Loral fined $14m over China missiles claim{Treason is cheap these days…}

ft.com ^ | By Edward Alden and Peter Spiegel

[expose]

Loral fined $14m over China missiles claim

By Edward Alden and Peter Spiegel in Washington

Loral, the US satellite company, said it would pay $14m to the US State Department to settle a claim that it improperly gave technical information to China that may have aided that country's nuclear missile programme.

Loral also said the Justice Department had ended its investigation of the company and would not pursue any criminal charges.

The fine marks the last chapter in a bitter political battle in Washington in which Republicans alleged that during the Clinton administration the US had turned a blind eye to actions by Loral and other satellite makers that may have threatened national security.

Loral agreed to the fine, which will be spread out over seven years, without admitting or denying the government's charges.

The investigation arose out of the 1996 explosion of a Chinese rocket carrying one of Loral's Intelsat satellites. Loral subsequently took part in a technical investigation of the launch failure, which it inadvertently shared with the Chinese. The US Defence Department found that the technical data given to China may have helped the Chinese improve the accuracy of their military rockets and missiles, which use similar technology. Experts have since questioned whether anything of military value was given to China.

Bernard Schwartz, Loral chief executive, said on Wednesday the data were mistakenly sent to China by a Loral employee without approval by the US government, and expressed regret. He said the company had since greatly improved its oversight.

The Loral incident led to a detailed congressional investigation, which concluded China had been stealing an array of US military secrets. It resulted in severe restrictions on US satellite exports imposed in 1999.

The Justice Department had also been investigating a separate incident involving Hughes Electronics, another US satellite maker. Richard Dore, a Hughes spokesman, said on Wednesday the company had also been informed by Justice that no criminal charges would be filed.

But Hughes lawyers will meet State Department officials this month to discuss their own settlement of the matter and whether a fine will be necessary. "We've contended all along that we followed the government guidelines," said Mr Dore.

Hughes was accused of helping improve Chinese rocket and missile technology while investigating launch failures. The satellite-building unit of Hughes, Hughes Space and Communications, was sold to Boeing in 2000, but Hughes retained liability for the technology transfer investigation.

Lockheed Martin also agreed to pay $13m in 2000 after a company it acquired was accused of helping a Hong Kong company with ties to Beijing. <P.

[ChaseR]

"Good luck with the move. Have fun!"

rofl...how about helping out. This packing of 'stuff' - is really gonna s**k!

[MeekOneGOP]

rofl...how about helping out. This packing of 'stuff' - is really gonna s**k!

---

Sure, man! How much does it pay???. . .
:o)

[Luis Gonzalez]

I have done one FR radio show, I am scheduled to do more, next one thursday the 24th.

What do I think of the "allegations" on the Loral case? Exactly which "allegations"?

[philman_36]

Let me understand this now, and please forgive me, coming from a country where dissidence was punished and ridiculed in public I get confused sometimes; you get to set my opinions, my agendas, my discourse, and my ideals?
You might have come from a country where this was happening, but when you came here makes a big difference IMO, thus the reason why I asked the question.
If you came here as a child then most of your formative years were lived as a "free" person, unlike a person who came from say...the USSR or some such country as an adult, and for you to keep throwing out your "country of origin" seems...well...disingenuous. Just curious.

Would you and Herr ChaseR be conducting all future interrogations for the Reich?
I don't speak for "Herr ChaseR" but I was not meaning to make you feel like I was a Nazi, nor that you were being interrogated.
But your inference seems to make me a Nazi.
Thanks for equating me with murderers. You're such a nice guy. And all I did to get this was to ask a couple of questions. WOW!

