Posted on 02/28/2006 1:11:19 PM PST by Reagan Man
The initial outcry from the conservative blogs and talk radio over an Arab state-owned company taking over terminals at some U.S. ports seems to have subsided, as the Bush Administration, the Arab/Muslim lobby and their representatives and lobbyists have moved quickly to dominate the media debate.
The firm, Dubai Ports World, is owned by the United Arab Emirates, an Islamic regime that is now being regularly described in the media as a U.S. ally. But the democracy we're fighting for in Iraq does not exist in the UAE. Inside the UAE, according to the State Department, there is no freedom of the press and Internet access is restricted.
Sunni Islam is the official religion and the International Religious Freedom Report of 2004 says that while non-Muslims in the country are free to practice their religion, "they are subject to criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and deportation if found proselytizing or distributing religious literature to Muslims."
In addition to the expensive lobbyists who have been deployed on Capitol Hill in support of the deal, Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has been appearing on cable television to insist that opposition is based on anti-Arab racism. But the media have failed to note that CAIR has strong financial ties to the UAE.
Paul Sperry, author of the blockbuster book Infiltration, points out that CAIR entered into a "Deed of Trust" contract with the Al-Maktoum Foundation of the UAE, which put up the nearly $1 million for its property in Washington, D.C. Sperry called the UAE government CAIR's "benefactor." CAIR specializes in driving critics of Islam off talk radio. Michael Graham was fired from WMAL- radio in Washington, D.C. for offending CAIR.
Some of the negative reaction to the deal stems not from racism or Arab-bashing but the fact that initial federal approval of the deal sidestepped a legally authorized 45-day investigation. The law requires such a probe when "the acquirer is controlled by or acting on behalf of a foreign government" and when the acquisition "could result in control of a person engaged in interstate commerce in the U.S. that could affect the national security of the U.S." By reluctantly agreeing to have a 45-day investigation, Dubai Ports World only recognized what the law required.
The skirting of the law has enabled critics of the deal, such as Lou Dobbs of CNN, to suggest that Bush family ties to the UAE are involved. CNN reporter Christine Romans did a report on Dobbs' show alleging that the President's brother, Neil Bush, has reportedly received funding for his educational software company from UAE investors. Neil Bush, however, is a loose cannon in the Bush family, and recently showed up on a tour with controversial Korean cult leader Sun Myung Moon after going through a messy divorce. It's hard to believe that this black sheep of the Bush family would have that much influence. If there is a connection between Neil Bush and the deal, the controversy could quickly turn into "Portgate."
One curious fact that emerges in the controversy is that a Dubai Ports World executive, David Sanborn, was nominated by President Bush to serve as U.S. Maritime Administrator in late January - before the ports deal was revealed. It seems like strange timing, to say the least.
Despite claims that the UAE is a U.S. ally in the war on terrorism, the director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs, Ali Al-Ahmed, told the New York Sun that in addition to being a staging point for the 9/11 terrorists and a country where Al Qaeda laundered money, the UAE "has been fueling the insurgency in Iraq. They have hosted a lot of the Sunni insurgent supporters and Sunni insurgents." Equally ominous, a captured al-Qaeda document released by the Center for Combating Terrorism at West Point shows that the terrorist organization has boasted that it has "infiltrated" the security apparatus and other agencies of the UAE regime.
Dubai is also home to the Arab satellite channel al-Arabiya, which is not as well known as Al-Jazeera but was temporarily ordered out of Baghdad in 2003 by the post-Saddam government after it was accused of inciting violence against innocent citizens and American military personnel.
In terms of the media war being waged here at home, one blogger, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.com, said on CNN's Reliable Sources show that while he was initially critical of the deal, "...I am now reasonably comfortable with it." He said he reacted negatively after reading one article about the deal in the New York Post but then talked to some other people who allayed his concern. "At least having looked into port security in general," he continued, "I would say that our ports are so insecure everywhere that this isn't likely to make much of a difference."
