US FIRMS AID CHINA BALLISTIC MISSILE TECHNOLOGY

April 7, 1998 - Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East analyst & commentator

In the NEW YORK TIMES of April 4, 1998, Jeff Gerth with Raymond Bonner exposed a manipulation wherein the US government and 2 major American arms companies transferred Ballistic Missile technology to China. As the Grand Jury was investigating whether 2 American companies gave China space expertise that significantly advanced Beijing's ballistic missile program, President Clinton issued an approval of this transfer 2 months ago. (1) In effect, he undercut the Grand Jury in order to protect what? or whom?

This is not the first time Clinton has shielded wrongdoers. On orders from Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno was supposed to investigate the Bush transfer of $5 billion US taxpayers' dollars to Saddam Hussein through the US Department of Agriculture. Not surprisingly, Janet Reno said the investigation "showed no wrong-doing". Citizen Bush was given a pass.

The NYT article tells us that the China transfer investigation began as a result of an incident in February 15, 1996 when a Chinese rocket with an American satellite blew up. The Chinese called upon the American company, Loral, to find the problem. This required a transfer of technology to China.

While the Gerth/Bonner article speaks of 1996, this may be only the halfway point. Before that time there were various corporations and governmental interests who wanted to supply Saudi Arabia with advanced ballistic missiles. The problem was that Congress was unlikely to approve transfer of such nuclear-capable missiles as the Pershing, among others. But, Saudi Arabia did take delivery of ballistic missiles from China. That surprised most missile experts because at that point in time China was assessed as not having the technology to ship a tested and de-bugged missile. Fuel mixtures, telemetry, engine metals, et al could not meet the test of a reliable missile...or so the experts thought. They were shipped and there was an outcry in the US that Saudi Arabia has purchased nuclear-capable missiles. The Saudis denied this but refused to allow the metal shrouds (casings) to be lifted to see inside. If they had, the inspectors would have very likely identified American-made components.

At that point in time, Ronald Reagan was President; George Bush was Vice President (formerly DCI -Director of Central Intelligence) and Casper Weinberger was Secretary of Defense. When something critical is exposed in Washington, there is always a pre-plan intended to provide credible deniability. Sometimes the whistle-blower is attacked with false charges of personal slander or inaccurate information is leaked, causing Congress and the media to chase a false trail.

Shortly after delivery of the missiles, the rumor was floated that Israel had assisted the Chinese to build the missiles for Saudi Arabia. It was no secret that Israel as selling China some armaments. The problem with that particular rumor was that Israel was, at that time, having her own development problems with long range missiles. It would be highly unlikely for Israel to transfer flawed information to China and thus have China complete development and ship a fully operational system to Saudi Arabia - still in a declared state of war with Israel. Of course, there were those nations who had solved and successfully tested their ballistic missiles: the Soviet Union, France, the US. Leaking the rumor that it was Israel is a key clue that leads us back to the White House and Defense Department. Regretably, neither the Congress nor the Justice Department considered missile proliferation a topic worth investigating.

If China was to be the third party "cut-out" then the US would have to transfer both technology and actual missile components. Missile systems are made so that components respond to each other within a narrow band. Making a hybrid missile with different parts usually leads to operational failure. It just is not acceptable technical protocol.

If China was to receive an operational missile, it would have to be the organic whole. The only necessary change would be the replace its outer shell because that could be seen and identified.

Casper Weinberger, as Secretary of Defense could have authorized such a transfer. Congress can no longer ask Ronald Reagan if he was consulted but they can investigate George Bush's knowledge and culpability. The question to be asked is: "If President Bush pre-pardoned Casper Weinberger so he would not be called to testify in the Iran-Contra hearings, who would now protect Bush if these questions are asked?"

Did Casper Weinberger, a close supporter of Saudi Arabia act as the broker between the US, Saudi Arabia and China? Was then VP Bush knowledgeable about this technoloy transfer, in effect, squaring the triangle? When Jonathan Pollard began in 1984 and 85 to search the computer files of the intelligence agencies, there seems little doubt that he would come across anti-Israel operations. Of particular interest was Casper Weinberger motivation and actions, given his close connections with Saudi Arabia through Saudi Prince Bandar. Casper Weinberger was dismissed by President Reagan, possibly for the same reason that caused the US intelliegence agencies to fight so hard to keep Pollard in prison.

We have already seen President Clinton step in to scuttle investigation of the present China transfer. We have seen Clinton's Justice Department dismiss the Bush transfer of $5 billion US taxpayers' dollars to Saddam Hussein from the Department of Agriculture funds as acceptable. George Bush as former DCIA (Director of the CIA) would have had the power to assemble files on his opponents, much the same as did J. Edgar Hoover. If you recall, Hoover used the power of his office as head of the FBI for decades and those voluminous files to blackmail Congressmen and other politicians to do things his way - or else risk exposure.

I cannot think of anyone more susceptible to exposure that Bill Clinton. Clearly, there is more. For example: "Why did Arab money flow into Clinton's two gubernatorial runs for office? Why support an obscure candidate from a small unimportant state? Why was Arkansas often described as a center for trans-shipment of drugs? Why is President Clinton following Bush and Baker's example by pardoning all those who would testify in the matter?"

If there was a covert transfer of US missile technology to China, then it had to come only from the highest authority. George Bush and Casper Weinberger could no doubt shed a great deal of light on the matter - if forced to do so. That is, if there are any remaining records left. Recall that James Baker, before leaving the White House, tasked a former Justice Department prosecutor, Joseph di Genova with pulling the hard drives and disks from all the White House computers. This included all the electronic memory of the President's plane: Air Force One.

If there was an illegal transfer of technology to China for Saudi Arabia, the crime is far greater. China has been shipping advanced missiles to radical Third World nations for cash. They have promised to stop - but they continue regardless of their commitments. Congress, then and now, diddles with occasional hearings but with little effort to find the answers and correct the problems.

Clearly, one day American soldiers, cities in the Middle East and Europe will be exposed to hard-hitting missiles with support telemetry and warheads that destroy cities. We can thank the Chinese and those who assisted them.

Footnotes

1. "Companies Are Investigated for Aid to China on Rockets: But officials say Administration undercut inquiry by approving a similar deal" & "US Probes Rocket Advice to China" by Jeff Gerth with Raymond Bonner NEW YORK TIMES 4/4/98 & INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 4/6/98