In Defense Of Dubai

CBS News ^ | Feb. 22, 2006 | Dick Meyer

[bd476]

Truthsearcher wrote: "...You're presuming that once a person reaches a certain level of intelligence he becomes incapable of making mistakes unless his intelligence regresses. He is simply making a mistake, as we are all capable of no matter how smart we are."


Truthsearcher, it seems that now you have also come to the wrong conclusions about me, yet I'm not a public figure. I asked you a few sincere questions in my previous post to you which answers only required a few minutes of thoughtful consideration.

Unless you are privy to any detailed information or intel received by the President, you are being swept up in a fast-moving tide of gullibility.

Those who happened to broadcast this current political disinformation campaign are pleased.

[Almondjoy]

Finally what I've been saying all along made out plain and simple.

But hey.. people are well people.. and people just like jumping to conclusions.

Just ask the guy in office space, he knew it so well he wanted to invent a game out of it.

[bd476]

Almondjoy wrote: "Finally what I've been saying all along made out plain and simple.

But hey.. people are well people.. and people just like jumping to conclusions..."

Thanks, Almondjoy. What you have said is true. It is also a more encouraging view on human nature.

Almondjoy wrote: "Just ask the guy in office space, he knew it so well he wanted to invent a game out of it."

ROFL!

[Almondjoy]

So you are saying that no Muslims were at any docks in this country now?

Do you really think that someone that wanted to learn port security or get the right people in place at a port to get a bomb through couldn't do it at a British, American, or Chinese run port?

[Almondjoy]

People seem to be under the impression that Muslims can't go to work at ports right now.

[Alia]

I understand your sentiments; but I don't see things like you do. The UAE has had investments and operations around the world for a long time, and done a pretty good job.

I don't think like the MSM does... I don't think that everyone in the mid-east is an islamofascists, nor do I think that the mid-east DOESN'T wish to gradually become more economically free. I don't think all US colleges are evil and just because some snot-nosed liberal is spouting bs and this is being massively run through every news cycle.

Try looking at this another way...

You recall the OIL FOR FOOD scam? Top takers of Saddam's oil? Russian, France. Do we still do business with Russia and France? YES.

Do I think like a Russian or a Frenchie? Maybe/maybe not. There are some rotten apples in every country of the world. And there are some good.

Frankly, I'm relieved to hear such "outrage" on the subject; businesswise and economically, however, it is pure reactive emotionalism.

I'd like to see pub ed privatized. We could try touching that nerve.. and see the hysterics.. It'd be worse than is currently going on with this UAE matter..

I appreciate your comment about "helping me"; but I don't see where your offer fits in with our having a difference in perspective.

On the interesting side, perhaps the Democrats will try to mandate that the "port" jobs go to some 3rd world country.. a national "affirmative action program", or perhaps they'll demand the work be nationalized -- UNIONS (like that wouldn't be succumbing to some bad apples...). The UAE has the experience, the funds.

Merit? Frank Gaffney has raised some fascinating points, nonetheless.. :)

[bd476]

Tulsa Ramjet wrote: "...Well now...that's his first problem. Was he a contributor on GuardGate?"


I don't know. If the writer was, and if you chose to discredit the article based upon his alleged involvement in that particular disinformation campaign, then are you further going to conclude that our President must also have been involved simply because you don't care for our President's current position?

Please do further reading and research before jumping to conclusions. The Dems need your vote and it will be a sad day when they get it.

[bd476]

Great post, Alia! Thanks for the ping.

[commonerX]

"""So you are saying that no Muslims were at any docks in this country now?"""

First off I never said that there wasn't

Do you really think that someone that wanted to learn port security or get the right people in place at a port to get a bomb through couldn't do it at a British, American, or Chinese run port?"""

Yes they could, but you are not going to tell me that it would make no difference. I have no doubt that an Arab owned Co. wouldn't make it easier for them to get into a position to do it.

Like someone said earlier if they are being sent over from their parent Company, they may have someone back home threatening to kill their family if they do not get the info they want. That is one of the ways they can force even a good hearted person to do their bidding.

This is foolish plain and simple.

The government made us believe that national security is so important that we need to curb our constitutional protections. So what is this then?

[Almondjoy]

You just proved yet again that fear wins over facts.

Unless you have some actual facts to back up your claim.

Hypotheticals don't count.

[LibertarianInExile]

This is a fine article with the exception of "Myth #3: American ports should be American."

"Well, it's too late, baby. According to James Jay Carafano of the Heritage Foundation (a place really known for its Arab-loving, soft-on-terror approach), "Foreign companies already own most of the maritime infrastructure that sustains American trade…"

That it has happened does not mean in any way that it is how America should be defending itself--that the American government spends billions on unConstitutional programs does not mean that it should or somehow make them Constitutional.

