China syndrome

For more than a week now, President Clinton has been standing tall for nuclear nonproliferation, warning India of dire consequences, urging Pakistan to exercise restraint. How ironic if it turns out the blasts that punched five holes in India’s Thar desert were detonated by the White House’s lust for campaign cash.

Ironic probably is too mild a word for these allegations that the Clinton administration exported high-tech missile technology to China as a thank-you to its largest single contributor. Treasonous may be too strong. For now, sleazy will have to do.

Back in 1996, Bernard Schwartz had a problem. The head of Loral Space and Communication had a pile of commercial satellites he needed to get into orbit pronto and the space agencies of the free world were booked solid. Luckily for Mr. Schwartz, his position as the Democratic Party’s most generous friend placed a solution at hand. The White House — over the initial objections of the Defense Department — cleared the way for Loral to partner up with China’s rocketeers. All systems were go.

Oops, another problem. The first Chinese missile blew up, taking Loral’s expensive satellite with it. Solution: Loral gives China some missile tips without State Department permission and in violation of terms requiring Pentagon monitoring of such technology transfers. A classified Pentagon study determined that Loral not only helped improve China’s ability to launch commercial satellites, but its nuclear warheads as well, thus harming American security. The Justice Department begins an investigation of Loral. Despite that, the president in February approved the Chinese launching of another of his pal’s satellites.

So now the ubiquitous and recently indicted Johnny Chung admits he accepted $300,000 from a lieutenant colonel in the Chinese army, that he gave $110,000 to the Democratic Party and kept the change. China says the money came from the officer’s own bank account (they pay well in the People’s Republic). President Clinton says the contributions in no way influenced his foreign policy.

Back to those holes in the desert. When they first appeared, it was assumed that India’s nuclear tests were directed at its arch-enemy, Pakistan. Now, a school of thought suggests that India actually was more concerned with its other arch-enemy, China. The China that suddenly has not just 400 nuclear warheads, but (thanks to Loral and its friends in high places) also the missiles that can get them off the ground and on target.

And so Congress prepares to investigate. House Speaker Newt Gingrich wants a special select committee that can focus upon national security issues and that can supercede the four existing committees now investigating various White House shenanigans. Minority Leader Dick Gephardt says the existing committees will do just fine, there’s no cause for alarm.

Mr. Gingrich is right. This one isn’t about shady real-estate deals, insider commodities trading, Buddhist nuns, missing FBI files or even sex. This one is deadly.