a military strike or paving the way for surrender - ahem, negotiation. Sadly, no one is talking about the one real solution: liberation. The focus is almost entirely on non-proliferation; a more effective method of promoting counter-proliferation has not been discussed, largely because the punditry is thinking about other Middle Eastern nations - none of which are exemplary characters worthy of nuclear weapons. However, just north of Iran is a pro-American democracy that could not only give Iran pause, but also give Russia second thoughts about helping the mullahs become a nuclear power: Georgia.
The longer it takes for the free world to recognize liberation as the only true answer for Iran, the more likely there won't be enough time to do it peacefully (e.g., Poland 1989) before the mullahs have the nuclear weapons they want. This would give them the deterrence they need to step up their efforts to become the lead power in the Middle East, and the ultimate weapon of last resort against the Iranian people (any repeat of mass concentrated protests of 1999 could be dealt with the swiftness and terror of a mushroom cloud).
Iran's biggest nuclear facilitators - by far - are Russia and Communist China. Given Communist China's history with anti-American terrorists, only a robust anti-Communist policy in Washington will squeeze Beijing enough to make it consider dropping Iran (as the Soviets did with Eastern Europe after the U.S. squeezed them in the 1980s). Russia is a somewhat different story. While its military-industrial complex is dependent on Communist Chinese arms purchases, its Far Eastern provinces are in danger of being subsumed by the Communists. Vis a vis Iran, Moscow is looking at purely economic and geopolitical self-interest with no concern for America and its allies one way or the other.
Could something be done to convince Russia to drop Iran as a nuclear customer? Perhaps, and if so, it could extend the timetable long enough for the free world to get serious about Iran's peaceful liberation. The question is - how? No American leader has been closer to a Russian chief than George W. Bush has been to Vladimir Putin, but the flow of nuclear parts has gone on unabated. Russia needs some added incentive to get out of the Iranian nuclear business. The threat of counter-proliferation could have an effect, and this is where Georgia comes in.
Georgia has been independent since 1991, but it didn't really break free of Russia's influence until the "Rose Revolution" of 2003, led by Mikhail Saakashvilli. Russia has been trying to curtail Georgian independence ever since, while the U.S. has grown very close to Georgia. Meanwhile, Georgia's capital of Tblisi is closer to Tehran than Riyadh, Ankara, or Amman.
In short, if the democracy of Georgia were to become a nuclear power, it could scare both the Iranian mullahs and their Russian benefactors.
The counter-proliferation plan would be in two parts. The first would be a public agreement with Georgia to build nuclear energy reactors (something similar to the U.S.-India nuclear deal). Such an agreement all by itself would raise eyebrows in Moscow and Tehran. They would, of course, demand assurance that this would not lead to a nuclear-armed Georgia, to which we would simply respond: You can rest assured that Georgia's nuclear program is as peaceful as you claim Tehran's is. Publicly, given the continued hollow pledges from Tehran on its nuclear ambitions, this would be enough to calm them. Privately, the message would be perfectly clear: if Iran becomes a nuclear-armed state on Tuesday, Georgia becomes a nuclear-armed state on Wednesday. Something tells me Putin would decide a nuclear Iran threatening Israel and America's allies is not worth a nuclear Georgia on his doorstep.
This is certainly a controversial proposal; there are some people or whom nuclear weapons are never acceptable. However, as history has clearly shown: nukes don't kill people, terrorists kill people.
More to the point, even I do not consider the nuclear Georgia plan to be a permanent solution to the Iran problem. That will only come when Khomeinism falls. As I stated above, the longer we wait, the more likely liberation will require military action. The Georgia option will give the free world more time, but nothing more; we will need to use that time to help the Iranian people take their country back.
The longer it takes for the free world to recognize liberation as the only true answer for Iran, the more likely there won't be enough time to do it peacefully (e.g., Poland 1989) before the mullahs have the nuclear weapons they want. This would give them the deterrence they need to step up their efforts to become the lead power in the Middle East, and the ultimate weapon of last resort against the Iranian people (any repeat of mass concentrated protests of 1999 could be dealt with the swiftness and terror of a mushroom cloud).
