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.

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.

Happy Easter for those who celebrated the Christian events of the past holy weekend, to all others, happy spring as this week also marked the beginning of spring in many northern hemisphere locations.  Since my last rant there have been quite a few things going on in the world, let’s start from where we left off last time.

Over the past week the largest World News story on this end of the planet was the anniversary, and subsequent social unrest at the roof of the world.  While I should not go too in-depth on this topic, for obvious reasons I will cover the most interesting and contradictory aspect of the whole affair.  Xinhua, the official Chinese News agency, has been working overtime in the past week to spin the events of the civil unrest into Beijing’s favor.  While it is nothing new, or unique, it does bring up one really good question, one I will pose in a few moments.  While my old friend, Non-Stop Nancy Pelosi, made her way to Dharamshala India, the home of the Tibetan government in exile, Xinhua stated she was aligning with the rioters eventually calling her a looter, arsonists, and killer.  They could have logically gotten away with this if they had stopped here, but they had to push it into the realm of contradiction when they stated, “Finding a leverage to tarnish China, 'human rights police' like Pelosi are habitually bad tempered and ungenerous when it comes to China, refusing to check their facts and find out the truth of the case”, in its weekend edition.  Now for the question that this statement begs to ask, what are the facts and truth of the case?

If China wants ‘human right police’ to be good tempered and generous with China and its actions what must they do?  Allow foreign reporters access to areas of civil unrest?  Allow people with grievances against governmental actions to air their grievances in an open and civil forum with free, fair, and protected free speech about their situation and complaints?  Not have military or police escorts accompany foreign reporters to ‘authorized’ citizens for interviews in the police presence?  Have an open and transparent accounting for events up to and including the total number of deaths, causes, people responsible, hospitals autopsies were preformed in, burial places named, employees of said places available for interviews, and access to prisons where the accused were taken until their charges are to be filed?  This is the expectation of an open and democratic state and society, neither of which China is, has, or wants to be.  No, China would like the whole world to believe solely and totally in its own reports, accounts, and descriptions of the events as they see fit, spun in a mostly favorable light as possible, of course, wink wink, nod nod.

China is crying foul of world opinion because it can not control world views as it does its citizen’s views and opinions.  While it is not as bad here as in North Korea, it is still a restrictive and oppressive regime as evidences by its handling of the whole affair and subsequent press issue handling.  At first there was a reporting blackout (for almost a week), then only 10 Han people, the ethnic majority, were killed, no soldiers using any kind of weapons involved, then it was 13 killed, again Han people brutally attacked and savagely murdered, and this time the police had only self defensive weapons.  As the unrest spread into other provinces the military was involved, in the papers, and then only shots were fired to disburse the crowds, then it was live ammunition was used but only after great restraint and in self protection.  Well, being a fair and open minded person I can accept this if not for one glaring issue.  The Tibetan government, in exile, is claiming, and has claimed since the first day, that 99 to just over 100 Tibetans were killed.  Surely some were hurt and taken to hospital, maybe even killed in legitimate self defense by security forces, if so show the files and proof.  If the world is not being fair because the facts are missing, and China has closed off all access to seek and validate the truth, then the burden of proof lays on the Chinese governments, and believing the words and reports solely provided by the government, who has a vested interest in looking good, is far from enough to meet international standards.  By taking such a stance China is ever more looking like they are hiding something, something big, and playing right into the very stereotype they are crying foul over.  China has a credibility issue on the world stage, and there is no amount of propaganda or public relations spin that can reverse this perception; only open and fair access to the evidence will satisfy those who you have a grievance with, this is the reality of life on the global stage, welcome to prime time.

All over the National News is the recent study stating that 1 in 4 American teen girls, between 13 and 19, have at least 1 STD, sexually transmitted disease.  After reading the report, which states that the most common disease is Human Papilloma Virus, HPV (the virus responsible for cervical cancer), the rest with the usual suspects of premisocus behavior, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes.  Overall 1 in 3 African American teen girls are infected by at least one of these and 1 in 5 of both Caucasian and Latino teen girls also.  What are parents doing in America now?  I know what they aren’t doing, parenting.  In the 1980’s when AIDS was just starting out, teen pregnancies became all the rage, so STD's and teen sex is not a new topic.  Our culture of sexualization of our kids, mostly teen girls, and lack of strict and private disciplining of our children, is leading to a national epidemic.  In the Navy part of every port brief included the list of off limits areas and STD rates of the general population.  In Africa the AIDS rate was 90% in the 1990’s, and I can tell you this really sticks in your brain.  What will the port breifs be on America by visiting sailors?

