By Much like my prior post on the Wikileaks documents, these documents that show that China was actively thwarting UN sanctions on North Korea pretty much just confirms what those of following North Korea already knew:
Last week we raised with you information regarding North Korean plans to send a shipment, probably for Iran’s ballistic missile program, to Iran. We believe the cargo is intended for Iran’s Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG), which is responsible for Iran’s solid-propellant ballistic missile program. You had requested additional information.
– We now have reason to believe that the items above will be shipped to Iran via scheduled Iran Air flight on November 4.
–If these goods are missile-related, North Korea is prohibited under UNSCR 1718 from exporting missile-related items and UN Member States are prohibited from importing those items. In addition, North Korea would potentially be precluded under UNSCR 1737 from transferring these items to Iran if they are among the missile-related components included in S/2006/815 or if North Korea or China determines that they would contribute to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. Moreover, SBIG is designated in United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737 and, as such, is subject to the mandatory asset freeze called for in the resolution. With these concerns in mind we are asking that Chinese authorities investigate this shipment and prohibit it from proceeding to Iran. [The Guardian via the Marmot's Hole]
You can read a whole lot more documents about this issue at the link.
2:05 pm on November 30th, 2010 1
There was an Australian comedy called The Hollowmen about life in politics, in which one of the characters rather deadpan warns everyone to stop making jokes about "our powerful and vindictive Ally, the Chinese". The line always stuck with me.
2:34 pm on November 30th, 2010 2
Is anybody out there at all surprised by this?
3:35 pm on November 30th, 2010 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSXNJMP8ir4
5:46 pm on November 30th, 2010 4
Has Wikileaks been doing large dumps of secret documents from other nations, or just the US?
I have been reading nothing about this until now.
For example, has he gotten loads of documents from Saudi Arabia or Egypt or China or even Brazil and dumped them in large batches?
6:19 pm on November 30th, 2010 5
usinkorea, or Russia.
Very little, but as you know those countries would actually hunt him down and kill him along with his informants. He's a coward.
6:44 pm on November 30th, 2010 6
The people there say they want to make the world more transparent in order to make it better.
If it really does produce document from governments the world over – however – it will become the tool of the intelligence agencies all over the world: They will be leaking both real and fake documents to manipulate the world media and foreign governments.
And Wikileaks will just be either pawn or active player — active player if it continues to pick and choose which nation to embarrass.
It will also become a pawn for different political parties and individual politicians – who already selectively leak information in order to manipulate the media and voting population.
6:58 pm on November 30th, 2010 7
I don't see Mr. Assman releasing his internal Wikileaks strategy memos…hmmmmm seems some secrets are okay as long as they are his.
8:01 pm on November 30th, 2010 8
#7
Haha, that's funny. Any leak on his defense strategy for rape accusations against him?
Or how about some dumps from North Korea. Surely he's interested in improving the lives of people in North Korea?
And yes I second he's a coward for not dumping secrets from Russia or China. He will surely be hunted down, and not their news media like CNN/FOX.
8:21 pm on November 30th, 2010 9
"Any leak on his defense strategy for rape accusations against him?"
That actually was leaked, his defense is that the CIA framed him. Two women who are also anarchists and have worked for wikileaks since it's foundation have come forward with the allegations that he raped them.
Clearly the CIA isn't evil enough, the man is still alive. The Russians would have shot him in the back of the head 30 times with an AK and left a suicide note written in Russian. Just about no one would blink an eye.
8:46 pm on November 30th, 2010 10
"If it really does produce document from governments the world over – however – it will become the tool of the intelligence agencies all over the world: They will be leaking both real and fake documents to manipulate the world media and foreign governments. "
You're probably right. I would love to believe that China is really done with North Korea, but The timing certainly is suspicious.
10:45 pm on November 30th, 2010 11
I know it's popular to call condemn the actions of Julian Assange, question his goals and call for his death…
…but there are a lot of deeper questions here that need to be considered with thoughtful caution… as the wrong answers can lead to unintended consequences.
1. While the major corporate media companies with close ties to the government try to paint Wikileaks as something other than journalists, how exactly do they operate differently?
Wikileaks does not even actively spy like an investigative journalist might… they simply accept information from willing sources and release it to the public… no different than a million other inconvenient examples from Watergate to Climategate… except they don't pollute the primary information with spin.
The MSM pretends to gasp at this terrible and shocking behavior but happily sells advertising space as they quickly sort, analyze and publicize the leaks… even more damaging than Wikileaks bulk release which the dumbed-down population is hardly motivated to sort through.
Ignoring the actions of the MSM while condemning Wikileaks is not exactly consistent thinking… but trying to limit either is very dangerous to fundamental concepts of America.
2. The Justice Department is trying to have its cake and eat it, too… trying to manipulate the law to fit its political desire. That's never good.
It is desperately trying to find a way to prosecute Julian Assange for breaking (possibly imaginary) laws… yet it doesn't recognize any rights under the First Amendment.
Of course, as an Australian not in America, he likely has no First Amendment rights… but, then, he has no duty to follow any American laws… much like an American might feel little duty to follow North Korean laws… or Sharia Law.
Some years ago, America started to make laws that applied to Americans outside of America (even if the action was legal in the place they were). It is even more disturbing when America starts trying to make laws that affect non-Americans for actions not done in America.
If you don't instantly recognize some of the far-reaching and terrifying implications of this, kill yourself now so you don't further pollute the voting pool.
3. And, about those First Amendment protections… there is a difference between classified information being stolen… and a non-connected person who passively receives this information and spreads it… which is what reporters do all the time from Washington insiders looking to promote their agenda while sabotaging others'.
This difference between "stealing" secrets and "spreading" former secrets, is why the Justice Department has never pushed a case like this no matter how irritated they are at the reporter.
It is a better course for the government to keep tighter control of their secrets than to have them controlling free speech.
There are many more aspects of this that should be looked at from a bigger picture than a very dumbed-down, "It was against America so off with his head!"
Regardless of real, perceived or media/government-manufactured motivations, Julian Assange's goal to leak information from less-than-honest organizations is not that bad of a thing.
Any thoughts on these points?
1:30 am on December 1st, 2010 12
11 ChickenHead, I was wondering why my "spidey-senses" have been going off, not so much about the "leaks". But about the MSM uproar. Not that I watch the MSM much. I was however surprized at O'reilly's reaction. So full of condemnation for a non-american. While that pissant army private was little more than a footnote. But then again, what should I expect from a Harvard Grad that makes a living pretending to be one of the folks.
I haven't heard of any released docs that I either didn't suspect anyway or are any real threat. But I'm not overly concerned in this area. More concerned about the "someone" deciding they need to have control over the Net in order to Protect anerican interest. America has developed a Habit of working itself into a panic and making decisions without taking due time, because WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW!!!
That thinking concerns me more than the "leaks".
Perhaps the Leaks are a set-up. Perhaps I've just watched too many movies about the Frence Underground.
5:10 am on December 9th, 2010 13
#9
"That actually was leaked, his defense is that the CIA framed him. Two women who are also anarchists and have worked for wikileaks since it’s foundation have come forward with the allegations that he raped them."
Not quite. And if anyone thinks the standard for rape is being set too low in the U.S., you had better abstain if in Sweden.
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/sex-by-surpr…