Inside the Ring

Master terrorist

Abu Musab Zarqawi remains the most elusive prey in Iraq. A bounty of $25 million and an intensive electronic and human manhunt has failed to find the Jordanian-born beheader of Americans.

We are told that U.S. Marines receive many tips on the terrorist’s whereabouts and have launched at least two unsuccessful operations to find and kill Zarqawi.

One officer said he carries Zarqawi’s picture, but doubts he could spot the guy, because the terrorist is known to wear various disguises. The bottom line: Zarqawi is a survivor, a key asset for an international terrorist.

Taiwanese submarines

Pentagon officials were surprised by statements this week by Taiwan’s ambassador to the United States, David Lee. Mr. Lee told reporters and editors of The Washington Times that the eight submarines the island’s government plans to build will be made at a shipyard in Mississippi.

However, defense officials said the decision on whether to build the submarines, and where, has not yet been made, although Taipei has sent a letter stating that it intends to buy them. The matter is awaiting resolution of Taiwan’s legislature, which is debating a special $18 billion budget for new arms, including submarines.

“I hope they’re built in Pascagoula [Miss.],” one official said.

Some Navy officials are opposing plans to make the submarines from scratch in the United States since it would upset the submarine community’s long-standing position that all U.S. submarines must be nuclear-powered.

The current Navy plan for Taiwan’s submarines, which are needed to counter the growing naval threat from China, is for the United States to broker a deal to use a German diesel submarine design and build the subs at a shipyard in Spain, officials tell us.

Mr. Lee told Taiwan’s Central News Agency after The Times’ report that it is too soon to discuss a construction site for the submarines.

The special defense budget needs to be passed before the location of the construction can be discussed, he said.

Texas Guard beat

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