A terrorist bomb in Bali killed 188, including many western foreign tourists. The Indonesian government said Al Qaeda was responsible. Was there significance in the fact that Bali is a major centre of Indonesian Hindus, and that Indonesian Islamic fundamentalists opposed the ascension of the part-Hindu Sukarnoputri as the nation's president?
An official US Congress research paper has unambiguously stated that Islamic terrorists in Southeast Asia were set up by China through its proxies, Pakistan and Iran. China organised Islamic terrorism to destabilise and intimidate countries neighbouring the Straits of Malacca. China wants to control the straits which run through Sumatra and Malaysia. These provide the water link connecting Europe, West Asia and India to the Far East. All commerce, including vital fuel supplies from the Persian Gulf to the Far East, passes through these straits. Also, a Chinese naval thrust into the Indian Ocean would require free access through the Malacca Straits. As early as 1993, Zhao Nanqi, a director in the Chinese navy, had stated: "We can no longer accept the Indian Ocean as only an ocean of the Indians." The Bali blast will strengthen China's stranglehold on Indonesia and help counter America's war against terrorism.
The second event to serve China occurred in Nepal. The king dismissed the elected government and imposed an interim government. When Gyanendra became king, this column had revealed his decades-old links with the Maoists and China. It should not surprise if after many twists and turns, Nepal eventually evolves into a pro-Maoist and pro-China monarchy.
The third event was the election result in Pakistan. Pro-jehad elements have seized control of the nwfp and Baluchistan assemblies, bordering Afghanistan. Musharraf's participation in America's war against terrorism was always hedged. Now it could crumble.
There have been unmistakable signs of a Chinese connection with the terrorists, including those with the Taliban. China doubtless is the bridge between Pakistan and North Korea as they secretly swap nuclear technology and missiles. But President Bush dare not question China. He dare not dump Musharraf. He would rather attack Iraq. God save America. India must learn to save itself.
Uncle Sam has one desire —
To provoke the world's ire.
Is he seeking dragonfire
To light his own funeral pyre?
