President Bush: "Explain why a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard" [DRUDGE]

Drudge Report (Home Page) ^ | 2-21-06 | Matt Drudge

[jdm]

President Bush called reporters at about 2.30 ET aboard Air Force One to issue a very strong defense of port deal... MORE... He said he would veto any legislation to hold up deal and warned the United States was sending 'mixed signals' by going after a company from the Middle East when nothing was said when a British company was in charge... Lawmakers, he said, must 'step up and explain why a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard.' Bush was very forceful when he delivered the statement... 'I don't view it as a political fight,' Bush said.... DEVELOPING...

[Stellar Dendrite]

well at least hannity did a good job, thank god.
his shows for the past two days have been great..i sure was surprised.

[Alberta's Child]

Yes, but at the rate we're running up trade and budget deficits, the U.S. dollar is not exactly a strong long-term bet, either. There is probably a lot of concern among these foreign investors that the U.S. will only be able to pay off its future Federal entitlement liabilities by engaging in a deliberate program to inflate the U.S. dollar in a big way.

[Rokke]

"The UAE government extensively blocks content that it considers objectionable for religious and cultural reasons, though not, apparently, material related to political dissent."

Doesn't sound much like China to me.

"I don't want anything for the Middle East other than for them to quit trying to blow up stuff and kill people in our country."

Then you better hope it becomes economically stable and that the rest of the region starts looking a lot like the UAE.

[jocon307]

"Lets squash the one country that has already become exactly what we want the Middle East to be."

If the lost of this deal will really squash them, I'd say go for it, squash away. I thought we wanted the Middle East to become democractic, Dubai is an absolute monarchy. They are a port of smuggling for terrorists. They are the bankers to terrorists. They are NOT equivalent to the British. And for this to go through after world Islam has YET AGAIN made clear it's strong desire to kill and/or subjagate us during the cartoon jihad is a JOKE. Btw. the Saudis ain't our friends either.

If you like Dubai so much, maybe you should go live there. Of course, if you're not a Muslim, you'll have to abandon your religion. If you don't like the King (sheik, emir, whatever) you won't be able to say so. But, if clean and modern is what you crave, go for it.

Me, I'd chose Singapore, if I were looking for a clean, modern, fascist state.

[Frank_Discussion]

Yes. The Jihadis hate the UAE and their pro-western stance. They are a target, thus the travel warning.

[John Valentine]

No foreign entities should have control of American ports, period.

If no American companies will enter bids for the work, you're left only with foreign bidders. That's exactl;y the situation here. Actually these ports have been run by P&O for years. What is happening here is that a Dubai company bought out P&O, but the P&O port contracts don't automatically follow to the new owner. If you have a few extra bucks, maybe you ought to go into the port management business and try to outbid the forign competition.

[jdm]

Please. This is on the US State Department's web site, currently.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Americans in the United Arab Emirates should exercise a high level of security awareness. The Department of State remains concerned about the possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.

Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with caution.

In addition, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of the objects to local authorities.

Vehicles should not be left unattended, if at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times. U.S. Government personnel overseas have been advised to take the same precautions.

In addition, U.S. Government facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services from time to time as necessary to review their security posture and ensure its adequacy.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1050.html

[Wasanother]

I don't trust the congress either but as long as they don't get their mud throwing sessions then we'll have an eternity of watching Polosi on the evening news talking about how the President doesn't consult congress and in this case she'll get the points.

[CobaltBlue]

That only works if it's believed. At this point, even I don't believe it.

Nor I.

[Alberta's Child]

Australia is an ally in the WOT, and they've had a travel warning for UAE, for some time now.

And the UAE-owned company in question, Dubai Ports World, has been operating port terminals in Australia for some time now -- with no public expressions of concern on the part of Australia's government.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

Yes, but at the rate we're running up trade and budget deficits, the U.S. dollar is not exactly a strong long-term bet, either.

Going against the productivity and ingenuity of the American worker, the American entrepreneurial spirit, and our economy as a whole is a sucker bet. I've only been to one place in the world where people on the street are more rabidly capitalist than we are here.

[John Valentine]

If you like Dubai so much, maybe you should go live there. Of course, if you're not a Muslim, you'll have to abandon your religion.

Horsesh*t. You have no idea what you are talking about.

[rbmillerjr]

All of the Bush is never wrong crowd....listen up...admit he made a mistake, if nothing else, politically.

You were dead wrong on Harriet Miers and you and Bush are dead wrong on this one.

Cut the losses now, while the political damage is minimal. Can't wait to watch Leno tonight and see the jokes start. Uggg...at least the hunting jokes will fade out.

[Alberta's Child]

Going against the productivity and ingenuity of the American worker, the American entrepreneurial spirit, and our economy as a whole is a sucker bet.

I've been doing it for three years now, and I'm quite pleased with the results.

Not that I'm betting against the productivity and ingenuity of the American worker, mind you -- but against the financial acumen and fiscal discipline of the American government.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

Then you better hope it becomes economically stable and that the rest of the region starts looking a lot like the UAE.

"Making them economically stable" was not the strategy which stopped the Japanese and Germans from blowing up Americans during the second world war - nor was it the strategy which led to the downfall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Why do you think it will work in this instance?

[jdm]

"The Jihadis hate the UAE and their pro-western stance."

UAE not cooperating in efforts to track down Osama Bin Laden’s bank accounts after 9/11 was pro-western?

[Luis Gonzalez]

I don't understand the actions of this administration with mid term elections inthe horizon.

This is not the time to be walking from one PR disaster into another.

[Frank_Discussion]

Nope, it wasn't. But many other things about UAE is pro-western, thus earning the hatred of the Jihadis. I was talking of why Jihadis may attack there, not why we should be leery of them - two distinct subjects.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

Not that I'm betting against the productivity and ingenuity of the American worker, mind you -- but against the financial acumen and fiscal discipline of the American government.

Ah, yes, two entirely different things... I'll save my rant on the latter part for a different thread.

[Rokke]

"Australia is an ally in the WOT, and they've had a travel warning for UAE, for some time now."

They offer the same advice regarding travel to Russia and flat out recommend you don't travel to Israel. Should we ban trade with those to nations as well?