Taiwan President Shot (Update: Wounds not life-threatening)

[BurbankKarl]

KCAL9 News reported just went across the wires

[zook]

KMT can't/won't do this. They don't control the military. Any act like this would cause civil war.

Based on having lived there for a year, it would not surprise me at all if this was a cheap ruse staged by President Chen's supporters to ensure a sympathy victory tomorrow.

[MEG33]

Ouch!Thank you..It is graphic but explains the wound description that had people confused..Looks like it didn't hit the vitals.Now that I see on TV they were standing in the open car and it all makes sense.

[MEG33]

see #280

[zook]

What are the odds of a shooter, in a huge crowd, targeting two people, wounding both only superficially, and not wounding or killing anyone else?

[Atlantic Friend]

You have lived there ? How is it like, Taiwan ?

[zook]

It's an amazing place. We had a roller coaster year over there living in the southern part of the island, not too far from where this shooting occured. Our experience was punctuated by the SARS epidemic. If you click on my handle, you'll see a link to some web pages where I describe our experiences over there in detail. Look for the "Pingtung Journal" link. But to sum up, amazing, fascinating, complex. I've been there three times now, and the place just keeps getting more and more under my skin.

[Atlantic Friend]

If I'm not too intrusive, you went there for business ?

[zook]

I was a visiting professor at National Pingtung Teachers Colllege. I took a year sabbatical from Penn State. I taught courses in Education Administration, Research Design, and English to master's and doctoral students. It was a blast!

[Atlantic Friend]

Asian kids in France (I guess it's true of Asian kids everywhere) seem to virtually worship education. That must be immensely satisfying for a teacher to face sharp minds eager to learn.

[zook]

It was extremely satisfying and even humbling to experience the attention, respect, and friendship of these students. I've been a teacher and professor in America for nearly 30 years and have seldom experienced the same appreciation here.

[Atlantic Friend]

Yes, when I think back of the years I was a student myself, these kids really ashame me. They're so keen on getting it right !

[Alia]

Yes -- I agree with you in re Lien Chan. Although I can understand her "nurturing" position; I would NOT take that stand. I'd rather die on my feet, than crawling on my belly. Thank you for posting the Samuel Adams quote: It is so very galvanizing and uplifting.

[Magnum44]

PRC doesn't have the capability to invade Taiwan.

The PRC is quite capable of launching an invasion, and getting better as time goes on. What they dont have is the ability to pull it off successfully if we come to the defense of Taiwan.

Without us, the mere sight of PRC troops on the beaches might be enough for Taiwan to follow Spains lead and capitulate to the mainland.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Nor does this smell like anything the Chicoms would do. North Koreans might pull something like this but I don't see why.

[Zeppo]

The gunshots had been obscured by the sound of firecrackers in the street.

Didn't that happen in a James Bond movie once?

[blanknoone]

No it couldn't be the Chi-coms, it must be the Jewish Zionist conspiracy that controls the world by proxy. I haven't quite figured out their angle on this yet, but the Jean Kerry endorsing Mathahir Mohamad from Indonesia clued me in.

[StriperSniper]

Didn't that happen in a James Bond movie once?

Hmmmmm.......now that you mention it.......Connery or Moore right?

[justshutupandtakeit]

That one went right by without registering on my sensibility meter.

[El Gato]

Much more reason for a big stir than a 1.2 inch wound as reported earlier

1.2 inch *deep*, 14 inches long. Sounds like the bullet grazed him, as any handgun bullet will penetrate way more than that.

Don't these people know about bullet resistant vests? I'll bet he wears one after today. Not clear if the same or different bullets got the VP and President. Her injuries (knee) are probably more serious, at least once past the "stop the bleeding" stage.

[El Gato]

But how does one get a 12 inch wound across the stomach from a gun shot?

The bullet must have been traveling crossways. That is from side to side of the Taiwanese President. As opposed to the shot coming from the front or back. Reports seem to indicate it may have been a ricochet off of the Vice President's knee. In any event, it had to hurt like a SOB.