Posted on 01/11/2002 2:08:31 PM PST by 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.
I don't care what you think, and as far as me arguing like a Democrat, let me give you a hint and a clue.
Stare into a mirror.
Thanks for proving my point. RUN RUN RUN
Is this the amateur lawyer in you talking again? What job would that be?
"In my opinion they should be impeached!"
Your opinion and close to $3 will buy you a tall Latté at the Starbuck nearest to your "law office".
You haven't the faintest idea of what you are talking about.
Is Ron Brown still dead?
Breathlessly....
Sure they are ChaseR. You just keep saying it and that'll make it true.
Get the net!
Are you the girl from Forest Gump?
You're wasting time. You could be DIGGING up Ron Brown's body as we speak.
Do you have a photo of a broken record?
Does the words "We must move on" ring a bell to you? When a president like Bush Jr., is telling the John Q. Public to "just move", he has failed in his duty to uphold the Constitution re having a former ex-president Bill Clinton. Clinton is not above the law and he also falls under that of a government employee who should be investigated for high crimes of treason. That is my point.
"Is this the amateur lawyer in you talking again? What job would that be?"
Are you attacking me or the subject matter?
"In my opinion they should be impeached!"
Your opinion and close to $3 will buy you a tall Latté at the Starbuck nearest to your "law office".
Actually, I prefer just plain coffee.
You haven't the faintest idea of what you are talking about.
No sir, it is you that hasn't the faintest clue of what TREASON means.
"No sir, it is you that hasn't the faintest clue of what TREASON means."
Best post to date! Good one goldi. - bttt
It seems to me that you are the one that knows that answer. It was you who refused to reveal to me the actual source of the photos of Ron Brown. BeAChooser pinged me and referred me to a site from NewsMax.com re some photos of Ron Brown and I'd be the judge of them myself. Upon observing of those photos, I really have reason to believe that Ron Brown was assassinated and that no autopsy or exumation of his body was ever performed. Instead, this has been covered up and no news has ever brought this up again.
It seems to me that you are the one that knows that answer. It was you who refused to reveal to me the actual source of the photos of Ron Brown. BeAChooser pinged me and referred me to a site from NewsMax.com re some photos of Ron Brown and I'd be the judge of them myself. Upon observing of those photos, I really have reason to believe that Ron Brown was assassinated and that no autopsy or exumation of his body was ever performed. Instead, this has been covered up and no news has ever brought this up again.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.