What in hell's name will we do, what with the US-China business community firmly entrenched, and in control of the levers of power at the White House, State and Congress. Seems like DOD and CIA will be the only areas willing to stand up to the PRC.
You are right, there needs to be a national campaign now for a SERIOUS boycotting of Chinese products and a campaign of harassment against their PLA-trading firms in the US, who stand squarely in the camp of wanting to murder US troops on the field. How can we wave and salute the American flag at Walmart and then go down the aisle and fund the PRC through purchases that then go on to target our very servicemen in the field.
What a great, timely article!!
What is the shipping time from China to whereever it is that Al Quieda received the arms.
The official said that a week after the terrorist attack, the ruling Taliban and the al Qaeda fighters embedded among them, received a shipment of Chinese-made SA-7 missiles. The shoulder-fired anti-aircraft weapons are similar to the U.S. Stinger.
Book the vessel - one week ahead of time (minimum).
Shipment to the port in China - 3 days ahead of sailing (minimum).
Sailing time to Afghanistan - one week (minimum).
Clearance at the delivering port - 3 days minimum.
Let's rewrite the story to make it accurate.
The official said that 3 weeks (minimum) before the terrorist attack, the ruling Taliban and the al Qaeda fighters embedded among them, ordered a shipment of Chinese-made SA-7 missiles. The shoulder-fired anti-aircraft weapons which are similar to the U.S. Stinger, arrived in Afghanistan one week after the terrorist attack.
Not nearly so exciting, is it, but it is a whole lot more accurate. As originally written, the story is deceptive - purposely so. Now look at the lead.
The lead says China continued to supply arms after the September 11 attack. Using a anology of a hose and water, the water might still have been coming out of the end of the hose even if the valve was turned off after the attacks occured. Is this continuing to supply?
You have to read with a very critical eye. This story is purposely deceptive. The writer certainly knew the shipping times involved. The story was written for the maximum sales benefit while still remaining literally correct.
And they say the China Daily is full of propoganda.
When did he say this???
What "official?" From what country? While it's certainly possible that arms were shipped directly to Afghanistan from China, the article only implicates the PLA by innuendo. It's more likely - much more likely - that the arms were smuggled from China by profiteers or trans-shipped from another Moslem country. The trans-shipping of military arms is an on-going problem even for American made materials.
No matter how much I respect Gertz's work... this is one of the poorest examples of journalism that I've ever seen him produce... especially given the gravity of the accusation. If the Chinese kleptocracy knowingly - intentionally - supplied arms to al Queada after 9/11, then somebody is going to have to prove it. You don't send boys off to die in a war over rumors and anonymous tips.
China has the neutron bomb.
China closely supports Iraq and AlQaeda. Bin Laden gave two US cruise missiles to China after 1998.
Red mercury used in making miniaturized neutron bombs (baseball sized)was found in Iraq by UN weapons inspectors.
It is very possible that China has helped Iraq develop a neutron bomb and that Iraq could give a suitcase neutron bomb to AlQaeda and Bin Laden to bring into the US. China for that matter could also directly give a suitcase sized neutron bomb to AlQaeda and Bin LAden.
MM
OBL mentioned "China" specifically in the videotape .... There are also rumors that OBL has escaped into Pakistan and was trying to flee to Beijing.
The ChiComs are very cleverly hiding their international spying, money laundering and weapons sale operations. They keep pretending that all they want is to sell manufacured goods, raise their standard of living, and get along with the rest of the world. I don't believe that propaganda for a minute.
OBL's action plan for terrorist attacks on the U.S. allegedly had three stages. Stage I: World Trade Center attack, attack on White House and Air Force One and Pentagon bombing. Stage II: Unfolding of many terror attacks across the U.S. (e.g. nuclear power plants, water supplies). Stage III: Plans are unknown but they might include the discharge of an EMP weapon to disable all communications and set the stage for other very serious attacks.