BUSTED: "Is DELL Computer Aiding N. Korea [Weapons Program] In Violation of US Federal Law?"

Korean Central News Agency, (KCNA), North Korea ^ | 25 May 2010 | AmericanInTokyo

[Tainan]

Good thread. If these are coming from a Dell distributor/wholesaler then Dell is in some hot water. Authorized distributors/wholesalers have an obligation under US law to operate under any and all trade restraints deemed appropriate by the US gov't.
Dell, as the parent company is bound to see to it that authorized dealers abide by these restraints.
Where were the items manufactured? I'm thinking assembled in the PRC/CCP. Easy enough to see them going out the door from a dealer there sans paper-work or trade obligations.

Funny responses to this...IMO.

[mkjessup]

Dell may have made the thing; I doubt they sold it to the NORKs. I mean, Dells are everywhere.

A box of Kleenex would be of little use in developing nuclear weapons systems.

[Pollster1]

I don't think it's likely that Dell is to blame. Probably someone made an extra hundred dollars per computer through straw purchases that were resold to NK. If we ignore the detail that Dell management probably doesn't want to wake up to the sight of a mushroom cloud outside their bedroom windows, there is the detail that they probably don't want to wake up to the sight of the FBI arresting them. The simplest explanation is a straw purchase, and that is what I will assume in the absence of evidence to the contrary. This is not like a Cray, where the company would know for each individual purchase who wanted the machine and why.

There is a huge difference. I would no more blame Dell for "aiding" NK than I would blame Bic if we discovered that their pens were in use for the NK WMD program.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thanks much Tainan. I am a fan of yours.

In one of the Japanese language threads about Dell in North Korea, somebody discussed that they took part in a "Arirang Mass Game" tour of North Korea from China, and at that time while they were in the DPRK, they visited an elementary school. At this location, they saw not only Dells there, they saw Lenovos as well.

They could not determine if the Dells were made in China or not...not enough time with their tour guide in the classroom.

It merits digging I would say. I don't care less if a few toes are stepped on. Computer systems in North Korea are aiming weapons at our troops as we speak, and as long as I have a free voice on Free Republic, I will speak up and report, dammit.

[mkjessup]

These are serious and legitimate questions you're asking AiT, and the naysaying phuckwits need to give their heads a shake, I appreciate your efforts and if nothing else, this highlights the fact that Pyongyang continues to acquire items useful to their nuclear weapons development that they SHOULD NOT HAVE.

I must admit however, that the visual image of some North Korean nuclear engineer calling up Dell technical support for assistance via some bloody call centre in New Delhi where the Dell representative's first words of advice are "To correct this problem, we must re-format your hard drive and reinstall Windows", now THAT is the stuff of great comedy skits! lol

Have a great day AiT!

[mkjessup]

I'm going to bed

Have Mommy tuck you in with your little Kim Jong Il doll.

Sweet dreams.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Well, that gave me a GOOD laugh, too. We can all laugh on this thread at the humor you just presented (in purple typeface), regardless of where we stand on this issue. I just ask we be civil about it.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you for your perspective.

[Hardraade]

Interesting - but you are looking at a monitor. Not a computer. Not much regulation on computer monitors (or TV-sets, for that matter) I think.

[Born to Conserve]

“the hard drive itself”. That’s so cute! I love ignorant people.

[Puddleglum]

silly hyperbole in this thread’s title. “The thirteen-inch monitor that shook the world!!!”

[AmericanInTokyo]

Monitor(only) in some of the photos, computer (hard drive) in some of the other photos it seems.

[mkjessup]

It’s good to love one’s self. Good for you.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Kindly come up with a more fitting thread title and if it works, we will ask the mod to replace. I humbly defer to your omniscient brilliance in the hopeless, dank dregs of my unwashed ignorance. I am truly not worthy.

[depenzz]

Strange.......Lorel and Bill Clinton never got into trouble for doing it. now, did they?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Oh, do I remember that case....

[Hardraade]

Monitor(only) in some of the photos, computer (hard drive) in some of the other photos it seems.

It would be nice with a good, hard look-see at this stuff. Like getting a good view of a computer tower. And knowing what was in it (arthritic 386 they've been running for years, or top of the line 64bit).

When the cold war died, most of the arms control died with it. Basically, all muslim countries and the norks should be treated like they were USSR in the early eighties. Would be nice, but we're not gonna get it...

[driftdiver]

I’ve read numerous accounts that Dell has close ties with Soros.

[Puddleglum]

“I humbly defer to your omniscient brilliance...”

Most people are happier once they do. I am just kidding you a little. The juxtaposition of the headline to that cheesy 13-inch monitor just struck me as funny.