Feeding the Fires

On the surface, it's the biggest deal in the history of the Export-Import Bank of the United States - US$5 billion to finance the building of Chinese nuclear power plants by US firms in the energy-starved economic giant. But there's much more to it than big business: closer scrutiny and interviews with experts reveal a weak, inconsistent and ultimately dangerous US policy with regard to China and its past (some say present) weapons proliferation, as well as China's own efforts to acquire nuclear reactors and other Western high technology that could be passed on to less-than-responsible states.

In effect, in the interests of big business, the US is turning a blind eye to past proliferation by Chinese entities with which it deals...

the US Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), an independent federal agency that finances exports by US firms, approved a preliminary commitment for $5 billion in loans and loan guarantees to the China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) to finance the building of nuclear power plants by US firms.

The Ex-Im loans and guarantees are part of aggressive efforts by US officials and diplomats, including former energy secretary Spencer Abraham and current Vice President Dick Cheney, to lobby the Chinese government to sign a deal with Monroeville, Pennsylvania-based power giant Westinghouse Electric Co. Westinghouse had previously lobbied hard to obtain clearance for the sale from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission last September.

You know Westinghouse: now a branch of the Carlyle Group. The Company that used to be headed by the nominee for the Secretary of the Army, Francis Bridge...

An engineer with 28 years of industrial experience that focused on the defense industry, Dr. Harvey was Chief Operating Officer of the Industries and Technology Group of Westinghouse Electric Company. He also held the positions of President of Westinghouse's Electronics Systems Group, which was later acquired by Northrop Grumman, as well as the President of their Government and Environmental Services Company. Dr. Harvey is affiliated with The Carlyle Group, serving on the boards of three Carlyle controlled corporations. He was also a White House Fellow in the U.S. Department of Defense in the late 1970s.

Isn't that special?

The government has just approved a sale of military technology to China- by a Carlyle-affiliated company that used to be headed by the Secretary of the Army.

You can't have the Blank Check if you don't have the Endless War.