Updates on Hardin, Montana, and China flag flap

By Chuck Baldwin

In recent columns, I have reported on both the attempted takeover of the Hardin, Montana, jail facility by a private mercenary force and a Chinese story that the White House would fly the Communist Chinese flag in honor of the 60th anniversary of Mao's revolution of 1949, which brought the Reds to power (initially killing as many as 3 million Chinese people, and resulting in the deaths of more than 50 million people during those 60 years).

See those columns at:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20090909.html

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20091009.html

I promised readers that I would keep an eye out for these stories and provide necessary updates. Well, here are those updates.

The Hardin, Montana, Update:

On Friday, October 9, the private mercenary company that had attempted to take over the Hardin jail facility, American Police Force (APF), announced that it was pulling out of negotiations on contracts with the Two Rivers Authority (the economic development arm of the city of Hardin) to operate the facility. This announcement was made after my column was released and many other news sources, Internet bloggers, and talk radio hosts blitzed the story to the public. We showed how APF's frontman, Serbian immigrant Michael Hilton, had a criminal record, and is, in fact, currently facing criminal charges for fraud in California. We also reported that APF had fraudulently attempted to identify itself as the "City of Hardin Police Department" by patrolling Hardin's streets with Mercedes-Benz SUVs with Hardin police markings stenciled on the sides of the vehicles. (The city of Hardin does not have a police department. The city is policed by the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office.)

On October 15, the Flathead (County) Beacon reported that the company's former attorney took the last two Mercedes SUVs brought to Hardin by APF. "Becky Shay, APF spokeswoman, says she gave the keys to Maziar Mafi on Tuesday," reported the Beacon. Shay said Mafi was the guarantor on the vehicles' purchase.

In the meantime, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock has launched an investigation into the Hardin matter. According to the AG's office, the investigation is predicated upon concerns that the company might be violating the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act. As far as I know, that investigation is ongoing.

On October 15, the Flathead Beacon also reported, "Officials in the rural town of Hardin say they've received new interest in their empty, 464-bed jail in the wake of [the] collapsed deal with a California company run by a man with a history of fraud.

"Saying there's 'no such thing as bad publicity,' Al Peterson with the city's economic development agency says at least four corrections corporations and agencies have asked for more information about the facility.

"Peterson, who is also superintendent of Hardin schools, declined to offer more details. He also acknowledged the city's two-year effort to fill the jail suffered a major setback from its dealings with Santa Ana-based American Police Force."

If you would like to learn a little more about what goes on behind the scenes in these Hardin-type fiascos, here is a web article well worth your attention. It reveals how unscrupulous private developers prey on small, impoverished towns.

http://tinyurl.com/private-prison-salesmen

The Red Chinese Flag Flap Update:

As I reported in my initial column regarding this event, "According to China Daily, 'Chinese associations in the United States had applied to hold a ceremony in front of the US President's residence to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of PRC [People's Republic of China] . . .'"

Whether China Daily misconstrued the story, or the White House changed its mind under pressure regarding allowing the communist flag to fly over the South Lawn, the Red Chinese flag did indeed fly near the White House, but not over the South Lawn.

According to World Net Daily (September 21, 2009), "The flag of the communist Chinese regime has been raised over festivities near the White House honoring the restrictive nation's 60th anniversary, according to videos posted on YouTube as well as reports from the Chinese Central television network's English-language report."

The Communist flag flew over the Ellipse, the public area adjacent to the President's residence. Here is the YouTube video report of the Red flag event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdXUR7S-x1g

Here is the World Net Daily report:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=110583

If that isn't bad enough, New York's Empire State Building lit up red and yellow on Wednesday, September 30 "in honor of the 60th anniversary of communist China." (Source: AFP News)

According to AFP News, "The Chinese consul, Peng Keyu, and other officials will take part in the lighting ceremony which will bathe the skyscraper in the colors of the People's Republic until Thursday, Empire State Building representatives said in a statement."

So, yes, Martha, the communist Chinese flag did indeed fly near the White House, and in addition, New York's Empire State Building lit up in the colors of the communist flag to honor the Bloody Butchers of Beijing. Incredible!

Then again, maybe we should not be so surprised. Washington, D.C., and Wall Street have long been coddling and colluding with the communist Chinese. That both cities would honor the communist flag (under which tens of thousands of Americans have been killed) seems consistent with their penchant for turning America into a socialist police State. And if our Founding Fathers had not established the deep-rooted freedom-principle extolling the right of the people to keep and bear arms, it is very likely that the communist flag would have already been flying over the White House — as well as above every schoolyard in America.

© Chuck Baldwin