Posted on 02/21/2006 12:32:20 PM PST by Brian Mosely
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Bush says the deal allowing an Arab company to take over six major U.S. seaports should go forward and he will veto any bill that would stop it.
Briefly heard Rush today say that the US employees already working at these ports would not be replaced by foreign workers, and the Coast Guard would continue to inspect all cargo. I can't remember everything he said on this subject, but those two items stood out in my mind.
This just doesn't seem like a good idea.
First of all, Bush seems to be making a case for "equal rights for foreign investment". And that doesn't fly. Foreign entities are not entitled to equal treatment for any reason. And when I say "entitled", I mean, to the point of trumping common sense.
Secondly, if he feels they should be treated "equally", doesn't this undercut the argument against affording constitutional rights to prisoners at Gitmo? I mean, if foreign commercial interests are somehow protected by some quasi "equal treatment" notion, why aren't individuals?
Thirdly, given the very much publicized issue of port security and terrorist activity, why would Bush choose to stake his political reputation on a hill like this? I don't think ANY foreign interest should be owning and operating the chokepoint of trade on our shores.
I'm aware that UAE is a friend of this country, but where is it written that will always be the case?
Just bizarre.
And how do you know that the current american companies running the contracts don't already have al qaeda sympathisers, or the O&P company? Why do you think the DP World company is more likely to have sympathisers? UAE is under constant attack by terrorists who don't like their work for us, why would that make them MORE of a problem for you?
Never mind the facts!
These posters know Bush is lying and they mean to impeach him because of it!
I've got news for you. A terrorist who uses a dirty bomb or large chemical or biological weapon to attack a major U.S. city is far more likely to develop such a weapon right here in the United States.
Maybe I missed the part of that story about the "Abu Dhabi, UAE" postmark on those anthrax letters.
There's another alternate Port management company that could do the job and really make the Freepers waving their hands in the are really lose it. Hutchinson-Whampoa.
Yes, the UAE is rich and decadent and comparatively pro-West, in that they drink and buy Ferraris and lap dances and want us all to come there for vacation. President Bush says they "have been an ally in the WOT" and have a "good track record", etc etc. One in every 80 people there is a millionaire. Perhaps that is why they are not out burning Danish and American flags and chanting in the streets; they can hire the Pakistanis and poor countries to do their jihading for them, they have to be at the spa.
And maybe this whole brouhaha is blown way out of proportion, maybe the port security won't be reduced at all. I admit, I just don't know.
But these are facts; 2 of the 9/11 killers came from the UAE. Financing for 9/11 came from the UAE. We passed on a shot at bin Laden in 1999 because he was out hunting with the royals from the UAE and we didn't want to hit any rich princes. They have friends in low places, and the Qur'an is still their reference book. I hesitate to call them "allies" with a straight face. Pacified and content, perhaps, but not allies.
You are off your rocker ..
Since Pres. Bush forced Israel to allow Hamas to come to power, I no longer trust his judgment.
A Good point in regard to judgement, but I don't know if a complete loss of trust is warranted. Hamas election was Condi's deal, and she blew that one. But at least Carter is for the election,......and mind you, the port deal. He has experience.
<> We all know this. The issue is the potential for infiltration by Al Qaeda and their sympathizers. Would you have pedophile babysit your child??
"And all it would take would be a few al Qaeda sympathizers in management to make it easier to smuggle ship-borne weapons into this country."
Especially with a socialist criminal psychopath like Bill or Hillary Clinton in charge of the White House.
The fact that Hillary is jumping all over 'stopping' this should be a clue to you.
P&O is owned by British and Dutch companies, in fact - the ONLY other bid came from a SINGAPORE company - I don't know if there are any American companies in existance to take over port operations in any event.
Oh man, I don't know how I feel about this deal. Each side presents seemingly valid arguments. One minute I am for, the next I am against. I will have to get a better understanding of the facts.
Port operations aside, when I heard of the veto threat, CFR jumped front and center in my mind. I support the President but want to ask "Gee, Mr. President, where was the veto pen when CFR was passed?"
Why are you calling me stupid for posting what President Bush said on Fox News? Calm down. LOL.
The port deal may or may not be a threat to national security, I don't know enough about the subject to have an informed opinion, but the general public already sees this as a very dangerous act and the MSM/Democrat propagandists will push that angle as far as it will go during the mid term campaign. Democrat Congressional candidates will make enough hay out of the issue next fall to feed all the cows in TX.
Is it worth losing control of Congress just to show the "friendly" Arabs how fair and balanced we are in our international commercial dealings? Or is there something more to this than is evident at this point in the deal? Whatever it is it must be extremely important to Bush, he seems oblivious to any amount of weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from his own people in Congress.
I don't know how the deal will affect us from a security standpoint, but I am very much afraid of this deal from a political perspective. I find myself saying something here that seems at odds with my normal way of thinking regarding this administration. That being, Bush is just flat out wrong on this deal whether or not it is a threat to our port security.
Wow...straight from the CAIR playbook. Was that from a fax or the weekly mailer?
If you're right, I'll volunteer for the bushbots because I'm pretty p*ssed right now. What's he going to do? Veto the bill and then Congress overrides? Then Haliburton comes to the rescue and the Dems go nuts?
All those who know all the details on this matter, raise your hands.
Good, all those FR folks who think they do have their hands in the air and can't type. :)
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