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China Shoots Down Satellite Charles R. Smith The Chinese army is trying to start a war in space by testing a new anti-satellite missile. The missile test, a modified Dong Feng 21 (Df-21) that destroyed an aging Chinese weather satellite, has set off alarm bells all around the globe. U.S. intelligence agencies believe that China launched a medium-range DF-21 missile from its Xichang spaceport and guided it into a high-speed, head-on collision with a weather satellite called Fengyun-1C (FY-1C). The destruction of the FY-1C satellite showered the area in space with thousands of pieces of debris, threatening to pelt and destroy satellites from a host of other nations. China has yet to admit to the test but the destruction of the Chinese satellite did not go unnoticed. Several nations along with the U.S. have lodged open protests with Beijing including Japan, Taiwan, Canada and Australia. The anti-satellite missile shot follows reports that China recently attacked U.S. satellites using a powerful land-based laser. The Chinese laser attacks were kept secret by the Bush administration because of concerns that the news could damage relations with Beijing. The Bush administration has long held hope that China could help diplomatic efforts with Iran and North Korea. Story Continues Below
According to the reports, senior officials stated that American satellites have come under attack "several times" in recent years. The laser attacks are a violation of space treaties signed by China and can be considered an act of war according to international law. The attacks reportedly have been ongoing for nearly three years. The damage done by the Chinese against U.S. spacecraft has not been released. In response to the laser attacks on U.S. satellites, President Bush recently announced a new policy with regards to space assets. The Bush policy noted that America considers its satellites as national security assets and an attack against them would be viewed as an attack on America. Push for Paper Treaty Despite the laser attacks, the Chinese army missile test has led to the predictable calls by leftists and Chinese sources to seek a paper treaty with Beijing on space weapons. According to many leftist pundits, its all the Bush administration's fault that Beijing elected to obliterate a satellite because America will not sign a paper treaty banning space weaponry. Xia Liping, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) officer and professor at the Shanghai Institute for International Strategic Studies, said Beijing did not want an arms race in space. He explained to Reuters that the reported test might have been intended to push Washington toward international talks aimed at preventing a race. Others pushing for a paper treaty with Beijing include ranking Democratic Congressman Markey from Massachusetts and a horde of former Clinton cronies. "At the very least, the U.S. should consider a global ban on precisely the kind of weapon that China has demonstrated, "states an article written by Bruce W. MacDonald former assistant director for national security in the Science Adviser's office in the Clinton White House. What many of the liberal pundits forget is that it was the very leftist Clinton administration and its gang of China-apologists that sold the space technology to China that made this test possible. In 1998, a bipartisan report fingered the Clinton administration and two U.S. firms, Hughes and Loral, for giving advanced space and missile technology to the Chinese army. Both firms later paid huge fines following charges of massive violations of national security. Hughes was charged with 123 violations of national security and Loral eventually had to declare bankruptcy in part due to the China-gate scandal. Today, Loral's CEO, Bernard Schwartz, continues to make massive donations to the Democrat party and its associated 527 liberal advocacy groups. Schwartz has donated nearly $4 million to the DNC and to various presidential hopefuls including Hillary Clinton. A History of Donations Schwartz has a long donation history with the Clintons. In a September 1994 memo to the President Clinton, Harold Ickes, then White House chief of staff, informed him that Schwartz could be used to raise campaign donations "in order to raise an additional $3,000,000 to permit the Democratic National Committee to produce and air generic TV/radio spots as soon as Congress adjourns." Ickes then urged Clinton to invite Schwartz to the White House "to impress [him] with the need to raise $3,000,000 within the next two weeks." In another memo, Ickes informed Clinton that Schwartz "is prepared to do anything he can for the administration." Immediately after the donations, Clinton authorized Schwartz to meet with PLA Gen. Shen Roujun, then head of Chinese Army missile development. Schwartz and Gen. Shen managed to cut several deals for advanced space technology, all with the blessing and approval of the Clinton White House. Between October 1995 and March 1996, as Clinton mulled over whether to ignore the State, Justice, and Defense Departments' reasons against granting Loral waivers to export advanced military technology to China, Loral Chairman Bernard Schwartz injected more than $150,000 into the DNC's coffers. In 1996, President Clinton moved the oversight of satellite exports from the State and Defense Departments to the Commerce Department. After Clinton's decision to lift the ban in Loral's case and to allow the exportation of the company's technology to the Chinese military, Loral CEO Schwartz handed over an additional $300,000 to the DNC. In a May 3, 1996 letter signed by the CEOs of Hughes, Lockheed, and Loral, the three executives expressed their thanks directly to Bill Clinton. "In October of last year we wrote to you asking you to complete the transfer of responsibility for commercial satellite export licensing to the Department of Commerce. Your administration recently announced it intention to do just that." "We greatly appreciate this action which demonstrates again your strong commitment to reforming the U.S. export control system," states a letter signed by Hughes CEO Armstrong, Lockheed CEO Norman Augustine, and Loral CEO Bernard Schwartz. The Commerce Department was ill equipped to deal with satellite exports to China. The resulting fiasco at Commerce allowed the Chinese army to obtain a vast array of advanced missile, satellite, and space technology. Technology that the PLA put on display by destroying a former PRC weather satellite. In fact, in 1998 the Defense Department charged that the Commerce Department exceeded its legal authority by authorizing export transfers to a foreign military. The result was Congress stripped the Commerce Department of its satellite export authority and returned it back to the State and Defense Departments. The recent PLA missile shot has a direct effect on the upcoming U.S. elections. With Loral CEO Schwartz donating so much money to the DNC, it is right for the press to ask Mrs. Clinton of her policy and relationship with such a major donor. It is also correct to seek answers on the direct links between the Chinese army and so many donations that passed through Mrs. Clinton's office at the White House. While many may dismiss these accusations of corruption as mere politics, they remain as documented facts that led to legal charges and indeed convictions. The result of Clinton's bad judgment now orbits the Earth and threatens all mankind. Editor's note:
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