Senator Brownback goes after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Seems like somebody has a clue. Back in September (9/26/06), Senator Sam Brownback held a hearing under his duty as a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission). The title of the hearing?

THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION: IS IT UNDERMINING U.S. INTERESTS IN CENTRAL ASIA?

BA-BA-BAHH-BAHHM!! This, of course, was like Christmas for me, so I dove into the transcript of the hearing.

Now *that’s* pretty funny: Grenada plays Taiwan’s national anthem for Chinese visitors

You’ve got to wonder if this was a prank or a setup by Taiwan sympathizers:

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – A diplomatic gaffe marred Saturday’s inauguration of a China-financed stadium on this Caribbean island when a band performed the national anthem of Chinese rival Taiwan.

Chinese Ambassador Qian Hongshan and scores of blue-uniformed Chinese laborers who built the $40 million Queen’s Park stadium as a gift were visibly uncomfortable as Taiwan’s anthem echoed inside the 20,000-seat venue.
…
The Asian rivals have both campaigned aggressively to win the allegiance of Caribbean nations. Grenada switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2005.

Quite a sly and pointed statement to both China and Grenada if it was intentional.