No offense intended, my FRiend...I never said YOU were "naive," just your specific characterization, IMHO.
"I am fully aware of the triad-PRC, as well as the numerous other triad connections with other governments, including our own. The Charlie Trie & Riady matters go all the way back to BCCI & Mena."
I don't want to go there right now, so don't feel compelled to provide evidence, but you really believe Riady's linked to Mena? Interesting...
"Given what we know about Li Ka-shing's triad & PRC connections, and what COSCO has a history of doing, I mentioned in post #148, what we should be VERY concerned about at the Panama Canal and any place where Hutchison-Whampoa has a major contract."
LOL...if you would just admit that to ChaseR, that boy would lose a very valued "nemesis"!! And with "j_accuse" gone from the picture, I'm worried about what that would do to my FRiend's FReeper motivation!! Ain't that right, Jeff?! =^D
"These are very realistic possibilities: human trafficking, the drug trade, pirated goods, smuggling in AK47s, and grafting triad enterprises with "legitimate" businesses. Bringing in missiles from the PRC or any other country is another matter."
Logistically, I can see your point...however, the "concern" about the possibility is the primary reason for these Panama threads in the first place, IMHO.
"Neither the PRC or H-W is the least bit concerned with "morality.""
Agreed...
"As far as contrained by "legal documents," it depends on the nature of the document and context in which it was made. The Panama Canal Treaty is a document that governs the overall functioning of the Panama Canal. If H-W wants to be a part of the economic structure of the Canal, they have to work with the other contractors, which include Evergreen, a Taiwan firm, and many US firms, as well as others from Europe and Asia. The administration of the Canal rests with the government of Panama so that no one firm will run the show. The Neutrality Treaty that I mentioned in Post #118, in effect, makes the US government and the US military the guarantors of the Canal as a whole. The PRC may want to rule the world, but that doesn't mean that they do."
Fair enough...however, I still chaff at the underhanded way H-W obtained the 50-year contract to run both ends of the Canal. Just because the PRC may not have full control of the Canal at the present time, shouldn't we follow up on AT LEAST forcing the illegal bids to be abandoned and the Contract Re-Bid with appropriate oversight?!
"Mud, think this through, from a logistical standpoint."
I've already conceded the legitimacy of your logistics point above...although I also believe that "where there's a will, there's a way." "Well, according to the copy I have in front of me right now, the author is "Bill Gertz."
Duhhh, my bad.
LOL and FReegards...MUD