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Australia approves extradition request for former U.S. Marine pilot over China military training

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Hang ‘em High

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Accused of training a potential future enemy to kill your own people. If convicted I would call that low. I hope he thinks it was worth the money, as he could be spending many years behind bars in the US.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Really he was teaching Chinese pilots to kill Americans, Taiwanese, Japanese, Australian, European pilots and expected no blow back. Hopefully his teaching skills are as great as his choices. Guessing he is a somewhat looser who signed a contract knowing that he has no idea what the hell he is doing. Best to continue to get drunk and sleep in your pickup truck.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The Brits should do the same

1 ( +4 / -3 )

He was living in China and decided he wanted to leave. It sounds like he wasn't useful to the PLA anymore.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He was trying to be his own govt. The Americans trained Osama bin laden to fight the Soviets and created Al Qaeda. This man should identify as the American govt so he can never be tried for treason or war crimes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm torn. He has a skill and needed to make a living. If you have that skill and can't find employment you like in friendly countries, I can understand why you might take an opportunity somewhere else. Sure, there are basically only 2 countries with big flattop carriers in the world, so his skill is either in the US Navy or for China. We aren't at war with China. The US Senate hasn't declared war, last time I checked.

There are ITAR rules for all sorts of things. Because of my background, I know a little about those rules, but I don't know anything about pilot skills being limited under ITAR. I suspect it is sorta like how military people with nuclear knowledge/skills have specific limitations on where they can travel and work.

ITAR rules are smart and dumb. Some computer encryption was (is?) considered a "munition" under ITAR rules, so people who work on that stuff ensure the project is started outside the USA. For decades, encryption work was stifled in the USA due to those rules. If you don't allow it to be researched in your country, interested and capable people will work elsewhere. That isn't good for the country with the restrictions.

A friend worked in a 2nd-teir Chinese university teaching cyber security to undergraduate students. I never considered him to be an enemy, even if his students might use those skills to attack computer systems that I'm paid to secure and run. If they never attack and only do defensive work in China (or for other companies around the world), I don't see that as a bad thing. He has some funny stories, mostly about cheating and attempted cheating, of the students in his classes. They will lie to his face about doing something 10 seconds before, right in front of him. These aren't 7 yr olds. They are 20 yrs old, yet still lying over their actions. No wonder the CCP considers lying about nearly everything acceptable. Sigh.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are ITAR rules for all sorts of things. Because of my background, I know a little about those rules, but I don't know anything about pilot skills being limited under ITAR. I suspect it is sorta like how military people with nuclear knowledge/skills have specific limitations on where they can travel and work.

Basically what it boils down to is he was teaching Chinese pilots combat skills. Basic Fighter Maneuvers are the basics that all fighter pilots know. But beyond Basic Fighter Maneuvers you have tactics, how to exploit the strengths of your aircraft and weaknesses of adversary aircraft while avoiding your own aircraft's weak spots are classified. You sign an NDI saying you will never discuss those tactics to anyone not cleared to know and who has a need to know. PLA pilots obviously to not qualify. If he was discussing the capabilities of weapons and sensors then you have further violations.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Americans trained Osama bin laden to fight the Soviets and created Al Qaeda.

Nope. Urban myth. The US trained and armed ethnic Afghans to fight the Soviets. The CIA worked with known Afghan warlords and their militias. Bin Laden was an Arab and the US was not doing anything with any Arab groups there.

In a 1993 interview, bin Laden himself said, “Personally neither I nor my brothers saw evidence of American help.” This topic has been researched to death over the years and nobody can find a shred of evidence to back the claim. Rand Paul was, as he often does, was talking out of his backside when he made that claim.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

TheFu:

Correct. The last actual constitutionally declared war (aka Congress voting for war) was in 1941.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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