Thats me — along with Gregory Kulacki, Lisbeth Gronlund and Stephen Young from the Union of Concerned Scientists — standing under a statue of Deng Jiaxian, who designed China’s first nuclear weapon.
Oh, and apologies for not blogging this Syrian nuclear weapons story. yet. Does it make more sense from the USA than it does from China?
You would think the statue of Deng Jiaxian would be more elaborate and better built… considering his contributions to modern China.
Alas, technicians who can build and invent are still treated as subalterns.
“Does it make more sense from the USA than it does from China?”
No. But the Times Online had some sort of “scoop” on it today: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2461421.ece
In order to make sense, it would have to actually appear in the US press. I’ve been following it in the Israeli press, where it’s been covered intensely, and I’m confused as hell – the US press hasn’t even picked it up yet!
Only to John Bolton.
I think Joe Cirincione has made the most sense of it so far:
“This story is nonsense. The Washington Post story should have been headlined “White House Officials Try to Push North Korea-Syria Connection.” This is a political story, not a threat story. The mainstream media seems to have learned nothing from the run-up to war in Iraq.”
More and even better here, along with a response from Glenn Kessler:
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/6251
I was hoping the North Korean nukes in Syria story was a bit of Boltonian nonsense that would be put to rest with a bit of State Department pushback. I still think it’s nonsense, but items like this make me wonder if State has lost the ability or will to push back (from the Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/16/wiran116.xml):
Quote
Now it has emerged that Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, who has been pushing for a diplomatic solution, is prepared to settle her differences with Vice-President Dick Cheney and sanction military action [against Iran].
…
Miss Rice’s bottom line is that if the administration is to go to war again it must build the case over a period of months and win sufficient support on Capitol Hill.
The Sunday Telegraph has been told that Mr Bush has privately promised her that he would consult “meaningfully” with Congressional leaders of both parties before any military action against Iran on the understanding that Miss Rice would resign if this did not happen.
Endquote
So maybe the Syria nuke story is somehow part of the Iran war product that’s being rolled out, and State is going along.
Wait…. did someone get the characters in the picture wrong…..
Isn’t that the Tin Man in the background?
And in the foreground, it is Dr Lewis, followed by the Scarcrow, Dorthy, and the Lion.
Now it all makes sense.
PS Did you see the running dog Toto?
Jeffery, very good choice for your sightseeing and photo snapping. I must admit that you always have a good taste for images and graphics.
I agree that the statue needs to be commensurate with Deng Jiaxian’s contribution to China. It is useful to point out that the statue was built in 1994 by the local government when China had much less cash. More importantly, China performed its last nuclear test on July 29, 1996, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Deng Jiaxian’s death. On the next day, China announced that it would sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Source: http://www.people.com.cn/GB/keji/39327/2916402.html (in Chinese)