Worthy News: Ports deal questioned in the U.S. - Int'l Herald Trib

[George]

U.S. legislators from both parties on Sunday sharply questioned the Bush administration's approval of a recent sale that would give a Dubai company control over shipping facilities at six major U.S. ports, saying that it raised fundamental security issues.

http://www.worthynews.com/news/iht-com-bin...ews-policy-php/

[Snow4JC]

Greetings~George

This deal in my opinion smells. Here we are in the U.S. trying to keep jobs within our country and our government sells 6 of our ports to an Arab company.

What is our President thinking?

What a Security problem this will bring to us.

Snow4JC

[Catsmeow]

I try to avoid controversy with my beloved brethren here at Worthy. I'm a Republican and love this country of ours...but I'm getting VERY suspicious now.

Something just isn't right and only a few people are seeing the "writing on the walls".

Why is it Chertoff (head of Homeland Security) is outsourcing our own SECURITY to an Arab/Muslim nation, no less?

Am I the ONLY one who's beginning to get just a little bit distrustful about this adminstration? Look, I hate to feel like I've been duped. I'm intensely loyal and will stand by our president faithfully...

BUT...if I think we've been played for fools? Have we all just been just too plain loyal for our own good? Man, I HOPE I'm wrong about this. I don't want to think bad about anyone but I'm sorry. I'm sensing something's not right here.

[Snow4JC]

I try to avoid controversy with my beloved brethren here at Worthy. I'm a Republican and love this country of ours...but I'm getting VERY suspicious now.

Something just isn't right and only a few people are seeing the "writing on the walls".

Why is it Chertoff (head of Homeland Security) is outsourcing our own SECURITY to an Arab/Muslim nation, no less?

Am I the ONLY one who's beginning to get just a little bit distrustful about this adminstration? Look, I hate to feel like I've been duped. I'm intensely loyal and will stand by our president faithfully...

BUT...if I think we've been played for fools? Have we all just been just too plain loyal for our own good? Man, I HOPE I'm wrong about this. I don't want to think bad about anyone but I'm sorry. I'm sensing something's not right here.

Cat ~

As of today the port count is 21 and not 6.

I think many countries are calling in their markers because they know our dollar is going to hit rock bottom very soon.

The time has come to IMPEACH George Bush JR!

Snow4JC

[Catsmeow]

Our dollar will be useful only as wallpaper. Our deficit is so high and our debt load so heavy, we are without honor and no means to pay for social services, let alone a fruitless war in Iraq.

Man, I love our troops and cherish their bravery...but fear their efforts may be in vain for a people who are incapable of managing a democracy.

We cannot be the "world's policemen".

[O'Dannyboy]

I have noticed lately that every piece on the Dubai deal accuses the U.S. of racial profiling and even racial descrimination. I think they are turning our well placed caution into something derogatory. I for one have no problem with Arabs. As far as I can tell 90% of Arabs are Muslim and 90% of known terrorist organisations are Muslim so you do the math. I think racial profiling is prudent under these circumstances. I am not saying they should nix the deal because its with an Arab nation, but I am saying that such a deal should be given a great deal of scrutiny. Much more scrutiny than rushing it through a 12 man secret panel headed up by commercialy biased politicians. All I am hearing from the media is that even though "operations" will be run from Dubai, the operators and even security will remain the same. Somehow that is just not as comforting as some would think. I want to know that they are taking extra measures, adopting new policies and so on. I do not wan't to hear nor apreciate being told there is nothing to worry about. As one of the 6 Governors said " trust us just isn't going to cut it".

[Catsmeow]

Our country is so "politically correct" whenever someone wants to "bash" you, all they have to do is ACCUSE you of being a bigot in some form.

If you're morally against homosexuality, you're a "homophobe".

If you're against abortion, you're a "right wing nutjob".

And so on and so on.....

[Christ's Free Servant]

Our country is so "politically correct" whenever someone wants to "bash" you, all they have to do is ACCUSE you of being a bigot in some form.

If you're morally against homosexuality, you're a "homophobe".

If you're against abortion, you're a "right wing nutjob".

And so on and so on.....

Cats,

I agree!

[Marnie]

I'm not sure how many of you have actually been to Dubai, but I have and I can assure you these people are not camel jockies; in fact one could argue that the lifestyle enjoyed in Dubai rivals that of the US in some places. Also, the UAE has been with us the GWOT; one of the few Middle Eastern allies we have in this effort.

I was really against this deal when I first heard about (I'm sure GWB was worried about my opinion), but as it has unfolded before our eyes, it I am becoming less and less convinced it's a bad deal. There is not security involved and the Coast Guard remains in control of all security issues. It seems many of our ports have had parts of them leased out to foreign countries, for at least the last 50 years. This seems to be a pretty common business stratagy. To pick on this deal because it involves those nasty Arabs smacks of racism to me. I say this, because that was my initial response, and I have since asked the Lord for forgiveness.

I fear we have been manipulated by the media and that there has been a lot of shamelss posturing from both sides of the aisle. Both sides, with the exception of John McCain, whom I usually don't care for, seem intent on doing GWB in with this issue; the Democrats because they sense he is vulnerable here and since they don't have an issue of their own, they see this as a way to bring him down. As for the Republicans, the word "grandstanding" comes to mind, especially from Pete King and Bill Frist. Sadly, GWB hasn't helped his cause much. He would do well to keep mouth shut until he has all the facts in the case.

It has been noted that this story was first run in the Wall Street Journal back in October of 2005, with not a word of outrage from either party nor the media. I wonder why? I am sure Congress had access to the WSJ back then. Where was the outrage in '05? Since this story has been around for almost four months, one could hardly call it a "secret deal!" And yet, that's all we hear...."secret back room deal," and similar phrases.

This company in Dubai is a massive one to be sure. They already own several appartment compelexes in New York City, as well as at least three office towers in NYC and they also own the Tussaud Group's wax museum franchise worldwide. These sheiks have been busy beavers. How come nobody cared about these acquisitions? The UAE also has invested over a billion dollars in DaimlerChrysler. Any of you own one of their cars? I can't for somebody to suggest that the sheiks over in Dubai are secretly tracking all of you who drive a Chrysler...

In case anybody is wondering, we have invested heavily in Dubai's booming economy. Our Navy also has a permanent presence in Dubai's ports. A bunch of American businesses, Sun Microsystems for one, Microsoft for another, recently expanded into Dubai. Nike is another one. Harvard Medical School has a satellite campus in Dubai and several very large US construction firms have contracts to build homes and factories because the Dubai economy is growing so fast.

Now, everybody has their underwear in a knot over a simple business deal which involves an Arab country leasing some business from US ports. The thing you should all be worried about is how come Dubai's economy is taking off at lightspeed while ours, admittedly is growing; it is not keeping pace with theirs. At this pace, it is highly likely that the next generation of Americans will be the first one in hisotry to inherit a lifestyle below that of the previous generation.

[Catsmeow]

the Democrats because they sense he is vulnerable here and since they don't have an issue of their own, they see this as a way to bring him down.

I'll buy that...but then, I'm no fan of the Dems to begin with.

I hope this issue will spurn lawmakers to crack down on port security as a whole. I learned a lot after watching 60 Minutes on Sunday. Real eye-opening.