Bush has lost it

[newbie]

Even the coast guard has concerns.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2...afx2557296.html

[newbie]

And then there's this:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadA...le.asp?ID=21413

[GostHacked]

And then there's this:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadA...le.asp?ID=21413

Things that make you go hmmmm.

[Teddy Ballgame]

- I enjoyed scanning this lengthy thread of mainly Bushwhacking including the usual left-lib crowd's use of anything even, as in this case, racism and protectionism, to make phony political hay at the expense of the president and the republicans in this mid term elections year.

- However, the devious Democrats' Dubai Ports political ploy says more about their own moral and policy bankruptcy and stop at nothing political opportunism as well as their cynical estimate of the American people as a bunch of simplistic know nothing morons easily conned by sophistry than it does about a president who, unlike his predecessor Zipper Billy Clinton, actually has values and vision and will not pander to racism and protectionism.

- While I haven't the time today to cut through all the misinformation that has been perpetrated here by the usual Bush bashing suspects, the Globe and Mail's editorial this morning explains and debunks this phony Dubai Ports' issue concisely and correctly. Here it is:

Ports in a storm

U.S. politicians are raising a ruckus because Dubai Ports World, a state-owned company in the United Arab Emirates, is set to take over terminal operations of major ports on the U.S. East Coast. Critics of the deal, which is part of a £3.9-billion ($8-billion Canadian) purchase of British ports operator Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., cite security concerns for their opposition. Yet it is obvious that this has little to do with genuine security issues and everything to do with an uglier side of the American reality since the events of 9/11. The real problem with the company is that it is Arab-owned; and it has become a political football inflated with the foul air of protectionism and bigotry.

Dubai Ports World is a respected operator or partner in dozens of port facilities covering every continent and including such shipping centres as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Southampton, Antwerp, Buenos Aires and Vancouver. Its U.S. holdings already include terminals in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Newark, whose security has suddenly become so paramount to U.S. state and federal politicians. Yet the company's acquisition of the international ports business of U.S. freight giant CSX in 2004 did not raise a murmur. The takeover of rival P&O will enable the company to consolidate its position in North America and boost its share of the world market. But it would control none of the ports, bear no responsibility for port security or even have a say in the selection of the work force at most of its facilities. In most cases, it would be just one of several international groups with a commercial stake in the port.

This is a fact of life in the shipping trade, which has long been globalized and multinational. It would be extremely damaging for Washington to signal to the world that certain foreign companies are less welcome than others simply because they have Arab ownership. And in this case, it would embarrass the United Arab Emirates, a steadfast ally in a region where the United States needs all the help it can get. The fact that some terrorists have used Dubai as a transit point or that nuclear contraband was shipped through the port has everything to do with security (which has been considerably beefed up thanks to U.S.-prompted initiatives) and nothing to do with the manager of the container terminals.

Nevertheless, the Dubai company is well aware of American sensibilities. Eager to assuage any concerns, it has agreed to yet another investigation of the possible security risks posed by the P&O deal, after passing an earlier review by U.S. intelligence agencies. It had previously acquiesced to certain restrictions on its business operations. These include placing all the U.S. operations in a separate business unit that would not be controlled from Dubai. Management of the ports would be in the hands of U.S. citizens and security would be solely the responsibility of local port authorities, federal customs agents, the Coast Guard and various police forces, as has always been the case. That should be enough to allay the concerns of any reasonable U.S. legislators.

There are plenty of reasons to be worried about the security of North American ports, which have long been considered vulnerable to terrorism. But ownership of the terminals is not one of them, particularly when the company in question is regarded throughout the shipping world as thoroughly reputable and reliable. Those who still oppose the deal are simply playing a parochial political card that may resonate with an uninformed public but does considerable harm both to the U.S. image among moderate Arabs and to the cause of globalization.

[newbie]

Democrats weren't the only ones concerned about the UAE taking on the ports.

Republicans and Democrats alike have threatened to introduce legislation to block or delay the deal, citing unease over what they describe as inconsistent opposition to terrorism by the United Arab Emirates.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../w130411S12.DTL

Even the coast guard had concerns.

http://www.michnews.com/artman/publish/article_11891.shtml

And you have to admit, the President finding out from the media? Come on. Given the current climate, of course most people would be concerned about this. And that's the ripple effect of Bush's illegal war.

