Endangering Our Children and Our Nation

As a nation of people with disparate interests, we often disagree on political issues and about the events that shape our future as a country. But occasionally a threat arises which should cause us ALL to band together and take action. There is an editorial on Investors’ Business Daily you should read – sooner, not later. Before I got past the second paragraph, I knew this story needed to be posted immediately in the Daily Briefing section on The Daily Patriot, and that the issue warranted further study.

IBD entitled its editorial article, “Selling China The Rope To Hang Us.” Dramatic enough, but I instead entitled the link, “Treason or Stupidity at Commerce?” The first sentence in the IBD column is ominous: “On the eve of a visit by China’s No. 2 ranking military officer, the Obama administration loosens export controls on technology that will benefit Chinese missile development.” “Loosens” appears to be inaccurate, however. What President Obama has actually done is to delegate by executive order his own responsibility to the Secretary of Commerce for certifying exports of missile technology to Communist China.

Can someone please explain to me “why” the Obama administration (or any other) feels the need to allow the transfer of ANY technology and know-how, much less missile technology, to the military and government of Communist China? How exactly is our national interest served? Somebody, anybody, please enlighten me.

China sells us junk plastic toys and cheap manufactured conveniences. Our defense industry wants to sell China sophisticated technology to better aim its missiles at our children and at our soldiers in harm’s way. Is there any doubt that this same technology will eventually end up in Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Venezuela, or any of our other adversaries and enemies? Isn’t our government supposed to prevent such a risk?

Our elected officials must put an end to the careless, even treasonous, giveaway of sensitive technology. Treasonous. What else would you call it? Communist China is NOT our friend, and proves every day that it is not our ally. China is an adversary, and a ruthless competitor, economically and politically. Communist China engages in espionage against the USA every day. Anyone with half an ounce of common sense (even really smart people like Bill Maher) would realize that we as a nation should NOT be providing sophisticated military technology to Communist China.

During the 1990’s, the Clinton administration and its Commerce Department was directly responsible for the intentional transfer of critical missile guidance technology. That much is undisputed. To now repeat the error, by giving export control of such crucial technology to the circus barkers in the Commerce Department, is truly insane. What drives this lunacy, other than the greed and stupidity of politicians, their appointees, and corporate beneficiaries? How much longer will We the People stand by while Washington D.C. undermines the future of our country and the safety of our children and grandchildren?

Why worry, you ask? Are we fearmongering at The Daily Patriot? Shouldn’t we just trust the new Commerce Department to do “the right thing,” despite the failure of prior officials to do likewise?

President Obama’s third and ultimate choice for Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, has a checkered history involving illegal campaign donations from none other than the same influence-peddling Chinese lobbyists involved in the Clinton Chinagate scandal. So is Mr. Locke a trustworthy gatekeeper of our national secrets? Or will he, too, damage our national security as he allows Commerce to again cater to corporate interests?

Surely there is more to learn about Gary Locke before entrusting him with our nation’s security. Surely, there is also need for concern about his future decisions at Commerce based upon his past decisions and alliances. But the bigger issue here is whether or not any Commerce Department should be trusted, given its certain conflict of interest in regards to the sale of strategic technology. Perhaps it is more appropriate for President Obama to instead delegate such decision-making and analysis to the Defense Department and/or the CIA.

Friends and Fellow Patriots,

The original IBD article is actually two pages in length. Read them. Find other perspectives on the issue. Read those. Then do something! Pass the information along to a friend, but take action yourself! I will be calling, faxing, and/or emailing my elected Representatives, despite my skepticism of whether my Senators would ever oppose the efforts of the Commerce Department to sell ANY missile technology to the Chinese Government. Here are links to the Senators and Congressman that represent South Orange County, California: Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein, Congressman Campbell

Otherwise, you can locate your own representatives by using Google, Yahoo, or Bing, or better yet, start on this US government website.

Let me know what you think. Let me know what you’ve done about it. Your comments are welcome below.

(Thanks to my friend, Jim Dockstader, for his prompt feedback to my original post. He was the inspiration behind additional research, citations, and streamlining.)

Mark Roknich
Editor
The Daily Patriot

The Debate Over Gitmo

There has been broad coverage regarding the legality of what the Bush administration did directly after 9/11 to protect the country. What I find interesting is how facts don’t seem to play a big role in the discussion by the pundits and politicians. It is more about Democrats vs. Republicans than resolving questions of national security and the appropriate response to imminent terrorist threats.

Why are people so concerned about the treatment of the Gitmo detainees and their due process when we have Obama-approved Predator drones flying over Afghanistan and Pakistan firing Hellcat missiles into suspected terrorist hideouts (operative word is “suspected”)? I don’t think there was a lot of due process for those on the receiving end, but this is an inconvenient fact that makes the treatment of Gitmo detainees look tame – unless you believe that death is preferable to prison. Are these “suspects” that much different than the people we captured and brought to Cuba? We know collateral damage occurs (translated – innocent bystanders killed), but this gets less coverage than our lengthy discourse on what is torture – some of which would only be considered hazing at many college fraternities – since it is no longer the Bush administration that is in office. Is this not blatant hypocrisy? The Pelosi, Obama, Cheney drama is a real treat as the facts slowly trickle out. Read more