It seems that George Bush is recklessly drop-shipping nuclear missile technology around the world as if the items were bid for and won on ebay. I took delivery of a nuclear missle housing myself last month, and when the Fedex guy wouldn't take it back unless I pre-paid return shipping, I tore out the innards -- the gyros and electronics -- and I've been barbequing in it ever since.
CNN is reporting that
"Four nose-cone fuses for intercontinental ballistic missiles were shipped [by the United States] instead of the helicopter batteries that Taiwan had requested, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said.
The fuses were shipped to Taiwan in fall 2006 and kept in a warehouse there. The Taiwanese military informed the United States last week about their presence on the island."
Could this be a twisted attempt at genius on the part of Bush, sneaking technology to Taiwan that would keep China out of the island nation because of mutually-assured destruction concerns, while still giving the Chinese a way to save face, and avoiding the violation, by the United States, of nuclear non-proliferation treaties? Or, was it a mishap down at the warehouse? Why would anybody (who doesn't just like seeing things get blown up) want to send nuclear missile technology to a party to one of the most fractious and tense disputes on Earth?
It is frightening to think that Bush is running the nuclear inventory like Tom Bosley down to the SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corporation) shipping dock. It is also frightening to consider that a previous Clinton had, at one time, been linked to campaign donations that may or may not have led to the provision of satellite technology to the mainland Chinese. CNN reported this at the time:
"After the donation, Clinton approved a waiver that allowed Loral Space and Communications -- whose chief executive officer, Bernard Schwartz, is a leading Democratic Party donor -- to launch one of its satellites on top of a Chinese rocket."
Moreover, I think that, of the three candidates remaining for POTUS, McCain is the shakiest on this issue, as he is the shakiest, and as the way he ran his early campaign left one to wonder if he could manage a travel itinerary, much less keep track of a nuclear inventory. Hillary Clinton has been in charge of a campaign valued at approximately $180 million (in donations) that was, at one time, $5 million in the hole. Do we want 2.7% of our nuclear technology to be unaccounted for?
I suggest that America vote for the only candidate who has shown that he is responsible enough to manage actual, this-stuff-could-blow-up, nuclear technology thingys. And, I would hope that Barack Obama on January 20, 2009 --
- Takes the Oath; and
- Takes inventory.