Free Republic

With Americans focused on problems in the Middle East, particularly those relating to terrorism, and with Republicans relishing recent election victories, we should not forget that a disastrous situation now faces America in our own backyard. Recently, I returned from a visit to Panama, one of the most strategically important nations in the Western Hemisphere. My friend Wilson C. Lucom lives in Panama City – and has been warning Americans of the threat now posed by the increasing communist influence in Central America. We don't hear about it on the nightly news, but revolution and radicalism have been sweeping Latin...

As America grapples with a two-front challenge -- the global war on terror and the need to reinvigorate the U.S. economy -- its leaders are hoping that expanded international trade can help solve both problems. Unfortunately, if the machinations of the Chinese conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa are any indicator, an indiscriminate approach to trading with potential enemies could cost the United States dearly on both fronts. Recent debates over granting President Bush Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), according Communist China permanent "Normal Trade Relations" status and permitting taxpayer subsidized trade with Cuba have all implicitly, if not explicitly, shared a dubious...

Chinese Intelligence and Triads Team Up Against America In early 2000, six individuals, including a Chinese general, were indicted by a U.S. grand jury, convened in Detroit, for running an illegal smuggling operation. The indictment of Chinese Gen. Zhang (pronounced Fhang) Wei included as evidence videotape taken by a Canadian undercover operative who managed to penetrate the smuggling ring. (See: Inside the Dragon's Den.) Despite overwhelming evidence that the Chinese army was involved in the illegal smuggling operations, the Clinton administration quickly shut down the investigation and discouraged any release of information on the story. The tight lid on the...

MADISON, N.J., May 25 (Reuters) - Global Crossing Ltd. (GBLXQ.PK) said on Saturday it failed to reach an agreement with joint bidders Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK) and Singapore Technologies for the bankrupt telecoms company's high-speed fiber optic network. The Bermuda-based Global Crossing, which filed for bankruptcy in January in the fourth-largest U.S insolvency, said it would keep talking with them and other bidders as it auctions a network that connects more than 200 cities in 27 countries. "While we are disappointed that an agreement could not be reached at this time, we look forward to working with Hutchison Whampoa and Singapore...

It was bound to happen, sooner or later – threats and lawsuits against the nonprofit, Washington-based National Security Center (NSC) for boldly going into the lion's den and telling the truth – in this case, into the Republic of Panama, jealously coveting its precious new treasure, the Panama Canal, and extremely sensitive to any hint of perceived threat. Exposing the truth is how the NSC operates, and now they've hit pay dirt after all these years and deserve high praise for such courage and perseverance.Panama Wants Blood The president of Panama, Mireya Moscoso, and her foreign minister, Jose Miguel Aleman,...