[ChaseR]

<"I have done one FR radio show, I am scheduled to do more, next one thursday the 24th."
183 posted on 1/16/02 7:14 AM Pacific by Luis Gonzalez

Then, for the first time ever, I'm copping out. I can not and will not - sit here a debate with you. I just can not it. (yes, this is a full fledged copout- and in all my years here I've never, ever passed up a debate over bastard Clinton's Chinagate...and this is a darn shame, but I will NOT - press on further with Mr Gonzalez. Just can't do it. (just about anyone else - and I'd continue on at my usual pace!)
Luis, I heard you that first time - and you did such a good job on all the other topics - that I can not bring myself to cause you any hassle. I'm outa this thread and I want you to continue to do the best for FR. Thanks, ChaseR

[ChaseR]

(philman and any others, I know that you all see me as copping out on this all important and devastating Chinagate issue - and I am. (I know that I could really slam hard on certain individuals in this latter part of this thread.) You all debate this - I just can not use my usual skills on Luis. Won't Happen! (off I go, tail between legs damn it)

[GOP_1900AD]

For the record, you can count me among the "let's turn over all the rocks-ers". Let's turn them all over, no matter how smelly whatever is underneath may be. Sometimes, large organizations benefit from a major shock to the system. A nation is certainly no exception. Shine the light of day on all the treason, geopolitical incompetance, and, short term non-strategic thinking. Then, let the chips fall where they may. I don't care if even the guy I voted for, George W. Bush, ends up with embarrassing egg on his face or worse, I really don't. At this point, doing the right thing is far more important to the security of the nation than political intrigue or maintenance of the tenets of Dale Carnegie Training. Off with the gloves time, folks. Black and white time. The end of the age of liberalism, secular humanism and moral relativism is nigh. A sea change as great as the one that hit during the late 1800s and first few decades of the 1900s appears to be brewing. Either sieze the initiative and welcome the next paradigm, or be left behind. Study your history folks... you know I am right! (and Right!).

[Luis Gonzalez]

It doesn't matter WHEN you came here, and that theory of yours about living formative years as a FREE person is bunk, very few people have a better understanding of FREEDOM than Alexander Solzhenitsyn, or of the evil that the lack of FREEDOM can give birth to than Armando Valladares.

ChaseR flagged me FOUR times to this thread, obviously an obsession, DEMANDING that I discuss my opinion on the Loral case, he did everything he could think of to get me to debate the subject with him, and I can't figure out WHY he would simply pick me out of thin air to do this (well, actually, I do know why...I've been a mean man to his pet boy, BeAChooser, and I guess ChaseR feels obligated to protect his sycophants), and I included you ChaseR in the reply,lest I am accused of talking about you behind your back.

ChaseR does not truly wish to debate the Loral case, he wants to bash the administration, but that's OK, people with limited knowledge have a tendency to bash away unfounded, and I am not in the mood for a flame war right now.

Mentioning the country that I came from is disingenous? To whom? To you?

I'll get over the dissappointment that your lack of approval brought...OK, I'm over it.

As far as comparing you to Nazi...it was you conducting the interrogation...shoe fits?

[ChaseR]

For the record, you can count me among the "let's turn over all the rocks-ers". Let's turn them all over, no matter how smelly whatever is underneath may be.

I absolutely agree.

[However, I can not post what I had easily conjured up yesterday afternoon and last night. No. Just can not go after this good man. Just can't. (and I'm not feeling sorry for this person - he knows debating skills and would do quite fine.) I just will not debate with him and end up feeling guilty about it. (the way I come across sometimes-a bit harsh-) ( "a bit"...rofl)
I like everything Luis on air that night. He doesn't need to hear all the damn good phrases I usually use and tie in with the facts. (and I'm sure that Luis would fend them off pretty eaisly, but I'm not going to proceed with this way against Luis)

"Shine the light of day on all the treason, geopolitical incompetance, and, short term non-strategic thinking."

This is what bothers me here. I'm actually pussying out -I would normally continue on with anyone)

I don't care if even the guy I voted for, George W. Bush, ends up with embarrassing egg on his face or worse, I really don't.

There is no way out of this - I won't proceed any further. Just can't.
(of course, anyone else who cares to jump in - and take Luis's place...hurry - ping me!)

"Off with the gloves time.."

LOL, I had 'em off last yesterday/last night - and for the first time ever-felt guilty about how I posted to someone here at FR. NO, won't happen, but I invite any other move-oner.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Why don't we cover the subject on the show next week?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"NO, won't happen, but I invite any other move-oner."

Can't help yourself, can you?

Show me the statement that I made calling for us to "move on".

