Ah, the old Chandra Levy case. I remember that was the hottest topic in the news, followed by overaged little leaguers and shark bite until we got hit on 9-11.Hottest topic?
Red China grounding a US Navy EP-3E airplane and holding its crew of 24 airmen hostage.
Remember? In 2001, communist China held 24 US airmen and their plane hostage on Hainan Island. It was the biggest international crisis of the newly elected President Bush's administration, and the red Chinese got away with it thanks to 911. Remember the FReeps that were going on? (For instance, in Seattle there was a FReep against COSCO at the shipyards, etc.) Did we ever hold GWB accountable? Seems 911 happened and everyone forgot about this act of war against the United States. How soon we forget.
China toughens stance over US spy plane incident
Tony Jones speaks with the ABC's Beijing correspondent, Tom O'Byrne, about the likely fate of the American crew.
---------
Compere: Tony Jones
Reporter: Tom O'Byrne
TONY JONES: So what is the likely fate of the American crew?
Tom O'Byrne is the ABC's correspondent in Beijing and he joins me now.
Tom, What's the real status of these 24 US airmen?
Are they guests or hostages?
TOM O'BYRNE: Tony, a new word has been introduced into this whole debate in the last 24 hours that's only now being confirmed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and indeed on national television tonight here in Beijing, they are being referred to as "spies."
This is the first time we have actually heard this so directly from such high levels in the Chinese Government.
It gives an indication at least that at this stage there is still a long, long way as far as the Chinese are concerned that the Americans have to go before this is over.
TONY JONES: How is that put exactly?
How did the Foreign Ministry put that accusation that they're spies?
TOM O'BYRNE: The Chinese are saying because these crew members were aboard a military surveillance plane conducting spying activities on the Chinese border and then ultimately entering Chinese air space, and landing on Chinese territory without permission that constitutes in their view at least - this is backed up by legal opinions that are running tonight on national television in China - that that constitutes spying in their view and that that could also lead to charges...
More here: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s271913.htm
The airmen were eventually released. The cocky communist "People's Revolutionary Army" dismantled their airplane and sent it back to the US piece-by-piece.
Is it a case of collective amnesia which explains why we are all giddily going to Beijiing to play games, including President Bush himself, who will be used by red Chinese propagandists to raise communist China's status as a world power to be contended with?
