N. Korean arrested in Lebanon, charged with anti-U.S. plot (Axis of Terror Link Possible)

The World Tribune.com ^ | 7 Feb, 2003

[Happy2BMe]

The North Korean, identified as Jim Kim Su, was said to have planned attacks on unspecified British and U.S. interests throughout Lebanon in an attempt to stop a U.S.-led war against Iraq. Jim, who was found with $3,000, had visited Ein Hilwe several times recently.

The Syrian detainee was identified as Assad Qaraan.

So far, the sources said, it is not clear whether the attack was sponsored by Al Qaida or Iraq. The North Korea and Syrian were handed over the Lebanese military for interrogation.

[Happy2BMe]

"The longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes."

Amen.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

North Korea had best be next or we won't be in a position to play catch up.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

You know, what strikes me is they keep saying ours is the pre-emptive strike. It isn't. Theirs was. They read history and believed it, we simply can't learn from previous mistakes. Hitler didn't build up all the weapons and tanks because it was a hobby. He meant to use them. Why couldn't we see that this time around? I have to say, it may be too late, and those who hate us knew we'd be too slow to pick up on it and too ignorant to do anything about it.

[Happy2BMe]

"You know, what strikes me is they keep saying ours is the pre-emptive strike. It isn't. Theirs was."

Does This Ring A Bell?

[judicial meanz]

Anyone who thinks there isnt a NK-China axis in this doesnt see the whole picture, IMHO.

When the US was kicking the lving crap out NK in the Korean War, 150,000 Chinese "volunteers" swarmed the Yalu river and attacked our forces. If this wouldnt have happened, NK would be a dusty old memory in some textbook.

There is no way China would allow any large scale military force by the US to be carried out so close to their long border with Korea. They would find a pretext to back North Korea.

I keep expecting the Taiwan crisis to ignite next, with China looking to bring their " renegade province" back into the fold. By seizing the worlds 12th largest economy, they can consolidate more finances under the pretext of national unity, just like they did with Hong Kong, and restart their faltering economic engine.

You guys are right, this will be a bumpy road. Strap on your seat belts.

[eyespysomething]

Me and hubby were talking last night about the good chance that something sh*&%y was going to happen, and the fact that something could happen to one of us or one of our 3 boys. We told each other how much we love each other, and reminded each other that the loss of one of our lives was less important than the continuation of the United States of America, and we always have and always will support Bush's just and moral war. I am not a fair weather American. And being a Christian, I have no fear of death, for I will only "go on to a higher place".
It still scares me, but I will have RESOLVE (thanks GWB) to hold the line.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

My son may be right, I have too much time on my hands, but I keep drawing parallels. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor, and it was the punch in the nose Americans had to experience before we were galvanized into action. On September 11, 2001, terrorists hit the Trade Towers, and Americans were finally awakened to the fact that eight years of appeasement and "diplomatic" entreaties weren't working. If 9-11 hadn't happened, Sadam would have had his Shop of Horrors up and working, North Korea would have had it's glow in the dark project fully operational. As I said, Hitler didn't stockpile all the weapons out of idle interest in arms. Perhaps, Osama bin Ladin was a friend he never intended to be and good may come out of the tragedy. None of the American dissenters would stand a chance in a country run by Communists or Muslim extremists. It's a foregone conclusion. I hope we can get through this without it coming to nuclear holocosts and suffering of untold magnitude.

[Happy2BMe]

"When the US was kicking the lving crap out NK in the Korean War, 150,000 Chinese "volunteers" swarmed the Yalu river and attacked our forces. If this wouldnt have happened, NK would be a dusty old memory in some textbook."

We killed far more than 150,000 Chinese regulars.

General of The Army (Four Star) Douglas McCarthur could have cleaned house quite smartly all the way up to the Communist Chinese border but was held back by President Truman.

The reason? Threat of nuclear war.

[judicial meanz]

Amen to that. We hear a lot from the whining and screaming babies of society, but there is one fact no one seems to understand outside of this country.

The real solid citizens of this country are in it for the long haul and understand the risks. They will fight to the last gulp of air to preserve this country from anyone.

So while the "I hate America" whiners spam polls, excessively call in to radio shows, and write constantly to newspapers and the like and attempt to make it look like they are a majority, the truth is, they arent and never will be. They are a perpetual juvenile idealist and stupid minority with a very loud mouth.

One more nasty first strike on this country, and they ( the whiners) will probably go into history too. When the American mind is made up in time of war, they dont usually tolerate dissent from scaredy cats.