Iran's biggest nuclear facilitators - by far - are Russia and Communist China. Given Communist China's history with anti-American terrorists, only a robust anti-Communist policy in Washington will squeeze Beijing enough to make it consider dropping Iran (as the Soviets did with Eastern Europe after the U.S. squeezed them in the 1980s). Russia is a somewhat different story. While its military-industrial complex is dependent on Communist Chinese arms purchases, its Far Eastern provinces are in danger of being subsumed by the Communists. Vis a vis Iran, Moscow is looking at purely economic and geopolitical self-interest with no concern for America and its allies one way or the other.
Could something be done to convince Russia to drop Iran as a nuclear customer? Perhaps, and if so, it could extend the timetable long enough for the free world to get serious about Iran's peaceful liberation. The question is - how? No American leader has been closer to a Russian chief than George W. Bush has been to Vladimir Putin, but the flow of nuclear parts has gone on unabated. Russia needs some added incentive to get out of the Iranian nuclear business. The threat of counter-proliferation could have an effect, and this is where Georgia comes in.
Georgia has been independent since 1991, but it didn't really break free of Russia's influence until the "Rose Revolution" of 2003, led by Mikhail Saakashvilli. Russia has been trying to curtail Georgian independence ever since, while the U.S. has grown very close to Georgia. Meanwhile, Georgia's capital of Tblisi is closer to Tehran than Riyadh, Ankara, or Amman.
In short, if the democracy of Georgia were to become a nuclear power, it could scare both the Iranian mullahs and their Russian benefactors.
The counter-proliferation plan would be in two parts. The first would be a public agreement with Georgia to build nuclear energy reactors (something similar to the U.S.-India nuclear deal). Such an agreement all by itself would raise eyebrows in Moscow and Tehran. They would, of course, demand assurance that this would not lead to a nuclear-armed Georgia, to which we would simply respond: You can rest assured that Georgia's nuclear program is as peaceful as you claim Tehran's is. Publicly, given the continued hollow pledges from Tehran on its nuclear ambitions, this would be enough to calm them. Privately, the message would be perfectly clear: if Iran becomes a nuclear-armed state on Tuesday, Georgia becomes a nuclear-armed state on Wednesday. Something tells me Putin would decide a nuclear Iran threatening Israel and America's allies is not worth a nuclear Georgia on his doorstep.
This is certainly a controversial proposal; there are some people or whom nuclear weapons are never acceptable. However, as history has clearly shown: nukes don't kill people, terrorists kill people.
More to the point, even I do not consider the nuclear Georgia plan to be a permanent solution to the Iran problem. That will only come when Khomeinism falls. As I stated above, the longer we wait, the more likely liberation will require military action. The Georgia option will give the free world more time, but nothing more; we will need to use that time to help the Iranian people take their country back.
Endorsements: Part IV
This is more tying a loose end than anything else.
After former Pentagon analyst Ronald Montaperto was sentenced to merely three months in jail for handing top secret information to Communist Chinese military intelligence officers, Congressman Peter Hoekstra (Republican - Michigan 2, also Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee) expressed his dismay at the disturbing amount of support Montaperto was getting from within the intelligence community: "You would think that the intel community would set the standard for holding people accountable for mishandling and passing of classified information to our enemies" (cited by Bill Gertz, Washington Times). According to Gertz, Hoekstra also "promised a committee probe."
That's certainly enough for me to endorse Mr. Hoekstra's re-election.
The first three lists of endorsed candidates can be found here, here, and here.
After former Pentagon analyst Ronald Montaperto was sentenced to merely three months in jail for handing top secret information to Communist Chinese military intelligence officers, Congressman Peter Hoekstra (Republican - Michigan 2, also Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee) expressed his dismay at the disturbing amount of support Montaperto was getting from within the intelligence community: "You would think that the intel community would set the standard for holding people accountable for mishandling and passing of classified information to our enemies" (cited by Bill Gertz, Washington Times). According to Gertz, Hoekstra also "promised a committee probe."
That's certainly enough for me to endorse Mr. Hoekstra's re-election.
The first three lists of endorsed candidates can be found here, here, and here.
News of the Day (October 4)
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator has the latest on Stalinist North Korea's missile test plans and all of the other SNK news respectively. As another blogger recommends allowing the Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran to become a nuclear power, Shaun Kenney has his doubts.
Ignorant Comment of the Day: David Ignatius (Washington Post) goes soft on the Middle Eastern proxies again, and as such, he re-earns the dubious honor.
Will the Korean colony and Middle Eastern Proxy Number One profit, rather than be punished, for their nuclear ambitions? Paul Reynolds, BBC, seems to think so.
