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To: standingfirm
What stinks here is the hysteria and ignorance of "Conservatives" who should know better then to fall for a Democrat directed Press smear job.

Here is what the Port story is about. A DNC press release was sent out by Chucky Schumer for the Democrat Senate Election Committee. It is full of rumor, innuendo and guilt by association. A bunch of junk journalists picked up the story and with out checking a SINGLE fact printed the story. A bunch of meat head grandstanding Republicans Congress Critters on Kneepads, read the story and freaked out WITHOUT bothering to find out a single fact. The Security Agencies, who did all the investigation and background checks were blown off or sneered at by the Democrats, their junk journalists propagandists and Republican Congress critter Media whores. Meanwhile the FACTS of the case are being ignored in order for everyone to gleefully parrot a DEMOCRAT Press release.

HERE is the logical diagram on this story. A company based in UAE is taking over port operations. UAE is an Arab Country. Arabs committed 9-11. Bush is turning Port Security over to the Terrorists! Not ONE fact or logically valid assumption is presented in any of these stories. The fact that the Port Operation company has NO security functions is either willfully or inadvertently left OUT of the story. Instead it is all basically a racist, guilty by accusation and rumor smear job. The people who ACTUALLY know the facts like DHS etc are being laughed at or ignored so supposedly "Conservatives" can gleefully push Democrat Election Campaign propaganda. Simply amazing how willfully ignorant some "Conservatives" are about how the Junk Journalists lie to them. Just like Flush the Koran, Rather Gate, Fitzmus, Downing Street Memo and dozens and dozens of other LIES manufactured by the DNC and fed to the Failed Media, THIS story is a LIE.

6 posted on 02/20/2006 7:32:46 AM PST by MNJohnnie ("Close the UN, Keep Gitmo!")
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To: MNJohnnie

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004597.htm

Give the contract to Halliburton

Just because Dems oppose something, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

This is a DUMB idea. It's worse than Harriet Miers. It's lunacy.

The quicker the administration climbs down and takes the lead on this - the better.


12 posted on 02/20/2006 7:36:40 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: MNJohnnie

Just when I was questioning my responce to this issue along comes a reasoned posting. Thanks.


14 posted on 02/20/2006 7:38:09 AM PST by River_Wrangler (Nothing difficult is ever easy!)
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To: MNJohnnie


"The fact that the Port Operation company has NO security functions is either willfully or inadvertently left OUT of the story."

That is just not true.

According to http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185107,00.html

"DPW would not be responsible for cargo screening, which is performed by the Department of Homeland Security, but the port operator is responsible for securing cargo coming in and out of the port, the port facility itself and the hiring of security personnel."


16 posted on 02/20/2006 7:39:54 AM PST by battletank
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To: MNJohnnie
What stinks here is the hysteria and ignorance of "Conservatives" who should know better then to fall for a Democrat directed Press smear job.

I think you nailed it. The Democrats think they can use this issue to appear strong on security and drive a wedge in the Repbulcian party. However, there's political opportunity here that I would bet the White House is not ignorant about. Expect the WH to back down after a group of Conservatives angry over immigration use this isse to draw a distinction between themselves and the White House. Since there is no VP heir apparent the Republican party will be forced to "split" with the White House over the next few years. Republicans must reinvent themselves because people like to vote for someone who is "new and improved". Issues like this present an opportunuty for Republicans. Watch for more such things in the coming years and ignore the nonsense the press will write about Republicans being in "disarray", etc.

18 posted on 02/20/2006 7:40:12 AM PST by rhombus
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To: MNJohnnie
You said: "The fact that the Port Operation company has NO security functions is either willfully or inadvertently left OUT of the story.

Chertoff said: "In Washington, Chertoff said DP World should not be excluded from operating the U.S. ports just because it is based in the UAE. DP World would not be responsible for cargo screening, which is performed by the Department of Homeland Security, but the port operator would handle security for cargo coming in and out of the port and the hiring of security personnel."

Well, which way is it? Believe me, I'm not some idiot just starting to pay attention. And I'm not someone who is just going to bow the knee just because the White House says it's OK. Our representative here is FL (Mark Foley-R) is also demanding a congressional look see. I agree with him.

23 posted on 02/20/2006 7:44:00 AM PST by standingfirm
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To: MNJohnnie

My understanding is they will be in charge of screening cargo.

Bad idea.


40 posted on 02/20/2006 8:05:10 AM PST by tomahawk (Proud to be an enemy of Islam)
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To: MNJohnnie

How dare you be logical. The media wants you to be peeing in your pants over this 'outrage' by the Bush oilmen.


