Supporters of reformer and lawyer Gao Zhisheng have been trying to confirm rumors that he died after being tortured by the government. In a chilling response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu stated that Gao is “where he should be.”
Gao was arrested after advocating legal reforms, including ending the persecution of the banned Falun Gong spiritual group. He has disappeared since his arrest in February. Ma stated: “The relevant judicial authorities have decided this case, and we should say this person, according to Chinese law, is where he should be.” That should send a cold chill up anyone’s spine.
Of course, the Obama Administration is hardly in a positioning to demand an investigation into the torture allegations when it has blocked any investigation in the Bush torture program.
For the full story, click here.
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49883820100705
TIMELINE – Ethnic Chinese punished for stealing secrets, spying
Mon Jul 5, 2010 12:01pm IST
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese court on Monday sentenced an American geologist to eight years in jail for attempting to obtain and traffic in state secrets, one year after his trial ended and two-and-a-half years after he was detained.
Stephen:
my wife says I am more emotional than she.
Stephen:
trade wars do no country any good. Open free trade will create jobs for both countries and reduce costs to consumers. You cannot protect jobs at home through trade barriers.
When Bush placed a tariff on steel coming into the country to try and save union jobs he put the squeeze on independent fabricators who needed the less expensive steel to provide products. I don’t remember the exact number but he rescinded the tariff because it ended up costing more jobs than it saved.
Fortunately or unfortunately we live in a global economy.
When I buy a loaf of bread from the corner bakery do I have a “trade deficit” with the bakery? The same is true when buying products from another country. I have my loaf of bread and they have my $5 dollars. I buy the bread from the bakery because it is easier to buy than make at my house and maybe even cheaper. If the bread is cheaper to buy at the bakery I have additional dollars to spend on other things or to put in savings. Both of which help the economy. The principles are the same when dealing with international trade.
The pie is not static, it can be ever expanding. There is no limit. Free trade helps expand the pie. Trade barriers lead to reduced standards of living and weaker economies.
Stop projecting Byron. Where was I emotional?
If you’ve got a better idea to kick start manufacturing in the U.S., I’m listening. Trade wars can be avoided if the major consumers of Chinese products work out a trade agreement. That wasn’t quite possible in the thirties. Seriously, if you’ve got a better idea, or any “concept” lets see it.
I suppose you’d rather wait until China demands full payment on our growing trade deficit.
Steep tariffs on Chinese products would send us into a world wide trade war and a depression, go back to the 1930’s and learn from history. It did not work then, it wont work now.
Concepts, not emotions are what will win the day in China. Unfortunately President Obama has an economic/political view closer to Main Land China than Main Street America.
Time for steep tariffs on Chinese products.
they have control of banks and industry through heavy regulation in China. Makes one wonder if it really is a good idea to yield control of the private sector to the state.
Free markets are a corollary to political freedom, you cannot have one without the other. China is a perfect example of this simple concept.
Off Topic and Somehow related.
Will any real useful information be exposed??????
Government posting wealth of data to Internet
By PETE YOST
The Associated Press
Friday, January 22, 2010; 2:28 PM
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Friday is posting to the Internet a wealth of government data from all Cabinet-level departments
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012200768.html
And these guys are taking over more and more of the global economy.
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2010/01/heartbeat-of-unobtainium.html
How did the “real” truth come out about Tillman?
The September 25, 2005, edition of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported that Tillman held views which were critical of the Iraq war. According to Tillman’s mother, a friend of Tillman had arranged a meeting with author Noam Chomsky, a prominent critic of American foreign and military policy, to take place after his return from Afghanistan. Chomsky has confirmed this.
I wonder if Gao met the same fate?
Professor,
I could not agree more. It appears that it is time for the Obama Adm to do the right thing. Here, what has happened to the person a good question.
But how much has the Chinese invested in the US? That dictates how much actual pressure can be applied. But then again, they shoot students for protesting. We shoot students for protesting.
A story was posted on the New York Police… that leads me to believe that they, the Obama Adm is at least trying to do the correct thing. Or there may be external pressures for them to not let this just die. Or it may be a Photo Opt time. The questions to be answered are more numerous than answers we have had of late.
U.S. will appeal Blackwater case
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0110/vpotus_in_baghdad_fa94a019-0385-403b-b599-675d2fba04ed.html
“A cold chill” indeed.