This does not seem like much of an endorsement of the deal but it does serve as an indictment of the unreliability of quick-witted bloggers. Reynolds should not have thrown in the towel so quickly. He may find he has to reverse himself once again.
"I would say that our ports are so insecure everywhere that this isn't likely to make much of a difference."
What is that old truism, about damning with faint praise?
Sometimes the search feature works and sometimes it doesn't.
Regardless whether you are for or against this, I think we can all agree that Karl Rove really screwed up big time. This should have been vetted with the GOP before the announcement.
On the other hand, I do not approve of all the finger pointing by GOP members of Congress. They should keep in mind that the procedure that was used is the one that they prescribed. If they don't like the procedure, then they've got no one to blame but themselves.
And every right to demand stricter scrutiny.
Definitely, more scrutiny is needed.
When I first heard that this sweetheart deal was business as usual, I was appalled. Still am. 9-11 is still fresh in my memory. If someone came to me and said that 20% of the commercial aspects our ports of entry are being managed by non-US companies, I would have been pretty upset. To find out that 80% are being operated by non-US managment companies, that is an outrage. The new 45-day reevaluation is appropriate, but in the end I don't know if its going to be anything more then just cover for Bush and the GOP.
No this post will remain BS. Couldn't find a single fact in the post. Just twisted opinion.
"No this post will remain BS. Couldn't find a single fact in the post. Just twisted opinion."
Do you always feel this way about articles from GOPUSA.com, or is it only on this single issue?
Never mind the facts; they're on a roll!
Is Ted Kennedy involved?
Wait, I'm thinking of portlygate or portwinegate. nevermind.
Babs Boxer has already said we must investigate Bush family ties to this deal... mentioned Neal and the Carlyle Group. Something like that could bring this president down.
Well, then, throw the b@#$%rds out and replace them with companies based in models of democracy, like China or Singapore.
Some have tried to deal with correcting this disfunctional system.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1585646/posts?page=38#38
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) today made the following statement regarding the recent Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved management transfer of six major U.S. seaports to 'Dubai Ports World' of the United Arab Emirates.
"Relinquishing management oversight of major U.S. seaports to any foreign company makes little sense when one considers the logical threat this could pose to our national security. The question of foreign ownership of key U.S. businesses is not a new challenge facing our country. Last year I authored a bill and an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill attempting to fix these very loopholes in our foreign investment review process. I also testified before fellow Senate committees requesting that greater scrutiny be applied to foreign acquisitions of U.S. businesses that could threaten our national security.
"As I have long stated, the CFIUS process is broken and must be fixed. My legislation called for CFIUS, to report to Congress on a quarterly basis detailed analysis of each transaction reviewed over the previous 90 day period. Increasing Congressional oversight of this process is one of the many ways we can improve its efficacy in protecting our national security. Congress should take a vital step in reforming the CFIUS review process and increasing our national security by passing my legislation."
Senator Inhofe's 'Foreign Investment Security Act of 2005' (S.1797) was later converted into a Senate Amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. Below is a summary of the Inhofe amendment's proposed changes to the CFIUS review process for foreign acquisition of U.S. businesses:
* Extend the time to commence such investigation to 90 days instead of the current 45.
* Require the findings and recommendations of any investigation to be sent immediately to the President and specified congressional committees for review.
* Require certain factors to be considered as part of such investigation, including the effect on domestic production and long-term projections of U.S. requirements for sources of energy and other critical resources.
* Direct the Secretary of the Treasury to report quarterly to such committees a detailed summary and analysis of each transaction being, or likely to be, reviewed.
* Subject the President's decision not to suspend or prohibit a transaction to a congressional approval process.
Aw, but bursting their bubbles is so much fun! It's like an FR version of popping bubble wrap...
How was Karl Rove involved in this deal? I didn't find his name mentioned in the article.
Agreeded. One benefit of this is I am noticing what web sites and news sources are trying to be honest on this. Others in the future(including conservative ones) I will discount when trying to form a opinion. MY criteria is not pro or anti but the publishing of twisted facts. The above article is a prime example.
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