I pray no more innocent people in this country die, and I know we have good leadership. But if all else fails, I will definitely spend the rest of my life if I have to fighting any enemy of this country.

Take care friend

[judicial meanz]

Absolutely!

[WestCoastGal]

Here's one in our own backyard!! Arrested in Santa Monica, California

Feb 5, 2003 12:10 pm US/Pacific
(AP) (LOS ANGELES) A snack shop owner who has lived in the United States for over 20 years was a spy paid by the North Korean government to recruit other agents, federal authorities said.

A criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles accused John Joungwoong Yai, 59, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, of failing to register as a North Korean agent as required by U.S. law.

Yai was arrested by federal agents Tuesday and was expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday afternoon. He faces a maximum 20-year sentence in federal prison, if convicted.

In the 76-page affidavit, FBI agent James G. Chang wrote that between December 1997 and April 2000, Yai was a North Korean agent living in the United States. The North Korean government paid him to identify and recruit other agents to meet with North Korean officials abroad, authorities alleged.

Chang wrote Yai was the subject of surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act from December 1996 until June 2000. During this period, investigators bugged Yai's downtown Los Angeles office and allegedly intercepted faxes, e-mail and telephone calls between Yai and his North Korean handlers. The communications were often filled with code words, the FBI said.

In April 2000, Yai and his wife, Susan Youngja Yai, traveled to the Czech Republic and Vienna to meet with a North Korean representative, authorities said. Upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport from Zurich, Switzerland on April 20, 2000, Yai and his wife declared to U.S. Customs officials they were not carrying more than $10,000 in U.S. currency.

"In fact, a search revealed that they were carrying $18,179," the FBI said in court papers.

Yai, a South Korea native, was charged with making fraudulent and false statements to a representative of the United States Customs Service and conspiring to make such statements, a criminal affidavit said. His wife was charged with making and conspiring to make fraudulent and false statements within the jurisdiction of the United States.

The investigation was ongoing to determine whether Yai's actions posed any threat to national security, said Cheryl Mimuma, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles.

Yai's wife will receive a summons to appear in federal court at a later date.

Although the State Department has listed North Korea as a sponsor of terrorism, terrorist activity was not suspected in the case, officials said.

[piasa]

bump...

Did you see a headline a while back (December?) that said Hillary met up with Chinese General Xiong who was here in Washington to discuss military exchanges - the same SOB who had threatened to nuke LA and the same guy responsible for violently crushing the pro-democracy demonstrators in Tianamen Square? Ever since then the N Koreans have been acting like a cross between a rabid wolverine and a pit viper with PMS. The Clintons have a special relationship with Xiong, I believe- wasn't he linked to the John Huang/Riady/Chang scandals, where the Korean-American, Chang, was bribing the Torch and the DNC for favors to help unfreeze North Korean assets?

[Cabbages and Kings]

GOSH!

[unspun]

- sigh -

Chicago just got a tacit reminder today, with the little fire with a-lot of smoke, atop the Quaker Oats building. Reminds us what is to be at risk. We Americans are so privileged; let's not be spoiled.

[Happy2BMe]

I erred in post #28 regarding General MacArthur's rank - he was one of the few Five-Star generals.

IMHO, the only American general officer living today worhty of filling his shoes is Army Four-Star General "Stormin-Norman" Schwartzkopf.

[wildbill]

Assuming this guy is not a French spy, the Arab Legion of Jordan used to be made up of Bedouins and Druze. They were some very very tough guys who threw the terrorists out of Jordan years ago in the time that the terrorists came to know as Black September.

Give 'em a knife and they'll have those guys singing in no time.

[AmericanInTokyo]

This story is showing up nowhere else.

It might be true... but, the way the accused's name is stated, it does not sound Korean. Looks like the person has two last names, or a last name for a middle name, which would be quite odd. Would be nice to verify independently. Maybe they just wrote it in the wrong order. I did see a photo of two guys in the back of a car, but they had jackets over their heads. Nothing else in Lebanese media.

[Happy2BMe]

-

[Lion's Cub]

Did you see a headline a while back (December?) that said Hillary met up with Chinese General Xiong who was here in Washington to discuss military exchanges - the same SOB who had threatened to nuke LA and the same guy responsible for violently crushing the pro-democracy demonstrators in Tianamen Square?

No, my schedule didn't afford me much FR time in Dec, unfortunately. I don't doubt that your memory is correct, though; and I don't believe it's a coincidence that Hildabeast made the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The Clintons have a special relationship with Xiong, I believe- wasn't he linked to the John Huang/Riady/Chang scandals, where the Korean-American, Chang, was bribing the Torch and the DNC for favors to help unfreeze North Korean assets?