Why is it we are allowing so many teen girls to have sex?  Last time I checked, having sex with girls under 18 was statutory rape, in many states it does not matter how old the male is.  While we all know this does happen, how has it gotten to such a disastrous level?  Dating is about learning how to tell someone you like them and work out your feelings, not about learning about sex and sexual acts first hand, that is what college is for.  My first girl friend’s mother told me that we were lucky to go out on dates, her husband and her were not allowed to do more then look at each other and talk before their wedding.  Now this is extreme but how did we get from the dating ideals of the 1950’s to an overall 25% STD rate we have now and have it happen so casually and with little to no public outrage?  In 50 years, just over 2 generations, we have swung the pendulum from one extreme to the other.  Unfortunately if parents try to discipline their kids now days it is classified as abuse and child services gets involved and we all end up like Britney Spears.  For 25% of teen girls in America to have a minimum of 1 STD then we have to have a minimum of 50% of American parents of daughters who do not know where their daughters are, what they are doing, or who they are doing it with!  This can not be blame shifted to the schools for lack of good sex ed classes, or the media for desensitizing us to images of teen sex and lust or sexually charges advertising seen in teen targeted media outlets, this is a parenting problem one that is damaging our future and national health.  Parents, get your heads out of the sand and sit your kids down and begin parenting before it gets worse, because as it is going now, it will get much worse by staying on the same course.

All the Political News rage was Barack Obama’s race speech in response to his former reverend’s pulpit speeches on race and America, former because Jeremiah White is now retired and Obama still lists him as an influence and mentor.  I watched the speech, I read the speech, it was a very good speech but…  I have stated before that Barack Obama gives very high rhetoric with very little substance, cotton candy if you like.  This is not to denounce any of his points, policies, or stances, quite to the contrary I believe in many of them up to a point, and that point is, they are inclusive on the highest level.  Obama does not flesh out anything, just gives glazing overviews of this issue or that topic.  We hear it and it makes sense, it sounds good, but we never get the plan for getting there.  Life is a journey.  Like any journey you need key elements to accomplish it.  I have stated this time and time again, you need an origin, where we are now, a destination, where we want to be or achieve, and a plan to get there, the tools we will use to accomplish our goals.  I believe in all the things Obama outlines in his speech, but I want to know how we are getting there.  Are we taking a car, bus, train, plane, walking, horse, jumping in the air and letting the Earth rotate below us, how?  

Race is an issue in America, sure we all know this, how are you going to fix it?  Everyone, except maybe Florida voters, can tell you race problems exist and need to be fixed, what we are looking for is real leadership to fix it.  Tell us the plan, don’t point to the 500 pound gorilla in the corner and tell me he is there, tell me what and how we are going to deal with him.  Poverty is an issue in America, yes we all know this as well, doin’t tell us it exists and how bad it is, tell us how you intend to fix it.  Education is becoming an embarrassment for our children in public schools, gosh we all knew this since the late 1970’s, how are YOU going to lead us to fixing it?  Healthcare is America has been broken and caught in HMO hell since the insurance industry took it over, again we all know this and have personally been affected by it but what we really want to know if HOW CAN WE FIX IT.  Get my point?

I too am a mixed race person.  Yes, I too associate more with one race that makes me up but I never state I am more then what I am, a Native American with German blood.  I might have issues seeing things in the same way my European ancestors did, but I do not discredit or abandon them at all.  I know I am, at most, ½ Native American and I did not grow up on a reservation, talking to or with other Native Americans (until college).  How can I then relate to them or their plights?  Why am I saying this, because I have not heard Obama state this clearly.  He states he is a black man, not a mixed man.  At most he is no more then ½ African American, rightfully so as his father is Kenyan.  His mother and her parents raised him in Hawaii.  His story is inspiring and uplifting, but he is not a full representative of one world or the other.  The point is, despite this I know how I would fix the issues we face, I would love to share my plans and convince people to back them, why isn’t Obama being as passionate and forceful with his ideas on fixing our nation?  Why is he, at this stage, not outlining his platform beyond the national inclusion phase of saying things nearly everyone can agree?  At least I know where Clinton stands on many issues, she has history we all can see, Obama has to over come this by telling us more.  You addressed you race issue, now follow up with some meat and potatoes on the issues you outlined other then race.  Fixing our racial and ethnic divides are far harder then just stating the obvious and that we need to work on them.  The speech was good, but it reminded me of a magic show, look at this hand while I dazzle you with the other.  I am still waiting to be sold, show me the plan.

