While it is widely reported that Hamas have fired 122mm Grad rockets into Israel, an upgrade from the Qassam, few media have gone further and stated that the new rockets were Chinese-made. Simple Google searches seem to suggest the reason very few media outlets have made the Chinese connection is because this is somewhat dubious: - According to Wikipedia the Soviet designed … [Read more...] about (Letter) The Mystical Gaza Chinese Rocket
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(Letter from Otto Kerner, Opposing Viewpoint) Dalai Lama to retire from politics?
In recent statements (http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2008/12/dalai-lama-talks-of-complete-r.php), the Dalai Lama has strongly implied that he might retire from politics completely. I'm not sure how seriously to take this sort of talk—I tend to think it's more likely that he's sort of testing the waters. However, if it turns out that he really does retire from politics, I … [Read more...] about (Letter from Otto Kerner, Opposing Viewpoint) Dalai Lama to retire from politics?
Something to chuckle about #1
Well, in an effort to introduce something lighthearted as far as China is concerned, I would like to start the first of a (hopefully) long list of humorous/amusing items. Andy Borowitz had just written a funny piece titled "China Buys Naming Rights to U.S.", which I am pretty certain is completely made up. (H/T to China Hearsay) … [Read more...] about Something to chuckle about #1
(Letter) Night And Day Reportings of Lhasa And Mumbai
Along the same line of amusing reporting, have you noticed the treatment being given to Mumbai "terror attack"? On-the-surface comparison seems to be night-and-day when compared to the "uprising" that occured in Lhasa: - No scrutiny of why the attacked occured. It's reported as "terror" rather than "uprising" - Liber and verbatim reporting of the Indian government's … [Read more...] about (Letter) Night And Day Reportings of Lhasa And Mumbai
Remember the adage: "never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence"?
In keeping with the theme of amusing news, let's take a look at the translation provided in ESWN of a poem written by Chen Shuibian's to his wife from prison, after he was detained for allegedly (with his entire family) laundering bribes and embezzled money worth well north of millions in US dollars. Its literary quality is perhaps best summarized by this response from a well … [Read more...] about Remember the adage: "never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence"?