Communist China reaches for boilerplate rhetoric on SNK's nuclear test plans: The cadres recommended "calm and restraint" (Newsmax), but once again made no mention of repercussions against its colony (BBC). The United States (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), Australia (AAP via Epoch Times), and even South Korea (Yonhap via Daily NK) were much more forceful in their comments. South Koreans themselves aren't really sure how serious SNK is about all of this (BBC and UPI via Washington Times); Daily NK is certain the test is going to happen.
South Korean Christians stand up for victims of Communist China: South Korea's anti-Communist community made the news in two very encouraging ways. A church choir will be in Washington "to protest Chinese government's repatriation of North Korean refugees back to North Korea" (Boxun). Meanwhile, an unnamed South Korean Christian group is in Beijing helping abused appellants (Epoch Times).
More on South Korea: Ha Tae Kyung, Open Radio for North Korea, advises South Korea's pro-American opposition to be prepared for the end of the joint U.S.-South Korea military command (Daily NK).
As for the Iranian mullahcracy, Michael Rubin, American Enterprise Institute, calls for "war games and exercises in the Persian Gulf and on Iran's borders" (New York Daily News) to make clear that the U.S. is serious about prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. David Frum (National Review Online) has still believes - unhappily, I should add - Washington will do the exact opposite; the Washington Times presents evidence backing up that pessimism. Meanwhile, the head of American intelligence says an Iranian nuke is still four years away (Newsmax).
On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Israel finds more evidence of cooperation between the Syrian regime and Hezbollah (UPI via Washington Times).
Foreign rights activists write open letter to Hu Jintao: Human Rights Watch organized the group; the letter demands the Communist leader end the myriad abuses in his country. Specifically, it called for the release of Gao Zhisheng, 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 Hu Jia (sixth, eleventh, twenty-first, seventeenth, second, ninth, tenth and eleventh items). Gao's arrest was made formal last week (Epoch Times).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Rob Nichols' assessment of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's trip to Beijing would have been a lock for Ignorant Comment of the Day if David Ignatius had taken the day off (Daily Standard). Shinzo Abe will visit Communist leaders next week (BBC). Communist China is listed as one of the worst overseas bribers (BBC).
More on matters inside Communist China: The Communists themselves admit more than 4 in 5 cadres are engaged in extramarital affairs (mistresses are the most prevalent beneficiaries of Communist corruption - Trend Magazine via Epoch Times). Conservationists blame Communist China (among others) for its role in the slaughter and trade of endangered tigers (Voice of America via Epoch Times).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: David Ignatius (Washington Post) goes soft on the Middle Eastern proxies again, and as such, he re-earns the dubious honor.
Will the Korean colony and Middle Eastern Proxy Number One profit, rather than be punished, for their nuclear ambitions? Paul Reynolds, BBC, seems to think so.
Communist China reaches for boilerplate rhetoric on SNK's nuclear test plans: The cadres recommended "calm and restraint" (Newsmax), but once again made no mention of repercussions against its colony (BBC). The United States (United Press Int'l via Washington Times), Australia (AAP via Epoch Times), and even South Korea (Yonhap via Daily NK) were much more forceful in their comments. South Koreans themselves aren't really sure how serious SNK is about all of this (BBC and UPI via Washington Times); Daily NK is certain the test is going to happen.
South Korean Christians stand up for victims of Communist China: South Korea's anti-Communist community made the news in two very encouraging ways. A church choir will be in Washington "to protest Chinese government's repatriation of North Korean refugees back to North Korea" (Boxun). Meanwhile, an unnamed South Korean Christian group is in Beijing helping abused appellants (Epoch Times).
More on South Korea: Ha Tae Kyung, Open Radio for North Korea, advises South Korea's pro-American opposition to be prepared for the end of the joint U.S.-South Korea military command (Daily NK).
As for the Iranian mullahcracy, Michael Rubin, American Enterprise Institute, calls for "war games and exercises in the Persian Gulf and on Iran's borders" (New York Daily News) to make clear that the U.S. is serious about prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. David Frum (National Review Online) has still believes - unhappily, I should add - Washington will do the exact opposite; the Washington Times presents evidence backing up that pessimism. Meanwhile, the head of American intelligence says an Iranian nuke is still four years away (Newsmax).
On the other Middle Eastern proxies: Israel finds more evidence of cooperation between the Syrian regime and Hezbollah (UPI via Washington Times).
