From the Webb campaign, this is fascinating...(Arlington, Virginia) GÇö Senator George Allen routinely tells Virginians one reason they should vote for him is that they GÇ£knowGÇ¥ him. And now Allen says heGÇÖs finally ready to run on his record and ideas.Really?
Do Virginians know that George Allen knowingly fought for the release of a Chinese prisoner who was, in actuality, a spy for the Chinese government? And do Virginians know that this spy was later convicted of selling China sensitive military technology?
LetGÇÖs tell them.
In 2001, George Allen was an outspoken advocate for Gao Zhan, a Chinese woman who was arrested in China charged with spreading anti-Chinese propaganda. The high-profile arrest of Gao, then a researcher at American University, brought much media attention and Senator George Allen to the fanfare. It was later speculated that this GÇ£arrestGÇ¥ was simply a ruse, allowing Gao, an undercover Chinese agent, to be brought into contact with the Chinese government. [Washington Post 11/27/2003; CNN Nov. 26, 2003]
At the time, Senator Allen claimed to be outraged by the seemingly arbitrary arrest of Gao by the Chinese government and he introduced legislation to grant her U.S. citizenship. And, although AllenGÇÖs assistance to Gao could mean that he was simply duped, the evidence shows otherwise.The Richmond-Times Dispatch reported, GÇ£On the day in April 2001 he [Allen] was set to introduce the bill, a Justice Department official called his office to disclose Gao was the subject of an investigation, the aides said. The information conveyed to Allen was classified.GÇ¥ So, despite being informed that Gao was under investigation, Allen chose to push forward anyway. [CR S3532 April 5, 2001, Richmond Times Dispatch, March 6, 2004]
Later in 2001, Gao was released and allowed to return to the United States, where she resumed exporting sensitive technology to Chinese military institutions. Upon her return, George Allen spoke at a press conference welcoming her back to the U.S. despite having knowledge that she was under federal investigation. Later, Allen even tried to arrange for a special citizenship ceremony for Gao on Capital Hill but the ceremony was called off by government officials. [CNN Live Event Coverage of Gao Zhan Press Conference Aired July 26, 2001 - 16:01 ET; New York Times July 26, 2001][AP, January 23, 2006; Washington Post, November 27, 2003]
On November 26, 2003, Gao pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of breaking export control laws and tax evasion. She admitted to selling more than $539,000 of sensitive microprocessors to a procurement agency of the Chinese government. Government officials also reported that Gao was also selling items with no civilian uses, but would not reveal the nature of those items. The U.S. Attorney stated that it was, GÇ£A serious matter involving national security.GÇ¥ [Washington Post, November 27, 2003]
The technology Gao sold to the Chinese government is a threat to our nationGÇÖs security. The products she exported include a model of microprocessors used in tracking and radar systems aboard guided missiles. China has been known to export missile technology to rogue states like Iran and North Korea who are now attempting to design nuclear missiles. Chinese missile technology was integral to North KoreaGÇÖs missile tests near Japan this summer and HezbollahGÇÖs attacks on Israel. [CNN, November 26, 2003; Washington Post November 28, 2003, TIMES Asia Edition, Dec. 01, 2003; Peter Rodman, Assistant Secretary of Defense of International Security Affairs, Testimony before the U.S.-China and Economic Security Review Commission, September 14, 2006]
But what was George AllenGÇÖs reaction to findings that Gao Zhan was actually a Chinese spy? Surely he would regret any involvement in allowing a spyGÇÖs access into the United StatesGÇöright?
Wrong.
According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, Allen had no regrets in fighting for GaoGÇÖs return to the United States. GÇ£Somebody's got to be a champion. I would do it all over again. I'm happy I did what I did. If I knew this would be the result in the end, I still would do it.GÇ¥ [Richmond Times Dispatch, March 6, 2004]
GÇ£We live in an insecure, dangerous world where our nationGÇÖs security and the safety of our citizens should be our governmentGÇÖs priority. The fact that George Allen would fight for someone under federal investigation for espionage to return to the United States, is just ridiculous. But, whatGÇÖs even more absurd is that Allen feels no remorse for endangering AmericaGÇÖs security and has proudly admitted that given the chance, he would do it again. ItGÇÖs shameful that this man is in the United States Senate," said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd.
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
It's amazing the absolute refusal to acknowledge that we're still a world of nation-states, not a global village and while the US is busying giving away the farm, other nations sure aren't!
Recently, the DoD asked for comments because they want to ease the SECURITY rules for foreign workers!
ok, do you know how many displaced US engineers could not work on DoD contracts because the security clearance process is absurd, must be corporate sponsored, and costs a minimum of 20k to get secret? So, instead of streamlining the process for US citizens, so we can get more displaced Engineers and computer scientists into the DoD industry from the private sector...instead, they now want to blow it apart by using cheap foreign workers on an H-1B Visa? What's wrong with this picture??
Alleged links to radical Islamists and terrorismIn 1998, Norquist founded the Islamic Free Market Institute [20] (sometimes just called the "Islamic Institute") with money from a number of sources, mainly in the Middle East. One of the early major contributors was Abdurahman Alamoudi, the founder of the American Muslim Council. Alamoudi appears to have contributed $35,000 to the Islamic Institute [21]. Alamoudi was convicted of illegal dealings with Libya, tax, and immigration violations on July 30th, 2004, and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.
Norquist has been linked to Florida professor and Muslim activist Sami Al-Arian. On March 2, 2006, Al-Arian pled guilty to one count of conspiracy "to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad."[22] He was sentenced to 57 months in prison, of which he had already served 38, and to then be deported.
In July, 2001, Norquist received an award from the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom (NCPPF), a civil liberties group headed by Al-Arian. This award was for Norquist’s work to abolish the use of secret intelligence evidence in terrorism cases, a position Bush had adopted in the 2000 campaign.[21] After the September 11th, 2001 attacks, the NCPPF urged Muslims not to cooperate with the U.S. government.[citation needed]
Conservative activist Frank Gaffney, whose offices are on the same floor of the building where Norquist works, said that Al-Arian visted with Norquist in July 2002.[21].
Norquist's name was mentioned by al-Arian's lawyers during his 2005 trial.[23]
There is no information suggesting that Norquist has ever personally engaged in any acts of terrorism or financially contributed to any terrorist group.
I did a lot of research on this at one time and I think Norquist did some questionable things.
Remember there was a raid on some Muslim businesses in Herndon a few years back? Some speculate the reason for the long delay in the investigation is that someone connected politically with the group (e.g., Norquist) had friends in the White House delay the prosecutions. Who knows. In fact, the raids themselves only occurred when they did because a bunch of intelligence officials working through a lawyer had a civil suit filed in Florida that would have exposed the evidence the government was sitting on. Truly bizarre.
So what does this all have to do with George Allen?. If you believe, as I do, that he (and others in the GOP such as Norquist) will do anything for money/power, then why would they not take money even if national security is damaged somewhat. People of this ilk have no heartstrings -- they don't care about the poor, or oppressed groups. It is but a small step for people without a conscience to sell out one's country.