-Caveat Lector- From http://www.security-policy.org/papers/1999/99-D125.html {{<Begin>}} Publications of the Center for Security Policy No. 99-D 125 DECISION BRIEF 28 October 1999 Were Senate Foreign Relations to Get to the Bottom of Adm. Prueher's Stint as CINCPAC, It Might Sink his Posting to Beijing (Washington, D.C.): The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to hold hearings today on the nomination of Admiral Joseph Prueher (USN Ret.), the former Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC), to become the next U.S. ambassador to Communist China. It was highly ironic, given the extraordinary lengths to which Admiral Prueher went in his previous capacity to endear himself to the Chinese, that Beijing delayed this posting for many months as part of its retaliation for the bombing of its embassy in Belgrade. If the Committee is doing its job, it will put the Prueher nomination on hold for a bit longer in order to permit a close examination of evidence that may suggest the Admiral's demonstrated determination to please the PRC make him unsuited to represent U.S. interests there. Just the Facts, Ma'am Specifically, the Center has learned that there may be a number of documents -- many, if not all of them, classified -- that could shed light on this question. If so, the Foreign Relations Committee ought to have an opportunity to examine and evaluate them prior to acting on this nominee. These are said to include: A cable describing a meeting between Taiwan's highest military leader Tang Fei and Admiral Prueher in his office in Pacific Command in Honolulu. Documentation concerning the changes Admiral Prueher made in the planning for the defense of Taiwan in the spring of 1996, soon after he assumed command of the Pacific Command. The U.S. Air Force's written objections to such changes. The Strategic Command's written objections (not to be confused with those expressed by the Air Force) when Adm. Prueher reportedly refused to accept any nuclear targeting experts at Pacific Command. Documentation of Adm. Prueher's decision that no nuclear target planners would be assigned to the Pacific Command staff, a dramatic departure from previous practice. Documentation of the reported decision by the JCS Chairman to remove Taiwan planning from Adm. Prueher's Pacific Command in Honolulu and transferred it to the JCS instead. Documentation reflecting Adm. Prueher's reported objections to various arms sales requests made by Taiwan. Evidence that Adm. Prueher did obtain the necessary permission from the Defense Department for either a tour for People's Liberation Army officers of a U.S. nuclear attack submarine or for sending the PLA naval delegation to sensitive U.S. Navy training facilities in California during the visit of several ships of the Chinese navy to San Diego. Materials bearing on Adm. Prueher's conduct with the PLA and the lengths to which he went to become the first CINCPAC to be received by the President of China in Beijing, actions that may also bear on the issue of unauthorized military-to-military contacts between the two countries. The Bottom Line Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms (R-NC) has provided immensely important leadership throughout his career in resisting efforts to curry favor with Communist despots at the expense of U.S. national security and other interests. Most recently, he has joined forces with Sen. Robert Torricelli (D- NJ) to sponsor the very valuable Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA)(1) of 1999 -- an act strenuously opposed by the Chinese and by their friends in the Clinton Administration. Given Adm. Prueher's track record it seems certain that, even without instructions, he will be a forceful new critic of this important legislation. That fact alone might justify delaying action on his nomination until after action on the TSEA -- which was adopted in a modified form by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote in the House International Relations Committee earlier this week -- is completed, hopefully before the congressional recess this fall. At the very least, the principle that Sen. Helms has established in his committee's consideration of the Holbrooke and Mosely-Braun nominations -- namely, that Senators are entitled, before acting on controversial (if not deeply flawed) nominations, to be privy to relevant information in the hands of the executive branch that bears upon the candidate's ethics, judgment and professional conduct -- should be observed in this case. No action should be taken on his nomination until all such information has been supplied and properly considered by the Committee. As Sen. Bob Smith (I-NH) notes in today's Washington Times (see the attached), Adm. Preuher should be the first to seek the prompt release of these documents to the committee allowing the Senate to complete its duties as expeditiously and as fully as possible. - 30 - 1. See the Center's National Security Alerts (No. 99-A 28, 30 July 1999) and (No. 99-A 38, 22 October 1999). NOTE: The Center's publications are intended to invigorate and enrich the debate on foreign policy and defense issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of all members of the Center's Board of Advisors. Top of Page © 1988-1999, Center for Security Policy {{<End>}} A<>E<>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Integrity has no need of rules. -Albert Camus (1913-1960) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your common sense." --Buddha + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." Universal Declaration of Human Rights + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." Ernest Hemingway + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