Foreign rights activists write open letter to Hu Jintao: Human Rights Watch organized the group; the letter demands the Communist leader end the myriad abuses in his country. Specifically, it called for the release of Gao Zhisheng, 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 Hu Jia (sixth, eleventh, twenty-first, seventeenth, second, ninth, tenth and eleventh items). Gao's arrest was made formal last week (Epoch Times).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Rob Nichols' assessment of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's trip to Beijing would have been a lock for Ignorant Comment of the Day if David Ignatius had taken the day off (Daily Standard). Shinzo Abe will visit Communist leaders next week (BBC). Communist China is listed as one of the worst overseas bribers (BBC).
More on matters inside Communist China: The Communists themselves admit more than 4 in 5 cadres are engaged in extramarital affairs (mistresses are the most prevalent beneficiaries of Communist corruption - Trend Magazine via Epoch Times). Conservationists blame Communist China (among others) for its role in the slaughter and trade of endangered tigers (Voice of America via Epoch Times).
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
News of the Day (October 3)
Stalinist North Korea announces plans for a nuclear test: Granted, there was no mention of a date, time, or place (BBC, CNN, The Korea Liberator, and Yonhap via Daily NK), but the Stalinists have already begun taking preliminary steps (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). The United States was not happy (Agence France Presse via Breitbart and MSNBC); Communist China's silence was deafening (BBC).
More on the Korean colony: The Korea Liberator laments (and with good reason) the now all-but-certain ascension of Ban Ki-Moon to United Nations Secretary General. Daily NK reports on the remarks of former Daily Chosun editor Ryu Geun-il, who was hitting the right notes until he talked about convincing Communist China to help reform SNK.
Arnaud de Borchgrave's worst fears (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) may be my best hope - so long as the goal is liberation for the Communist-backed mullahcracy. Then again, perhaps he just didn't notice the latest silliness from the State Department (Washington Times) and, if the Pentagon is correct, the Voice of America (San Jose Mercury News).
Chen Shui-bian's wife cleared of corruption accusations: The chief prosecutor in Taipei announced that there was "no evidence" to support charges that Taiwan's first lady peddled her influence for payoffs from a department store (BBC). This leaves the elected president's son-in-law as the only person related to him to be accused of impropriety.
On occupied Tibet: Whatever one thinks of the VOA's performance in Iran, its photo exhibit of Communist Chinese crimes in occupied Tibet deserves high praise (Epoch Times).
Imprisoned dissident news: The Communists formally arrest Yang Maodong (next to last item) for "illegal business activities" (Boxun). Guo Feixiong (tenth item) is tortured in prison and goes on a hunger strike in response (Radio Free Asia Epoch Times).
More matters inside Communist China: The cadres expand Beijing's underground city (Cheng Ming via Epoch Times). The number of ex-CCP members passes 14 million (Epoch Times). Another 300,000 people are forced from their homes by the Three Gorges Dam monstrosity (VOA).
More on the Korean colony: The Korea Liberator laments (and with good reason) the now all-but-certain ascension of Ban Ki-Moon to United Nations Secretary General. Daily NK reports on the remarks of former Daily Chosun editor Ryu Geun-il, who was hitting the right notes until he talked about convincing Communist China to help reform SNK.
Arnaud de Borchgrave's worst fears (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) may be my best hope - so long as the goal is liberation for the Communist-backed mullahcracy. Then again, perhaps he just didn't notice the latest silliness from the State Department (Washington Times) and, if the Pentagon is correct, the Voice of America (San Jose Mercury News).
Chen Shui-bian's wife cleared of corruption accusations: The chief prosecutor in Taipei announced that there was "no evidence" to support charges that Taiwan's first lady peddled her influence for payoffs from a department store (BBC). This leaves the elected president's son-in-law as the only person related to him to be accused of impropriety.
On occupied Tibet: Whatever one thinks of the VOA's performance in Iran, its photo exhibit of Communist Chinese crimes in occupied Tibet deserves high praise (Epoch Times).
Imprisoned dissident news: The Communists formally arrest Yang Maodong (next to last item) for "illegal business activities" (Boxun). Guo Feixiong (tenth item) is tortured in prison and goes on a hunger strike in response (Radio Free Asia Epoch Times).
More matters inside Communist China: The cadres expand Beijing's underground city (Cheng Ming via Epoch Times). The number of ex-CCP members passes 14 million (Epoch Times). Another 300,000 people are forced from their homes by the Three Gorges Dam monstrosity (VOA).
