That loud bang in the Middle East last September, and barely mentioned outside of the news feeds, was indeed a Syrian nuclear facility under construction with the material and technological help of the North Koreans being leveled by Israeli war planes.  Israel found out, as well as the US, and took the action of bombing it last Sept 6th with no talk or retaliation, condemnation, or even a peep form anyone, and the media completely ignored it.  I remember seeing it and thinking it was odd and in the days following thought the rumors of the mysterious building blow up had to be the purported nuclear facility.  I thought I blogged about it, but I can’t find it in my search tool or by investigating the logs.  I forgot about it as no one mentioned it again, until now.

 

The Wall Street Journal is questioning the timing and accusing the Bush administration of saying one thing about North Korea, a terrorist supporting state, while doing another, preparing to suggest lifting of sanctions due to North Korea’s nuclear technology proliferation being exposed (without them declaring it that was part of the original agreement).  Routers is being less conspiracy lead in its reporting but it still asks the questions of why go public and now (the answer is the lifting of scansions).  While the US media is focusing on the scansions and the timing the BBC is correctly reporting on the connection between the Syrian facility and the North Korean one at Yongbyon.  While Syria denies ever having a nuclear facility or working with with the North Koreans on such a facility, the soon to be released video tape showing North Koreans working on the facility will tell a different story.  This explains the lack of outrage on a violation of air space, international boundaries, and a bombing run against a sovereign nation not at war with Israel.  Syria to this day denies any such cooperation or deal ever existed, despite the bombing run and destruction of the facility as a consequence.  If the proof is irrefutable then Syria will join the long line of habitual liars about their military aims and aspirations in the region.

 

Why is this significant?  The same reason anything about the Middle East is.  The region is home of the most hostile, hatred soaked, fundamentalists, uneducated, and hopeless groups in the world with oil reserves and material resources to wage war in every country of the world, and doing it.  This is much more then just about oil.  Three of the world’s major religions have their origins in the region, civilization has its origins in the region, despite the smart people migrating out of the region over 3,000 years ago it still holds the most significance to us all culturally, politically, and economically.  How is this?  Culturally the region holds the old ruins and artifacts from the time before the Egyptians rose to power to the end of the Crusades.  Politically because a stable Middle East has never been known in any of our times.  Sure the French and British had large major colonies in the region but they ultimately failed showing the instability under that system.  The area is still a major trade route, by land, sea, and air.  The area is one of the least technologically advanced and poorest and therefore needs stability and security to give their peoples hope and futures.   The area holds numerous resources, natural and human.  We have not paid more attention to the Middle East since WWII and we are reaping the harvest of those policies, just like in Africa.

 

Despite all this the facts will point to the two following conclusions; North Korea was proliferating nuclear technology despite the agreements stating it would not do so and Syria was actively and covertly trying to obtain nuclear technology without acknowledging it after surveillance confirmed it and military action halted it.  Now we have to deal with the fall-out of these two facts.  North Korea and Syria governments have proven to be liars and underhanded in their admissions and plans with the international community.  Rewarding North Korea with lifting of sanctions and a free pass on their violation of non-proliferation agreement is the wrong message to be sending to Iran.  Rewarding Syria by doing and saying nothing sends a stronger and clearer message to countries who are not under international scrutiny for nuclear weapons or material processing.  If Bush and his administration could keep their word and stick to a hard line they would have more credibility then waffling on requirements and going back on their public rhetoric in a public forum like they are now.  It seems Bush is more concerned with his winning friends and deals then with keeping vigilant and resolute against proliferators of nuclear programs by rogue governments built on secrecy and hidden agendas.

As you can tell from my 2 Thailand photo albums, I have exceeded my photo quota for the month, 500 pictures uploaded.  We visited 3 areas of Thailand, Chiang Mai, in the north, Phuket in the south, and finally Bangkok in the middle.  I will have to wait for next month to finish my photo albums as I did take too many pictiures yet again.  I will try to blog about the trip as many interesting things happened in each locatin.  Enjoy the photos I have posted and know I am not finished just yet.  Also I have pictures from Shanghai's Forest Park, the only natural wooded park in the city, well just outside the city but a nice park to go to none the less.

It is always a shame when your vacation time comes to an end, this time was especially so.  We are back in Shanghai, tanner, healthier, and more relaxed but going through sun, sand, surf, clear air, amazing sunsets, and friendly people withdrawals, not to mention currency shock.  After 9 days, 3 cities, over 2,000 photos, and many mini adventures I hope to find the time to share these along with insights into Thailand from both an American and Chinese perspective (care of my wife's observations).

 

We were in Chiang Mai, a northern city close to the border with Myanmar (Burma) and not too far from Laos, for 3 days enjoying the jungle tours, seeing the old temples, or wat in Thai language, and enjoying the relaxed and laid back atmosphere of the north.  Next we spent 4 days on Phuket Island, the largest island in Thailand, located on the southwestern side of the country, and sandwiched between the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Phuket on the north and the Phang-nga Bay on the east.  Due to the location this is a prime tourist spot with all the charm and trappings of such. 

 

We rounded up our adventure with a full day and night in Bangkok, the capital, and took in what we could in just less than 20 hours, minus 6 hours for sleep of course.  The capital offers a much different view of Thailand as the city is a major Asia Pacific hub for finance, commerce, and trade and this is reflected in its views, attitudes, and atmosphere.  We did the tourists thing, seeing the Royal Palace and shopping in one of Thailand's larger shopping malls, can't remember which one right now, and was able to get all the VAT (variable allowance tax) back from the mall shopping we did.  We did hit the Patong Bar scene and after an hour and a half were pretty much board and did get out of being ripped off, well only ripped off slightly, before returning to our hotel only to be kept up most of the night by unruly Koreans screaming at each other most of the night and morning.

 

Back in Shanghai we were shocked by the cool, damp, and smoggy conditions, hence the withdrawals, but we did get a day and a half to decompress, unpack, and watch something besides Star Movies or BBC.  I will be getting the photos converted and uploaded over the week as well as highlights of the trip.  Thailand was a great place to visit and one I am wanting to visit again, and if the US dollar can improve, as well as the Chinese RMB, will definitely go back to again and soon.