Selling Spree

HUMAN-RIGHTS VIOLATIONS and military secrets notwithstanding, George Bush just loves to do business with the Chinese. According to officials in his own Department of Defense, he's still at it, right to the end. Pentagon technology watchdogs were appalled to learn on the eve of Commerce Secretary Barbara / Franklin's trade trip to Beijing that her department had cleared the way for the Chinese military to buy 15 jet engines made by Garrett, a division of Allied-Signal. Not only would the sale enhance China's military capability, but it could further destabilize the Middle East by extending the range of Silkworm cruise missiles available to Chinese clients Iran and Iraq -- in certain cases to intercontinental distances, say the Pentagon critics. "Now we wonder, what else did they cut loose?" said a worried top Administration official.