Onto the Economy, I need to shift everything into big oil, all my investments.  Gas has hit $3.26 a gallon nationally and diesel $4.06!  This is only good for investors not living in the US as diesel is the major hinge for all consumer goods.  Ships, trains, and trucks run off of diesel.  Everything we consume arrives on our store's shelves thanks to diesel.  Food, electronics, clothing, books, batteries, greeting cards, dental floss, even our mail and entire service industry runs off of diesel.  When these prices go up, the items go up… this is called inflation.  Supply and demand dictates the rates and values of items, fuel is special as it impacts every other one.  The developing nations are hungry, making alliances we refuse or are unable to do, and therefore are competing with us for the rate commodity that is our fuel.  Venezuela it turns out is the largest exporter of an oil that can only be refined as diesel, but then we are only 1 or 2 places on the planet capable of refining it because of its bad quality and high sulfur content.  This means we are having to use oil originally destined for gas, jet fuel, or heating oil into diesel.  Those selling oil are in a sellers market, the rest of us are just along for the ride now, and it seems we are footing the bill more then ever.

On a positive note, and I wish we had more of these to discuss, the space shuttle Endeavour is heading back to Earth soon, completing its historic number of space walks and additions onto the ISS.  Soon this large lab in the sky will be done, then we get to ask the obvious question, now what?  The next president needs to recapture our imaginations and keep the march into the stars going.  Who knows what we can learn or find from these small steps back towards the stars, hopefully answers to our most immediate concerns, sustainable habitat.  While focusing on the small and selfish is good for the short term, we will eventually need to go other places to sustain on the long term.

In a recap of last week, Michigan seems to be following Florida’s lead and abandoning a re-vote attempt.  Now that the screaming, arm and leg furling, and crying has stopped maybe we can see the DNC act rationally, fairly, and stop the air of suspicion and conspiracy I have seen of late.  Super-delegates and back room deals will not solve this riddle.  Clinton called for the abandon of the Electoral College back in 2000 when Gore had the popular vote but not the College vote, now she is saying she is ahead in College votes therefore making her the logical choice, man how I love 180 degree policy changes.  In my opinion they need to seat half the delegates, in the percentages of their electorate and let the uncommitted decide where they want to go, as well as Edwards, and let the chips fall where they may.  There will be a contested convention I am sure, but the party has to plan for this and how they will resolve it, and hopefully this time they have learned from recent events and can prevent further trauma to their cause or our nations self image.

The events leading up to and around the Florida and Michigan delegate debacle have proved just how disorganized, dysfunctional, and fractured the Democratic National Party is.  Often people are amazed to learn I am a conservative.  Born in San Francisco, Native American, long hair, well read and educated at a liberal college but despite all this I can not agree with a vast majority of the things I see and hear coming out of the DNC and the party faithful mouth’s.  

Last summer there was speculation and talk of states challenging Iowa’s symbolic stance of kicking off the presidential campaign run by holding primaries ahead of the Feb 5, 2008 date set by the DNC by-laws and rules committee.  Only the traditional and historically early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada were authorized to have primaries/caucuses before February 5^th, Michigan’s Democratic party defied the rules and pushed for and got a Jan 15^th primary, Florida’s Democratic Party did not offer strong opposition or resistance to the Republican held state legislature from holding a Jan 29 vote that the primaries would be attached to.  Both states were warned in advance, both agreed, and all Democratic candidates signed pledges to not attend political rallies, air commercials, or campaign in either state, they could hold and attend fund raisers and non public appearance events.  In Michigan only 4 names were on the ballot, Hillary Clinton being the only real nationally recognized one.  Barak Obama ran a commercial in Florida on CNN during prime time but the ad was not targeted specifically to Florida residence.  

I have read the DNC rules, article 20, section C and it clearly states the consequences for holding an early voting process.  Please see the rules here, Page 24/27.  How is it the Republicans were able to work out a deal, seating ½ their delegates and taking care of the issues before the election was held and the Democrats still have not fully resolved this?  Leadership, or the lack thereof.  Howard Dean, the DNC chairman, is leading a party after his failed presidential campaign fell apart due to money mismanagement, public meltdowns, and speculation on who was running the show and now he is telling everyone else what to do?  Where there is smoke there is usually fire.  Despite violating the rules, agreeing to the consequences, and holding the vote anyway Florida is again looking like a fool on the national stage.  Michigan is quietly working things through and making deals to get as many delegates to count as they can despite the lopsided ticket people voted on.