46 posted on 02/20/2006 8:19:44 AM PST by OldFriend (MSM ~ controversy, crap, & confusion.....compliments of Alan Simpson)
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To: MNJohnnie; River_Wrangler
Ranting that "its all a lie" isn't exactly an example of reason at work. Do you two deny that:

-- DP World, a Dubai state owned company, will be acquiring ownership rights over existing North American terminal infrastructure and operations at approximately 31 container, general cargo, and passenger terminals in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, New Orleans, and Vancouver, complete with extant leasehold, stevedoring, wharfage, and seaway rights;

-- That DP World will also own half of Norfolk's CP&O Ports Virginia, the largest stevedoring service in Hampton Roads;

-- That DP World itself has been quoted as stating that "We intend to maintain and, where appropriate, enhance current security arrangements," making the claim that DP World will have no responsibility for security a rather strange little piece of spin;

-- That, indeed, operations cannot be segregated from security, and to pretend that the two can be segregated is pure fantasy;

-- That the base technology related to terminal security was principally the product of ITO's efforts (the terminal operator that preceded P&O Ports), and that this technology will pass with the sale to DP World;

-- That Dubai and Dubai-based companies and banking institutions have an ignoble and disturbingly direct history of ties to 9/11 and terrorist funding and transit; and

-- That (curiously, given the importance of the decision to national security) the CFIUS did not conduct a 45-day investigation on top of the initial 30-day review that it usually gives to foreign purchases of U.S. businesses?

85 posted on 02/20/2006 9:25:56 AM PST by atlaw
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To: MNJohnnie

I know your posts, and I knormally appreciate your point of view and agree with your comments, so I consider you a political ally. However, I am opposed to this for reasons of national security and it has nothing to do with the fact that the Democrats also disapprove of it.

The fact that there is an issue that I disagree with the administration on is merely coincidental with the fact that the Democrats also challenge this decision.

I never did read any talking points...my opinion was immeidate and definite when I heard the news of this transaction...I would reather debate this on the merits, rather than the fact that your political opposites are in disagreement with you.

I do appreciate your bringing up of this issue or way of looking at it, for we must always be mindful that the actual facts, rather than the emotional reaction to any issue is the way to look at these issues. After all, acting on emotion is the dim thing to do.


86 posted on 02/20/2006 9:31:13 AM PST by LachlanMinnesota (The real Churchill knew a blood thirsty gutter snipe when he saw one.)
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To: MNJohnnie

Still playing the it's always "us versus them" game Johnnie? Yup if the democrats came out in favor of sunny days then it would be our duty to oppose them and support only rainy ones. For your information it was conservatives who first began speaking out against this sham deal and they were absolutely right as are the several democrats who happen to be publicly agreeing.


105 posted on 02/20/2006 10:13:56 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: MNJohnnie
UAE port operations - perspectives and reality
123 posted on 02/20/2006 10:52:26 AM PST by Cannoneer No. 4 (Our enemies act on ecstatic revelations from their god. We act on the advice of lawyers.)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4; Reaganwuzthebest; MNJohnnie; LachlanMinnesota; atlaw; OldFriend; tomahawk; ...
The fact of the matter is: I don't trust muslims. If that makes me a racist, oh well. If that means I make decisions based on emotion and not based on rational thought, again, oh well.

As I see it, we are currently at war with Islam. Would it make sense to lease a port terminal or two to a German or Japanese outfit during WW2? Likewise it doesn't make to cut with deal with a muslim nation.

And if that's hysteria and ignorance, then so be it.

182 posted on 02/20/2006 12:58:29 PM PST by NYCynic
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To: MNJohnnie

What stinks here is the hysteria and ignorance of "Conservatives" who should know better then to fall for a Democrat directed Press smear job.


#####

Sad to say, this hysteria started with Frank Gaffney's report of the sale going through. It took a week to get traction, since the media were fixated on VP Cheney and Mr. Whittington all last week. Now this item will fill the vacuum caused by Mr Whittington's discharge from the hospital. People like Schumer are opportunists. Not one of these "outraged" congresscritters appear to have known that these port operations were owned by a foreign company already.

I was very pleasantly surprised this morning to read an editorial by the Baltimore SUN urging calm and common sense.

Immediately attacking DPW because it is Arab is racist. I am sad that conservatives have such knee-jerk reactions without learning facts, or even asking questions.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.port21feb21,0,3610258.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines

From the editorial:

-----Potentially lost in this uproar is a clear understanding of what a stevedoring firm such as P&O does. For the record, its employees do not touch cargo. They aren't in charge of port security. They do not oversee shipping manifests. Stevedores are the middle managers who tell longshoremen when and where to load and unload cargo. That's pretty much it. In Baltimore, P&O employees are local people, most with extensive port experience, who help manage container operations at the Seagirt and, to a lesser extent, Dundalk marine terminals. -----


246 posted on 02/21/2006 5:22:39 AM PST by maica (We are fighting the War for the Free World. Democrats and the media are not on our side.)
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