Monday, October 02, 2006
News of the Weekend (October 2)
Mumbai police chief says terrorist bombings were "planned by Pakistan's ISI ": The police commissioner of Mumbai (Bombay) told the media that the July terrorist bombing attack on his city "was planned by Pakistan's ISI" (BBC). According to Commissioner A.N. Roy, the Inter-Services Intelligence unit of Communist China's longtime ally used the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba carry out the bombing. Pakistan naturally denied this (BBC). Events like this - assuming Roy is correct - make one wonder just how much worse a Pakistan without Pervez Musharraf would really be (for the conventional wisdom on that, see Peter Brookes: New York Post).
Iran is still sending weapons to Iraqi terrorists: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran is still "shipping components used to make improvised explosive devices to Iraqi insurgents" (Armed Forces Information Service). The weaponry sent from the mullahs is worth "millions of dollars." The news came as one of Tehran's leading subsidiaries in Iraq - the Moqtada al-Sadr bloc - demanded more power for itself in the Iraqi Cabinet (Washington Post).
More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Will the U.S. take any action against the mullahcracy? David Frum (National Review Online) is pessimistic, and The Australian has quite a bit of evidence to back him up. Michael Ledeen (NRO) is slightly more optimistic - emphasis on slightly. One the other side of the prediction is retired Admiral James Lyons (Washington Times).
On Middle Eastern Proxy Number Three: As Hezbollah's plan to wait out the Israelis succeeds (Cybercast News), the Lebanese government comes into their sights (Daily Standard). Meanwhile, Ezra Levant (Calgary Sun) gives more well-deserved praise to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for standing up to the rest of la Francophonie.
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator examines the consequences of South Korean dovishness (including the, um, less-than-dovish doves), gives the National Lawyers' Guild a well-deserved ripping, provides the satellite view of Yoduk, tracks Ban Ki-moon, and has the latest SNK news.
More on the Korean colony: The colonial master is playing good-cop again; Newsweek and Yonhap (via Daily NK) fall for it. Stalinist North Korea holds military talks with the South (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Daily NK speculates on the possible SNK site for a nuclear test; the paper also recounts an event where four Stalinist soldiers died for Kim Jong-il's soccer ball.
Communists offered Australian gun maker over $100 million to help them make it: A new gun by the Australian firm Metal Storm "can fire more than a million bullets a minute and can be remotely operated" (AAP via Epoch Times). The cadres are so desperate for this gun that they offered its inventor "more than $US100 million ($A134 million) to live in Beijing and help the Chinese military develop the technology." An unnamed Australian was offered $2 million to get the gun, but turned the Communists down after joining Falun Gong.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Ed Feulner of the Heritage Foundation (Washington Times) and Dan Blumenthal and Gary Schmitt of the American Enterprise Institute (Weekly Standard) detail how a strong Japan is bad for Beijing, and thus good for the rest of us. Chen Jinsong (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) laments those in Communist China starving to death for Zhongnanhai's "foreign aid" schemes. David Kilgour and David Matas testify before the U.S. Congress on Communist organ harvesting (Epoch Times). The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation breaks ground on a monument to the 100 million killed (and still being killed) by Communist regimes (Epoch Times).
Communist crackdown on corruption reporting: The cadres are not happy with the reporting of Chen Liangyu's firing (Epoch Times), among other things.
Journalist wins Canadian award: Jiang Weiping (ninth and tenth items) won PEN Canada's One Humanity Award (Boxun).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today's dubious honor goes to Maureen Fan (Washington Post), whose piece on religion in Zhejiang Province gives the impression Christians are carving out some autonomy there - whereas in reality even the supposed would-be rebel whose church has Communist approval admits: "We don't talk publicly about sensitive, political issues."
Speaking of religion in Communist China, another Falun Gong practitioner is thrown in jail (Epoch Times).
Cadres in Wuhan seize lake from fishermen: Communists in the East Lake Management District of Wuhan City opened a new chapter in using state ownership of property to filch the locals - a lake seizure (Epoch Times).
Other matters inside Communist China: So what was the real reason Shanghai boss Chen Liangyu was fired? Time and Newsweek have competing explanations. Time also examines the cadres' terrible record with water; Democratic China (via Epoch Times) specifically looks at the Three Gorges Dam fiasco. The Communists are including a "lessons learned" video on the fall of the Soviet Union (Epoch Times). Cao Changqing (Epoch Times) reviews Mao: The Unknown Story.
