[BJungNan]

Let's examine this story.

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.

[cactmh]

There's a port in Afghanistan?

[Feiny]

Please explain why China also signed agreements with the Taliban on the day of the attack.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Ummm, how did they SAIL to Afghanistan?

My guess is that this could take just a matter of days, given that China and Afghanistan share a border.

A wrinkle- what if China knew about the attacks ahead of time and armed the al-Qaida in anticipation of a US attack?

[ElephantMan]

It might be more effective if you are more subtle with the dissemination of the official Beijing line.

There sure are a lot of denials and excuses interwoven with attacks on the messengers--classic propaganda tactics.

Personally, I withold final judgment of this posters intentions and point of view, but at the moment that's how I see it...