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Winston Mideast Analysis & Commentary
Chinese Ballistic Missiles Technology
by Emanuel A. Winston, a Middle East analyst & commentator
Dear Reader: The following is another re-issue of a previous article on the transfer and/or theft of American secrets. After the release of the Cox Report, the Clinton Administration went into its usual posture of denial, obfuscation and spreading of the blame. Congressional Democrats went on a speaking jag, telling the public that, it (the Democratic Party) was not the problem, it curing the problem. Bill Richards, head of the Energy Department which owns the nuclear labs, is bragging that he is fixing the problem. He tells us that our secrets which he and others in the Clinton Administration knew about are soon to be safe. Did I miss something? Since our entire nuclear and much missile technology has been emptied out of the vault and there is little to protect. But the Democrats made a point telling us that this hemorrhaging of secrets, began during the Carter Administration, flourished under the Reagan/Bush Administration, continued during the Bush/Baker Administration and transferred smoothly into the Clinton Administration. Today Chinese spokesman protested and denied they have stolen our secrets. In point of fact, they may be telling the truth, if high ranking Americans facilitated the transfer for political and business reason. In a limp and unconvincing argument, the Clinton Administration tells us that we have six thousand nuclear warheads and China has only 25. Since one missile could take out New York or Washington, that reassurance is a specious rationale and merely the product of a guilty Administration, hoping to diminish the threat to American security. While the Cox Report was a cooperative bi-partisan effort of the highest and best order, will the Congress move to block the questioning of prior Administration officials - such as George Bush, Jim Baker, Caspar Weinberger, CEOs of developing corporations, the CIA, et al.
Here follows: Chinese Ballistic Missiles Technology (Part Two) Let's take a closer look at China's acquisition of missile technology. Because China didn't rescue German rocket scientists as did the US, they were considerably behind America in missile technology. We Americans advanced our space and missile technology because of Werner Von Braun's technology and his experience in developing V-2 rockets which Hitler rained down on Britain. As we developed better missiles and warheads, our civilian manufacturers needed bigger markets after they filled American needs. Civilian manufacturers of military goods are often former high ranking officers whose job is to penetrate and sell the Pentagon or other nations. The President, Secretary of Defense, DCIA (Director of the CIA) and others are civilian elected or appointed officials, but aren't really civilians either. While they're elected to direct domestic and foreign policy, they appoint civilians who are or were attached in many ways to the arms industry. President (Gen.) Eisenhower warned about the growing power and control of the Military-Industrial complex. Congress has had cooperative Congressmen with financial vested interests, ranging from having large military manufacturers in their district, to receiving large political contributions from those with military interests. Perhaps this is why no serious investigation is ever undertaken by Congress since some would be caught in their own inquiries. Most Congressmen and women are straight arrows but the ones to investigate are those with deep connections to the military and weapons manufacturers. The present Grand Jury inquiries of the Justice Dept. concerning illegal transfers of US technology to China should ask: At what point in time was the first missile technology transferred to China?