[ChaseR]

"Why don't we cover the subject on the show next week?'

No, I'm not very polite sometimes - and I am not cowering here - but I've made up my mind not to end up - being inpolite to you.

[ChaseR]

"Show me the statement that I made calling for us to "move on".

I just felt that you where being a 'move-oner' when I made the dramatic statement below concerning our country and you came back with something that was - ahhh...very shameful (I say shameful because I was being sincere - and you mocked it - or so it appeared to me:

To: ChaseR
"I tell ya one God Damn thing for sure - and that's the fact that "our nation" - will SOON BE GETTING - A HUGE MESSAGE!!"

Oh my God! It's Jeanne Dixon!

Now you saying that funny line didn't hurt my feelings - no..hahaha..that doesn't happen with me - here at FR, but I felt that with me being so sincere in what I stated - that it did not deserve such a sarcastic reply. That's all. (and I guess I perceived you being a 'move-oner' - if your not, good, if you are a 'move-oner' and want to forget about investigating Chinagate and Loral - then I hope other posters jump on you quickly - but, I can not proceed here - against you - what-so-ever. (thus, I am pussying out/copping out)
Now, in regards to me not going on with this - and you - in this thread - I'm not going to do it. You represent FR on radio - and I'm not going to use my (ok, I'll say it: - - use any of my harsh tactics with you...I'll just quickly walk away and accept any or all laughing criticism as I leave this thread.)

[philman_36]

As far as comparing you to Nazi...it was you conducting the interrogation
You've got a warped sense of what an interrogation actually is if you think asking questions on a public forum is an interrogation. Why do you voluntarily come back?
If you're so familiar with flights to freedom then surely you must really know what interrogation is really like under regimes like Hitler and Castro. Have I tortured or starved you? Have I forced sleep deprivation or harsh labor on you? Have I done anything other than ask of you a few simple questions?
You just want to equate me with Nazis and you are wrong for doing so and you know it, but now that you've said it you can't take it back! I see how you operate.
You're one twisted puppy Luis.

[ChaseR]

"...but I've made up my mind not to end up - being inpolite to you."

anyone else -and it involves Chinagate...Screw 'em - I be harsh as I please to defend a full Chinagate investigation!

[ChaseR]

these other fine posters like philman and Chooser and all our other good friends blast ya if you're a move-0ner - - - I won't - I can not attack anyone who spends their valuable personal time - volunteering to work extra hours - at a radio microphone - pushing FR. (my pussy soft touch is showing damn it) I'm copping out and this is someone tough - because all of this involves Chinagate - but - anyway - now I'm leaving - go downstairs and mix up some iced tea...later

[Luis Gonzalez]

I would just like to know how you came up with the idea that we disagree on Chinagate?

[ChaseR]

"I would just like to know how you came up with the idea that we disagree on Chinagate?"

I'll post this again:
To: ChaseR
"I tell ya one God Damn thing for sure - and that's the fact that "our nation" - will SOON BE GETTING - A HUGE MESSAGE!!"

"Oh my God! It's Jeanne Dixon!"
107 posted on 1/15/02 6:20 AM Pacific by Luis Gonzalez

That's why. I thought perhaps - with that scarcastic statement - that you didn't really care what happened about a full Chinagate investigation. If I'm wrong here - then good. Glad to here it. (but, I also loudly and fervently - that Judicial Watch is doing their best - with their Loral Shareholders case - and maybe, just maybe - this Judicial Watch (KLAYMAN) - case - will end up exposing Chinagate - to the general public at large.) (in other words, anyone who blasts Klayman's Chinagate cases - Must realize - that Klayman - is now our Last and Only chance for full Chinagate investigation!)

[ChaseR]

"(in other words, anyone who blasts Klayman's Chinagate cases - Must realize - that Klayman
- is now our Last and Only chance for full Chinagate investigation!)"

Like Klayman or not - he and his group - are now this countries - only chance for Chinagate investigation.
(iced tea is great/kids home in fifteen minutes/no time to proof for typos)

[ChaseR]

my #198/this typo needs to be corrected/still hurrying in my typing:"Glad to hear it."