Here is my problem.  Florida is crying foul and disenfranchisement.  You can’t have it both ways.  I have read people saying they did not know the Florida vote would not count.  Were you living under a rock on the moon?  I live in China, where my access to information is limited at best and I knew since December!  I have read people crying disenfranchisement because their votes will not count and this is America and how can this be?  Simple, you have no clue what you are talking about.  Primaries are not elections, they are nominations, which are run by private organizations (political parties), and your voting rites are observed under federal law for elections and elections only, thus your selection for a Democratic nominee is not governed by the federal government but by the organization who is sponsoring, running, and using the process.  You can only blame your state party officials for not serving your best interests, end of story.

Putting all this aside we are left with a huge rift that threatens to fracture the Democratic party to the point of fertile ground for a third party to be born.  There is talk on the bulletin boards and blogs of people stating they will vote Republican in the general election out of protest and disgust.  I see this as a mediocre threat used to just get the DNC to renege on its ruling and let the spoiled brat get dessert after not eating dinner.  As much animosity as the GOP has generated over the past 8 years I see it impossible enough liberals will defect to elect McCain in November, however there is a lot of in-fighting going on and getting worse within the part as well.

Due to the nearly impossible momentum needed to edge one candidate out over the other, barring a Garry Heart or Mike Dukakis type media firestorm, this is going to go down to the wire.  I am talking about math.  For those outside of Florida, who are not living under rocks on the moon, you know the magic number to be nominated by the DNC is 2,025.  This number is MINUS Florida’s 210 and Michigan’s 156 delegates.  I was unsure of this at first so I will be a little forgiving of those who did not know.  Obama has the lead with 1,400, Clinton has 1,251, and Edwards is holding onto his 26.  This is a 149 margin.  In Michigan Clinton got 55% of the vote, 40% were uncommitted due to lack of names on the ballots and the rest got 5% combined.  In Florida Clinton got 50%, Obama 33%, and Edwards 14%, if all Edwards voters went to Obama then he would have 47%, only 4 names on the ballot here.  With 1 large primary in April, Pennsylvania and then 7 in May and the final 2 in June before the Convention in Denver in August there is a real likelihood this could draw out even longer.  Math wise Obama just needs to keep on keeping on to take it to the wire, we all know Clinton will not concede until the fat lady has sung her final encore.  For Clinton to overtake Obama she needs to win by a margin of 60% or more, consistently past Pennsylvania.  With just under a 150 margin gap, even introducing FL and MI back into the mix, it really does not change the landscape enough to matter much.

Now for the hypocrisy angle.  If Florida and Michigan were allowed to re-vote, it would be a travesty and mockery of our selection process.  Do-over’s, and I have written about this syndrome before, are never fair or good.  Looking at the numbers, if Michigan did a re-vote, Clinton is not guaranteed her 55% margin as all the states surrounding Michigan split their votes and margins were in the ranges of less then 10%.  Since the January 15^th vote people have been given new information, had their views changed, modified, or altered by the events of the past 3 months.  In Florida, who would Edwards supports vote for?  Could Clinton wrap up the Latino vote like she did in Texas?  If they were allowed to campaign people’s views would change and the outcome would be too different to predict, in both states.  No, a revote is not necessary.  You voted in your private organization vote process, your re-vote comes in November.  Your state party officials caused your nomination votes to not count so cry to them and Howard, the screamer, Dean over your spilt milk and hanging chads.  The nomination process was to narrow the field down to 2 so the rest of the nation could chose, that is what happened.  If you get to revote then all early states get to revote again as well, to be fair.  From the point where just Clinton and Obama were left, let all these states re-vote as well so their voices can be heard.  Your state party broke the rules, knowing the consequences and went ahead anyway and this is the result.  Let’s leave the magic number at 2025 not 2381.  Its still an odd number, there are still plenty of states left, and hopefully the America people will quite trying to vote in a clone of the bad old days of Clinton scandals, lawsuits, economic shut downs, terrorists passes, and foreign policies that have resulted in a greater destabilized geopolitical landscape (Please remember, it takes years, usually 8 to see effects of foreign policy unfold and mature to a point where it can be measured, GW Bush only inherited a world WJ Clinton set up and grew).