When China shipped operational nuclear-capable Silkworm SS2 missiles to Saudi Arabia, Congress didn't ask Bush or Weinberger, then Sec. of Defense, if they authorized a US technology transfer. Congress didn't even question the ability of China to manufacture a fully operational system even though China was still in the experimental stage of missile development. If there was an illegal US transfer to China of US technology including missile components and test equipment, American manufacturers had to be involved. The US military generally only takes delivery of finished product and doesn't act as prime manufacturer for major weapons' systems. They can and have transferred arms - like the missile transfer to Iran in the arms-for-hostages deal. Therefore, US manufacturers would have to have been the prime suppliers, with all that implies. No American CEO would dare to openly take on an illegal contract with any friendly or unfriendly power without approval of his government. Even a multi-national corporation with off-shore manufacturing would be taking a great risk of being exposed. On occasion this has happened. Matrix Churchill, a General Motors subsidiary, reportedly sold Saddam Hussein mobile missile launchers, which they denied. The TV show 60 MINUTES was to have done an expose' which would have established President Bush's culpability, but the network was, reportedly, pressured to cancel by General Motors or else it would withdraw its advertising. If US corporations, with covert Washington approval did transfer missile technology to China, normal fundamentals of business required reciprocity. In other words, the corporation or government officials expected a return on their investment, illegal though it may have been. In which coin was it paid? Would China's sales of US developed missiles to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia bring a cash payment to the US from either China or the buyer countries or both? Was some of that money campaign contributions? Big money for advantageous political influence has long been a high profile issue. I believe it was Maurice Stans who accepted what was referred to in news reports as "brown bag" cash contributions in large sums. If China received US technology to manufacture missiles for Saudi Arabia, approval had to have passed through the White House and Pentagon, necessitating a Presidential Finding with further involvement by the Defense Secretary. The CIA and other Intelligence Agencies would have been tasked to keep the operation in the deepest possible cover. Usually that means all documents are stamped with a high level of secrecy and wrapped with a shroud called 'National Security'. National Security is, of course, how Bush and Weinberger avoided highly probable indictments in Iran and Iraq investigations. All covert programs often have a small group with personal vested interests in the outcome. If they wish to see Saudi Arabia armed with nuclear-capable missiles, they would call this 'strategic planning' to open new markets for very profitable equipment sales. The problem was to by-pass Congress or have key members of Congress look the other way. Presently, we observe Clinton undercutting a Grand Jury investigation conducted by the Justice Dept. on a more recent transfer of technology reported by the NEW YORK TIMES (1) to China. In this case the named companies are Lorel and Hughes - both now bought out by bigger companies. In the late 80s many weapons' companies were merged or bought. Other companies and their corporate officers may have been involved in illegal transfers of technology. But, if a President or Secretary of Defense colluded to authorize the transfer, was it really illegal? It would have been if the transfers broke laws established by Congress that prohibited such transfers - particularly where they compromised national security. I would imagine that right now the Credible or Plausible Deniability mechanism is working 8 days a week in the White House, on a coverup of massive proportions, assisted by US Intelligence, Military/Industrial Complex (at least those corporations named), the Pentagon and some Congressmen. Flagship media would, no doubt, be lobbied by these vested interests at highest levels to keep this lead story out of both print and TV news. Spin-doctors will massage the story to appear as a small unimportant glitch. Of course, it will be too small for Congress to investigate. Independent counsels with the Justice Dept. under Clinton's employee, Janet Reno will say: "There is no wrong-doing."...as with Bush 'borrowing' $5 Billion dollars of taxpayers money to give to Saddam Hussein. The follow-on Clinton-Reno inquiry found nothing wrong. Of course, the investigation was super secret with no public hearings ending, with a barely whispered announcement that there was "no wrong-doing". Presumably, the present Justice Dept. investigation under a Grand Jury will arrive at a similar conclusion with respect to the recent illegal transfer of technology to China. China is also a "good" friend of North Korea, both of whom had the astonishing skill to make missiles as good as our American best. What a coincidence! These missiles are now filling the armories of Iran, previously Iraq, Syria, Egypt, et al. No doubt one day American soldiers will be facing these missiles. Would that not make American manufacturers and their facilitators traitors to some degree? At the least they should be charged as agents to be tried and jailed under US law of national security, if the transfers were clearly illegal. Perhaps, just this once, the Justice Dept. won't act as private pal of the President and the Congressional mavericks won't bow down to those in leadership positions who don't want to rock their election boat. What about compensation and where does the cash flow go? "Follow the Money Trail". Most often the trail is in cash and other times it's trading political favors for a plane load of missiles. Money is fungible and can change form as it flows through the pipeline but, whatever, it is still a payoff for illegal political favors. If Congress investigates this entire matter, they shouldn't be muzzled. Clinton's trick is to invite Congressmen in for a 'confidential briefing' on matters of 'national security'. Once the briefing has taken place, they are now, under law, prohibited from making a public disclosure. The 'secret' is now effectively locked down and cannot be revealed to the public. Illegal operations are protected this way. I would assume that Clinton is preparing such confidential briefings on any missile transfer to China by the Bush and/or Clinton Administrations. Of course, Congress could outflank the tricksters if they wanted to. I say "if" they wanted to. |