I didn't follow the Torch investigation (only so much time) and I'm sure you are right, but I know he was part of the Huang/Riady noose.

BTW, your memory is great--he was here in Dec. I found this reference in my notes:

ChiCom General "Nuke the US" Xiong here for US-China "Defense Talks" - Full Court Press Over Iraq
Xinhua, Japan Economic News, AFP | 12-7-02
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/802558/posts

And for those who don't understand that China is ultimately behind our problems with the terrorist states and N. Korea, I offer the following FR links:

"Who Is Xiong Guangkai?"
Posted on 11/15/1999 03:23:17 PST by Severnside
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a382fed253218.htm

We know now the PRC and the North Koreans are in various joint ventures to sell weapons of mass destruction, and the missiles that deliver them, to terrorist nations in the Middle East. Given the mafialike way that the PRC government is run, it would be unusual if Gen. Xiong or his family did not have a financial stake in that sort of trade.

In that same thread, is the post of an additional article from Xinhua in November of '99:

China: Army deputy chief leaves for talks in Russia, France

Xinhua
0456 gmt 14 Nov 99

Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), left here today for a working visit to Russia and France.

Xiong is going for the visit at the invitation of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces and the Ministry of Defence of France.

Xiong is expected to hold discussions with the Russian and French sides on the situation of international strategic security and bilateral defence relations.

Then there are more recent articles that should give people pause:

Gen. Xiong pays a visit to Pakistan
Washington Times ^ | William C. Triplett II
Posted on 03/19/2002 9:04 AM EST by milestogo
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/649242/posts

(Snip)

The general may well have given the "Go" signal to North Korea's Taepodong I missile test in August 1998. Another Xiong visit, this time to Pyongyang, preceded the test by a few weeks. The multistage North Korean missile passed over Japanese territory and demonstrated an ability to strike parts of the United States.

(Snip)

There were two agreements announced in Islamabad on March 12, a "defense cooperation" agreement and a "defense production" agreement. (SNIP)

In January 1990, Iran and an element of the Chinese military signed a 10-year "defense technology transfer agreement." This led to an aggressive, and lucrative, proliferation of chemical weapons, biological weapons, nuclear technology, ballistic missiles and advanced conventional weapons (cruise missiles) transferred from Beijing to Tehran. The Clinton administration was forced to sanction Chinese military companies several times for this illicit trade. At her confirmation hearing in January 1997, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright even admitted to Sen. Robert Bennett, Utah Republican, that Chinese military companies were selling germ warfare equipment to Iran.

Pakistan's strategic weapons program simply would not exist without vigorous Chinese participation. Beijing has been instrumental with regard to the nuclear fissile materials, weaponization and the ballistic missile delivery system. Following on from the Iranian example, there is much more in the PLA inventory that could be transferred to make South Asia an even more dangerous place — ballistic missile upgrades, biological warfare equipment and technology, cruise missiles, chemical weapons equipment and technology, information warfare techniques and so on.

Gertz: China ships North Korea ingredient for nuclear arms
Washington Times via Drudge ^ | 17 December 2002 | Bill Gertz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/807784/posts

North Korea has purchased a large shipment of chemicals from China that can be used to make nuclear-weapons fuel, U.S. intelligence officials say.

North Korean procurement agents succeeded in buying 20 tons of tributyl phosphate, known as TBP, a key chemical used to extract material for nuclear bombs from spent nuclear fuel, said officials familiar with intelligence reports of the transfer.

There is plenty more information out there, and I doubt that any of this was news to Bush. I don't believe he would have listed N. Korea in his "axis of evil" unless he had some kind of hidden Ace with which to trump the China/N.K. hand.

I do not know how Russia will figure in this. They have signed defense pacts with China and might conclude that a US nuclear strike on China would be a welcome opportunity to reduce us to rubble, thus eliminating two competitors with one stone. But I have to conclude that Bush has thought this through and convinced them that a jihad waged with WMDs would not be in their best interest. At least, I hope he has.

BTW, piasa, I posted these links for lurkers and freepers who are just getting up to speed, as I know none of this information is new to you.

And I'm coming to the conclusion that this is the mess that Trannie was talking about. If the jihadists start shooting off WMDs on a regular basis, the call for a one-world police state government will be absolutely overwhelming. If nothing else, we've bought a little bit of time with the 2000 election.