Military Commander of Xinjiang Removed From Post

The terrorist attack in Beijing last week has left egg on the face of the Chinese security, and, predictably, it's time for some heads to roll.  First on the chopping block is General Peng Yong, who was appointed the military chief for Xinjiang, which presumably spearheaded the spate of shootings and executions of ethnic Uighurs in September.  The report in Chinese press didn't go into details, but Peng's dismissal is rather more than coincidental.

Despite waging his own terroristic war on terror, attackers were till able to load up on gallons of petrol and crash an SUV into a major tourist attraction.  Beijing has pointed the finger at Islamic extremists, further demonising Xinjiang Muslims in an effort to paint them not as downtrodden masses who get routinely shat upon by the Han Chinese.

The attack is a blessing when it comes to getting excuses to ramp up the persecution of otherwise innocent Uighurs, since the propaganda offensive that alleged that "terrorist elements" in the region were being fuelled by Syrian rebel Muslims.  The Syrian connection being that China is interested in brokering a oil deal with Assad, and hellbent on making sure that the Americans don't get anywhere near it.

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