Are We Secure? China's Counterfeit Cisco Routers

aux.link: World Tribune — FBI: China may use counterfeit Cisco routers to penetrate U.S. networks

Clueless: IOC Head Proud Of Beijing 'Wise Choice'

aux.link: IOC head says Beijing was wise choice

These blindly optimistic words sound just like Chinese propaganda. Towing the line, anyone?

Young, Stupid Liberals Think Iraq Still An Enemy

aux.link: Poll: Iran, Iraq, China Top US Enemies

Well this is pretty telling even if it's of no real surprise to you and I... excellent.

"Gallup first asked the question in early 2001, before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. At the time, Iraq was seen as the biggest foe, followed by China and Iran.

Iraq has remained one of the most frequently named ever since, even though Saddam Hussein was overthrown and the current Baghdad government is backed by the U.S.

Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to see Iran as the top U.S. enemy, while Democrats are likelier to name Iraq. Older people and those who say they closely follow world news are less likely to cite Iraq than the younger and less informed."

US Olympic Tourists Warned About Monitoring

aux.link: US Olympic tourists warned about monitoring in hotels

"Americans traveling to China for the Olympic Games in August can expect their hotel rooms there to be monitored, the State Department warned on its website. "All visitors should be aware that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy in public or private locations," according to the State Department site. "All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be subject to on-site or remote technical monitoring at all times. Hotel rooms, residences and offices may be accessed at any time without the occupant's consent or knowledge," it said. It added that many hotels and apartment buildings may be poorly built, lack emergency exits, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide monitors and basic security like locks, alarms, and personnel."

Good point- don't expect any rights to security, privacy or otherwise while travelling in China. It's not our jurisdiction, and of no concern to them how you feel. One has to wonder how well this is going to go over with American tourists once they realize this. Personally, along with our eyes on the Tibeten chaos, I'm hoping for a full-on boycott to the point of cancellation so the free global community can give its vote of no confidence to the idiots at the IOC who chose Beijing for 2008. Sorry, athletes- nothing personal.

Security Concerns Halt 3com + Huawei Deal

aux.link: Bain ends 3Com deal

Thank God- this was quite unsettling news that I caught wind of in January. Glad some folks a little higher on the food chain thought so as well.

"Bain said on Thursday that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had said it would block the $2.2 billion deal that would also have given Huawei, China's biggest network equipment maker, a minority stake of up to 21.5 percent in 3Com. Several U.S. lawmakers have complained that the deal threatened national security due to Huawei's alleged ties to the Chinese military. 3Com sells security technology and network equipment to government agencies and large businesses.

Huawei had maintained that it is a private company owned by employees, but founder Ren Zhengfei was a former People's Liberation Army soldier. Huawei and 3Com representatives were not immediately available for comment."

Bain was trying to make it happen even after the security concerns were raised! I can't stand companies that don't consider ethics and security like this. Romney, go slap 'em up.

China's Reach Of Silencing Dissent Grabs UK

aux.link: Olympic kow tow as British athletes are forced to sign contracts banning criticism of Chinese regime

This is just... embarassingly despicable to put it nicely. The stupid sots in Britain's Olympic committee who caved into this need to be sacked. The last thing anybody needs - especially England - is a redux of what happened to them in Munich 1936 again.

In Too Deep: Is America Selling Herself Out?

aux.link: WorldNetDaily: Subprime Nation

I'm still not sure how much sway I'm willing to give Pat Buchanan's seeming scaremongering, but he's still saying some pretty interesting stuff here. Most of which I believe is true. Take a read, then pay some bills.

Bain Capital, Chinese Firm Privatise 3Com

aux.link: 3Com to sell itself to Bain Capital, Huawei Tech for 2 bln usd - Forbes.com

And also from my other entry today above, "Bain Capital is partnering with China's Huawei Technologies in a buyout of 3Com, the U.S. company that provides the technology that protects Pentagon computers from Chinese hackers." -Pat Buchanan

Old news I somehow didn't catch last year. Our government's VOIP systems, Ethernet switches, WAN routers - or in essence, their internal network and telecommunications backbone - now all controlled by the Chinese, in part. Somebody call up Mitt Romney and tell him to talk some sense into his old establishment, Bain Capital, the other part. Suddenly, my model 3103 phone doesn't look that cool anymore. Hmm, wonder what Cisco has now...

With the recent economic headlines dealing with such foreign investment, now I'm starting to get uncomfortable. And as a telecom guy, this bit in particular.

China's Rise To A Global Superpower

aux.link: 2008: The year a new superpower is born

Year Of The Rat, indeed. And actually a good article from The Independent, take heed.

What Comes Around Goes Around

Is there even such a thing as a lower-key, 'proxy-proxy war'?

Here is the main reason I stopped grocery and homeware shopping at Wal-Mart, and why I'm checking the box bottoms of every consumer good my fiancee' and I are registering for this year for our wedding. While their unfair currency valuation is also an issue- the real problem with China stems just beyond their economy that we openly support more than any other country. Duly note this.

China arming terrorists

China And Russia Are Blindsided

Hold up. Is it just me or isn't it clearly obvious that it's Iran whom nations should really warn could set off an arms race? Of course it is. After all, if it wasn't for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waving his proverbial cock around with the media internationally, we wouldn't have Israel coming out and revealing that they already have nukes, and have the Saudis (and probably the Syrians) scrambling to develop their own weapons systems. Saddam Hussain was supposedly already in the throws of such a program by 2003.

China warns US may set off arms race

These developments from Hu and Putin in recent days have got to be one of the most profound stories of the year. Keep in mind that we openly invited Russia last month to assist in being a development and management partner of the strategic missile defense, intended specifically to counter ICBMs from Iran. To spin Putin's words back at him, this would indeed be funny if it weren't so sad.

Image credit: DailyMail.co.uk

The sad part, of course, is not due to poor communications and/or misunderstanding, but what appears to indeed be the beginnings of alliance-forming across the East. The main concerns are China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, all of whom cannot even condemn eachother with UN sanctions. If this 'buddying-up' wasn't unnerving enough, also keep in mind that Iran can easily open up two fronts here as a result. One with Russia and the gang for the Eastern alliance, and another for that Islamic jihadist 'take-over-the-Middle-East' and 'wipe-Israel-off-the-map' thing. Their forthcoming nuclear capabilities will all-too conveniently assist both theaters of a possible conflict. Wouldn't you lie about your intentions too?

Great. Now who is playing defense for the West? A unified Europe that would strongly pull together as a result- happily including France and Germany now. Australia, Japan and South Korea would strongly join in, and while we're at it, maybe Taiwan will split during the ruckus. The United States would lead the Western alliance, while Russia will likely lead the Eastern. Any speculation as what could unfold after sides are chosen is haunting, but this very real scenario that could likely build up to that point between now and the end of this decade is what it is.

Welcome to The New Cold War.

[Ed: Further proof? Check out what could soon be in demand and also details about Russia's arsenal.]