[Pro-Bush]

However, I believe there are some very powerful Chinese leaders who are antsy to rush their conquests.

No doubt, that there are many battles over this in China. I think it will be later rather than sooner, China, in many respects is still a third world country that has some growing up to do before making any kill-shot for control of America. I do feel that they are on their way, killing America painfully slow with a thousand lashes.

[JustPiper]

Non-related but FYI

DEBKAfile: Qaddafi’s exit from nuclear race hits Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs with which Libya’s secret Kufra facility was affiliated. Facility also employed hundreds of Saddam’s nuclear scientists - up to the present

UN: Al Qaeda Has Decided to Use Chemical and Bio weapons - DEBKAfile Special Report - November 15, 2003

[Quix]

You could be right.

But they can easily compartmentalize such priorities and pretend lists of them don't exist. They don't care how many citizens die as long as they can maintain CONTROL.

And with power in terms of guns and tanks exclusively in control of THE PARTY . . . they figure they have it licked.

That's one thing that unnerved them so about Tienanmen and the democracy demonstrations--different warlords in different regions were starting to disobey Beijing.