[commonerX]

"""You just proved yet again that fear wins over facts.

Unless you have some actual facts to back up your claim.

Hypotheticals don't count.""""


I guess you got me. I do fear having my family and loved ones blown up, considering I live near one of these ports. And I don't need to prove anything to you to back that up.

I know all the facts that you know on this issue.

And I still do not trust this deal.

I do not want my government giving any Arab country more access then they already have to our country.

Trying to tell me that nothing is going to happen is just as hypothetical. You make decisions all the time based on hypothetical. You get as many facts as you can an then make a decision based on the hypothetical outcome of it.

Lets see some of the facts:
2 of the hijackers are from this country.
UAE has been known to launder money to terrorist.
UAE doesn't recognize Israel existence.
It isn't a democracy.

With these facts, and I may have missed some others, I can hypothesize that they are terrorist sympathizers. And they wouldn't mind if the USA and Israel didn't exist in their world. Hence the increased likelihood that a port under their control is more likely to be the source or a terrorist attack then lets say an American operated port.

Is that facts enough for you to prove that sometimes a person fear is based on fact.

[Sam the Sham]

Yes, and Timothy McVeigh--the Oklahoma City bomber--grew up in New York state, didn't he? I suggest the United States immediately withdraw all contracts and business with any company in New York. After all, it was home to our worst domestic terrorist.

I noticed that you and siena have been posting this stupid babble. Was Timothy McVeigh a hero to the people of New York ? I'll bet Mohammed Atta is a hero to most people in Dubai. I'll bet most people in Dubai if they might not agree with al-Qaeda, certainly understand and respect it.

[Siena Dreaming]

I'll bet Mohammed Atta is a hero to most people in Dubai.

You will lose your money.

[Sam the Sham]

Suicide bombers are heroes to Arabs everywhere. That's the entire point of being a suicide bomber. Being a hero. Knowing that your culture and society will admire you. Knowing how proud momma will be.

[Siena Dreaming]

Suicide bombers are heroes to Arabs everywhere

Not to every Arab. And Atta was certainly not a hero to "most" in Dubai.

[syriacus]

Bookmarked. Thanks for posting this.
http://www.portoflosangeles.org/facilities_Container.htm

The Port of Los Angeles has eight major container terminals and four dockside intermodal rail yards with direct access to the Alameda Corridor, a 20-mile express railway connecting the Port to the rail hubs in downtown Los Angeles.

Here are three of the 8 terminals---

Berths 121-131 http://www.yml.com.tw/index.asp YANG MING TERMINAL 186 acres; Use: Containerized cargo; wheeled and grounded operation
Handling facilities: Eight post-Panamax cranes with 50’-gauge and 40-long-ton main hoist capacity; tophandlers; sidehandlers; forklifts; UTRs; bombcarts; on-dock rail facility

Berth 100 http://www.chinashippingna.com/ CHINA SHIPPING TERMINAL
75 acres; Use: Containerized cargo; wheeled and grounded operation Handling facilities: Four post-Panamax cranes with 100’ gauge; rail and gate shared with Yang Ming Terminal  

Berths 212-225 http://www.yti.com YUSEN Container Terminal
185 acres; Use: Containerized cargo; wheeled import containers and grounded export and empty
Storage: 21,937-sq. ft. administration/in-gate building; 23,386-sq. ft. maintenance and repair building with 10 bays; 4798-sq. ft. marine building; 201,600-sq. ft. warehouse; 3300 wheeled slots (including 500 reefer plugs)

Handling facilities: Four super-post-Panamax with 100’-gauge and 60-long-ton main hoist capacity; four post-Panamax with 100’-gauge and 40-long-ton capacity; two Panamax with 50’-gauge and 40-long-ton capacity; 20-container-capacity wash rack system; 10 entry lanes with six scales; four exit lanes; vertical chassis stacking: 42 bays, 756 units; 132 hustlers; 14 toplifts; 10 sidelifts; 20 transtainers; near-dock rail facility  

[Almondjoy]

Except that you can't prove that them leasing part of each of these ports will increase the risk of a terrorist going to work there.

No more of a risk than there is one now.

[bd476]

Thank you, Syriacus for posting current port information.

There it is in black and white, with facts, photos, and you have even posted links to their websites.

Chinese companies in our ports.

Shocking. /sarcasm

[Chgogal]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583408/posts?page=28#28

The above post I found fascinating. Thanks for the ping BTW.