Iran is still sending weapons to Iraqi terrorists: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran is still "shipping components used to make improvised explosive devices to Iraqi insurgents" (Armed Forces Information Service). The weaponry sent from the mullahs is worth "millions of dollars." The news came as one of Tehran's leading subsidiaries in Iraq - the Moqtada al-Sadr bloc - demanded more power for itself in the Iraqi Cabinet (Washington Post).
More on Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Will the U.S. take any action against the mullahcracy? David Frum (National Review Online) is pessimistic, and The Australian has quite a bit of evidence to back him up. Michael Ledeen (NRO) is slightly more optimistic - emphasis on slightly. One the other side of the prediction is retired Admiral James Lyons (Washington Times).
On Middle Eastern Proxy Number Three: As Hezbollah's plan to wait out the Israelis succeeds (Cybercast News), the Lebanese government comes into their sights (Daily Standard). Meanwhile, Ezra Levant (Calgary Sun) gives more well-deserved praise to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for standing up to the rest of la Francophonie.
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator examines the consequences of South Korean dovishness (including the, um, less-than-dovish doves), gives the National Lawyers' Guild a well-deserved ripping, provides the satellite view of Yoduk, tracks Ban Ki-moon, and has the latest SNK news.
More on the Korean colony: The colonial master is playing good-cop again; Newsweek and Yonhap (via Daily NK) fall for it. Stalinist North Korea holds military talks with the South (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). Daily NK speculates on the possible SNK site for a nuclear test; the paper also recounts an event where four Stalinist soldiers died for Kim Jong-il's soccer ball.
Communists offered Australian gun maker over $100 million to help them make it: A new gun by the Australian firm Metal Storm "can fire more than a million bullets a minute and can be remotely operated" (AAP via Epoch Times). The cadres are so desperate for this gun that they offered its inventor "more than $US100 million ($A134 million) to live in Beijing and help the Chinese military develop the technology." An unnamed Australian was offered $2 million to get the gun, but turned the Communists down after joining Falun Gong.
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Ed Feulner of the Heritage Foundation (Washington Times) and Dan Blumenthal and Gary Schmitt of the American Enterprise Institute (Weekly Standard) detail how a strong Japan is bad for Beijing, and thus good for the rest of us. Chen Jinsong (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times) laments those in Communist China starving to death for Zhongnanhai's "foreign aid" schemes. David Kilgour and David Matas testify before the U.S. Congress on Communist organ harvesting (Epoch Times). The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation breaks ground on a monument to the 100 million killed (and still being killed) by Communist regimes (Epoch Times).
Communist crackdown on corruption reporting: The cadres are not happy with the reporting of Chen Liangyu's firing (Epoch Times), among other things.
Journalist wins Canadian award: Jiang Weiping (ninth and tenth items) won PEN Canada's One Humanity Award (Boxun).
Ignorant Comment of the Day: Today's dubious honor goes to Maureen Fan (Washington Post), whose piece on religion in Zhejiang Province gives the impression Christians are carving out some autonomy there - whereas in reality even the supposed would-be rebel whose church has Communist approval admits: "We don't talk publicly about sensitive, political issues."
Speaking of religion in Communist China, another Falun Gong practitioner is thrown in jail (Epoch Times).
Cadres in Wuhan seize lake from fishermen: Communists in the East Lake Management District of Wuhan City opened a new chapter in using state ownership of property to filch the locals - a lake seizure (Epoch Times).
Other matters inside Communist China: So what was the real reason Shanghai boss Chen Liangyu was fired? Time and Newsweek have competing explanations. Time also examines the cadres' terrible record with water; Democratic China (via Epoch Times) specifically looks at the Three Gorges Dam fiasco. The Communists are including a "lessons learned" video on the fall of the Soviet Union (Epoch Times). Cao Changqing (Epoch Times) reviews Mao: The Unknown Story.
Friday, September 29, 2006
2006 Endorsements - Part III
Three (and a half) more Senate races today (Part I: four Senate races; Part II - 48 House races).
U.S. Senate - California: Richard Mountjoy (Republican)
As a State Senator, Mountjoy helped lead the effort to keep Communist China out of Long Beach, CA (New American). His opponent, Senator Diane Feinstein, is married to one of the largest investors in Communist China (National Review Online). This is a no-brainer.