[Liam]

- I enjoyed scanning this lengthy thread of mainly Bushwhacking including the usual left-lib crowd's use of anything even, as in this case, racism and protectionism, to make phony political hay at the expense of the president and the republicans in this mid term elections year.

- However, the devious Democrats' Dubai Ports political ploy says more about their own moral and policy bankruptcy and stop at nothing political opportunism as well as their cynical estimate of the American people as a bunch of simplistic know nothing morons easily conned by sophistry than it does about a president who, unlike his predecessor Zipper Billy Clinton, actually has values and vision and will not pander to racism and protectionism.

Actually, a bit of the opposition to the ports deal is based on the fact that the Bush administration failed to adhere to the law requiring a 45 day review period for such transactions when national security concerns are at play. Also, memebrs of Bush's inner circle who approved the deal have extensive business ties with the parties negotiating the sale. Values and vision? I suppose they value the vision of dollars dancing in their heads.

Also, what concerns a lot of people is that the Dubai company is government owned. The US normally does not allow foreign governments to control assets that impact our national security.

I'm not saying that xenophobia and anti-Arab sentiment don't exist here, but the least you could do is be intellectually honest (nearly impossible for a Bush supporter, I understand) and admit that the same feeling is being expressed by liberals, conservatives, Democrats and Republicans alike. Nice try, though.

[GostHacked]

Another reason people are concerned about it is that it has been drilled into them. TERRORISM TERRORISM TERRORISM, WATCH OUT MUSLIM EXTREEEEEMISTS. NSA CIA FBI HLS.... all this was created out of the WTC center attacks. Drilled into the psychi of americans.

Once you see this kind of thing for 4.5 years after The WTC attacks, it just slips under tour skin, so everyone with a turban/headscarf will be looked at with a scrutinizing eye. The whole psychology behind it. It slips into the sub concious of the American people. And when you have control of homeland ports that are being handed over to a foreign Arab entity, they will perk up. You would not have gotten this kind of thing if it was being handed over to Canada, or Germany, or Spain ect.....

[Black Dog]

Okay righties: it's conundrum time!

The parent company of a Dubai-based firm at the center of a political storm in the US over the purchase of American ports participates in the Arab boycott against Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The firm, Dubai Ports World, is seeking control over six major US ports, including those in New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Baltimore. It is entirely owned by the Government of Dubai via a holding company called the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCZC), which consists of the Dubai Port Authority, the Dubai Customs Department and the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area.

"Yes, of course the boycott is still in place and is still enforced," Muhammad Rashid a-Din, a staff member of the Dubai Customs Department's Office for the Boycott of Israel, told the Post in a telephone interview.

[newbie]

Good catch BD. Thanks for posting.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Black Dog,

Indded, good eye. This might be a legal hitch leading to a blocking of the sale. An interesting bit I saw in the article was...

On at least three separate occasions last year, the Post has learned, companies were fined by the US government's Office of Anti-boycott Compliance, an arm of the Commerce Department, on charges connected to boycott-related requests they had received from the Government of Dubai.

US law bars firms from complying with such requests or cooperating with attempts by Arab governments to boycott Israel.

Is the Anti-boycott office still fighting on behalf of Cuba? (j/k)

[Drew Bedson]

Indded, good eye. This might be a legal hitch leading to a blocking of the sale.

I concur. Good eye and right. If they do, then this would be a non starter for any sane westerner. However, if they change course and hide behind the P & O in this matter then I would assume that it would also demonstrate the 'arms length' type of affair it is?

[newbie]

It's over thank God: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/09/por...rity/index.html

[Drew Bedson]

Well thank goodness. Hopefully it will be either Wal Mart (with it's ability to deal with unions and such) or Haliburton who are also large enough to take this on.

This will undoubtedly make Bush stronger on the hill. Win win for everybody!

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Mr. Bedson,

Well thank goodness. Hopefully it will be either Wal Mart (with it's ability to deal with unions and such) or Haliburton who are also large enough to take this on.

This will undoubtedly make Bush stronger on the hill. Win win for everybody!

Yes, millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing that xenophobia is always the right choice.

[Drew Bedson]

Yes, millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing that xenophobia is always the right choice.

And the Sand People once again return to the wastelands.