U.S. Senate - Minnesota: Mark Kennedy (Republican)
So far, Kennedy is the only Minnesota candidate to discuss Communist China at all, and it was to call on the Communists to free Gao Zhisheng (AP via Pioneer Press). That's enough to make him the candidate of choice.
U.S. Senate - Maryland: Michael Steele (Republican)
This one's a little more counterintuitive, as Steele has said almost nothing about his views on Communist China. However, his opponent - Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin - abandoned the anti-Communist cause in 2000 and voted for PNTR, while still claiming to be concerned about human rights in Communist China (DC Examiner). Such hypocrisy is not welcome here.
U.S. Senate - New Jersey: no endorsement, yet.
This is more a warning to the New Jersey Democratic Party. At present, both major candidates - Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and Republican State Senator Tom Kean, Jr. - have solid anti-Communist credentials. However, the Democrats have a habit of playing "switcheroo" with less-than-slam-dunk candidates. In 2002, anti-Communist Robert Torricelli was replaced by the far-less desirable Frank Lautenberg (eighth item). A similar move will lead to a very quick endorsement of Kean from this quarter.
U.S. Senate - California: Richard Mountjoy (Republican)
As a State Senator, Mountjoy helped lead the effort to keep Communist China out of Long Beach, CA (New American). His opponent, Senator Diane Feinstein, is married to one of the largest investors in Communist China (National Review Online). This is a no-brainer.
U.S. Senate - Minnesota: Mark Kennedy (Republican)
So far, Kennedy is the only Minnesota candidate to discuss Communist China at all, and it was to call on the Communists to free Gao Zhisheng (AP via Pioneer Press). That's enough to make him the candidate of choice.
U.S. Senate - Maryland: Michael Steele (Republican)
This one's a little more counterintuitive, as Steele has said almost nothing about his views on Communist China. However, his opponent - Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin - abandoned the anti-Communist cause in 2000 and voted for PNTR, while still claiming to be concerned about human rights in Communist China (DC Examiner). Such hypocrisy is not welcome here.
U.S. Senate - New Jersey: no endorsement, yet.
This is more a warning to the New Jersey Democratic Party. At present, both major candidates - Democratic Senator Robert Menendez and Republican State Senator Tom Kean, Jr. - have solid anti-Communist credentials. However, the Democrats have a habit of playing "switcheroo" with less-than-slam-dunk candidates. In 2002, anti-Communist Robert Torricelli was replaced by the far-less desirable Frank Lautenberg (eighth item). A similar move will lead to a very quick endorsement of Kean from this quarter.
News of the Day (September 29)
Attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan "have tripled" since Pakistan-Taliban deal: Attacks against NATO troops in Eastern Afghanistan "increased threefold" (Times of London) since the Musharraf regime surrendered North Waziristan to the Taliban's allies (also reporting: BBC). Meanwhile, a British report found that the Communist Chinese ally's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is "indirectly helping al-Qaida" (United Press Int'l via Washington Times). As one would expect, Afghanistan is not happy about its neighbor's shenanigans (UPI via Washington Times and Washington Times).
On the Middle Eastern Proxies: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran may be having some trouble enriching uranium (Washington Post), but the New York Sun provides a helpful reminder of the Khomeinist regime's founder's lust for nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the West's continuing weakness on the mullahcracy (Voice of America via Epoch Times) comes under fire from Joseph Farah (World Net Daily), Robert Kaplan (Los Angeles Times), and even (obliquely) the U.S. Congress (New York Sun). There are even reports that Saudi Arabia is looking for Israeli help against the mullahs (Cybercast News). As for Syria, Martin Peretz (The New Republic) wonders when Lebanon's leaders will get serious about kicking Assad of their country (he's not holding his breath). Finally, an attempt to sweep Hezbollah's attacks against Israel under the rug is blocked by Canada (Small Dead Animals and Steve Janke).
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on Communist organ harvesting (see also the Epoch Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer). Shaun Kenney comments on Communist China's attacks against American satellites (see also Newsmax). The Korea Liberator has the latest South Korean silliness (including would be UN boss Ban Ki-Moon), plus some level-headedness from the SK opposition. TKL also has news on refugees, counterfeit cigarettes, UN envoys, and the rest of the SNK news.
More on the Korean colony: Communist China's six-party negotiator is in Seoul (BBC). Hwang Jang Yop reminds everyone that Stalinist North Korea isn't going anywhere so long as Beijing backs it (Daily NK), but Kim Jong-il himself is worried enough to resort to body doubles (Yonhap via Daily NK).
New Japanese leader wants stronger military and closer U.S. ties: Shinzo Abe also refused any warming with SNK "until the unresolved issue of the Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s was resolved" (BBC). Abe's backers "hope Japan will establish in future relations such as those between the United States and Britain" (Washington Times). Also reporting: Cybercast News
FBI calls Silicon Valley a "hotbed" of spying: No prizes for guessing the main culprits (San Jose Mercury News).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Beijing decides to play it quiet on the Chen Shui-bian issue (Washington Times, last item). The Singapore-Falun Gong trial (last, third, tenth, eighth, fifth, and seventh items) is delayed (Epoch Times).
Google blocks Boxun - the surrender continues.
The perils of being a non-Communist in Communist China: Whether it's as a member of the China Democracy Party (Epoch Times) or just as someone willing to act outside the CCP (Christian Science Monitor), challenging the regime is still dangerous. However, the truth about the CCP is spreading (Epoch Times).
More on the Communist crackdowns: The Epoch Times takes aim at the cadres' actions against lawyers and foreign news agencies, respectively.
More on matters inside Communist China: The cadres claim success in a fusion test (Washington Times, last item). Would-be homeowners are being priced out of real estate markets in Communist China; most sense corruption as the root of the problem (VOA via Epoch Times). Sushil Seth (Taipei Times) wonders when the regime's cruelty and corruption will catch up with it.
On the Middle Eastern Proxies: The Communist-backed mullahcracy of Iran may be having some trouble enriching uranium (Washington Post), but the New York Sun provides a helpful reminder of the Khomeinist regime's founder's lust for nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the West's continuing weakness on the mullahcracy (Voice of America via Epoch Times) comes under fire from Joseph Farah (World Net Daily), Robert Kaplan (Los Angeles Times), and even (obliquely) the U.S. Congress (New York Sun). There are even reports that Saudi Arabia is looking for Israeli help against the mullahs (Cybercast News). As for Syria, Martin Peretz (The New Republic) wonders when Lebanon's leaders will get serious about kicking Assad of their country (he's not holding his breath). Finally, an attempt to sweep Hezbollah's attacks against Israel under the rug is blocked by Canada (Small Dead Animals and Steve Janke).
From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: Between Heaven and Earth has the latest on Communist organ harvesting (see also the Epoch Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer). Shaun Kenney comments on Communist China's attacks against American satellites (see also Newsmax). The Korea Liberator has the latest South Korean silliness (including would be UN boss Ban Ki-Moon), plus some level-headedness from the SK opposition. TKL also has news on refugees, counterfeit cigarettes, UN envoys, and the rest of the SNK news.
More on the Korean colony: Communist China's six-party negotiator is in Seoul (BBC). Hwang Jang Yop reminds everyone that Stalinist North Korea isn't going anywhere so long as Beijing backs it (Daily NK), but Kim Jong-il himself is worried enough to resort to body doubles (Yonhap via Daily NK).
New Japanese leader wants stronger military and closer U.S. ties: Shinzo Abe also refused any warming with SNK "until the unresolved issue of the Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s was resolved" (BBC). Abe's backers "hope Japan will establish in future relations such as those between the United States and Britain" (Washington Times). Also reporting: Cybercast News
FBI calls Silicon Valley a "hotbed" of spying: No prizes for guessing the main culprits (San Jose Mercury News).
More on Communist China and the rest of the world: Beijing decides to play it quiet on the Chen Shui-bian issue (Washington Times, last item). The Singapore-Falun Gong trial (last, third, tenth, eighth, fifth, and seventh items) is delayed (Epoch Times).
Google blocks Boxun - the surrender continues.
The perils of being a non-Communist in Communist China: Whether it's as a member of the China Democracy Party (Epoch Times) or just as someone willing to act outside the CCP (Christian Science Monitor), challenging the regime is still dangerous. However, the truth about the CCP is spreading (Epoch Times).
More on the Communist crackdowns: The Epoch Times takes aim at the cadres' actions against lawyers and foreign news agencies, respectively.
More on matters inside Communist China: The cadres claim success in a fusion test (Washington Times, last item). Would-be homeowners are being priced out of real estate markets in Communist China; most sense corruption as the root of the problem (VOA via Epoch Times). Sushil Seth (Taipei Times) wonders when the regime's cruelty and corruption will catch up with it.
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