Posted on 02/22/2006 1:39:33 PM PST by Nasty McPhilthy
Okay, first let’s get a couple of facts straight.
First there is NO American corporation capable of operating our ports. The London based company that was doing this job, Britain’s Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. was one of a very few capable of doing it.
Second, the President has no authority to prevent the sale of British P & O to the Dubai State owned corporation, Dubai Ports World. This is a private business deal. However, the President and his administration do have the power to terminate the contracts with this private corporation to operate our ports.
Sometimes good policy is bad politics and when that is true politics will always win out. In my opinion, the President should delay approval of the deal and call for Congressional hearings and recommendations for a solution to this dilemma.
Given that choice, then the question remains, who’s going to run them? Port operations is a highly specialized endeavor and American industry cannot afford to wait for a new company to come up to speed. The same argument holds for Senator “Microphone Moth” Schumer’s suggestion of using the TSA solution (true to his nickname, he was the first to pop up in front of a microphone to protest this sale). How long will it take for a federal organization to hire and train the necessary employees and get the whole operation up to speed?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want another federal bureaucracy operating facilities which ought to be run by private companies. Haven’t we learned anything from the USPS, Amtrak, and FEMA? Senator Chucky’s dream deal might be a socialist state, but it’s not mine. If you liked FEMA’s handling of the Katrina disaster, just wait till you see “Hurricane Harbor.”
Do we hire Haliburton to perform this function? They are probably the only American Corporation capable of taking up this function, but would require some time before they had that expertise. Besides, I can hear the Liberals howling now…“Cheney’s rich buddies…”…“Bush’s oil field friends enriching themselves…”…“A plot by Rove to get Haliburton another lucrative contract…” I can hardly wait.
By the same token Mr. President:
How can you be SO tone deaf? Did you really not expect this kind of reaction? Are you truly so out of touch with public opinion? Have you no clue what the American people feel about the Middle East?
Tuesday you stated:
“I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a . . . British company. I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, ‘We’ll treat you fairly.’”
The answer, Mr. President, is that they ARE different. September 11, 2001 changed ALL dynamics with respect to the Middle East. I am astounded that you of all people don’t understand this. The enemy we are fighting DOES have an Arab face.
If 9-11 changed the dynamics, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with the deaths of over 2200 American servicemen and women have cast those changes in concrete. For you not to understand that is a disturbing fact.
I am fully aware that you don’t pay attention to the public opinion polls in making your decisions, and I am in full agreement with that attitude. It worked well for President Reagan and it has, for the most part, worked well for you. Such a philosophy leads to stability in governmental policy compared, for example, to President Clinton’s “finger in the wind” policy. However, there is a difference between independence, which is good, and obtuseness which is destructive.
What are you thinking, Mr. President? After five years you are finally going to use your veto on this? After years of profligate spending bills, only now you are going to use your veto pen?
You need to consider the debt you owe to the Republican Party. I am aware that you have no further political aspirations, but you owe your fellow Republicans some consideration. This may be a business winner, but it is a political loser.
Please wake up. This is not a time for you to stick to your guns. You owe the American people some deference to their feelings on this issue. Even worse, you have provided your political opponents, and those of all Republicans, a ready made issue in this election year.
Mr. President, Lindsey Graham described you as “tone-deaf.” I would describe this decision as your being blind, deaf, and dumb.
Political correctness is preventing our security people from doing their jobs more efficiently by outlawing “profiling.” Now you are allowing your desire to demonstrate your equanimity toward Middle Eastern nations to affect our entire nation’s peace of mind and potentially our security.
I have been an ardent supporter of yours on most issues, but on this issue you are wrong. It is time for you to reconsider and relent. There is nothing in this entire imbroglio that will suffer from a reasonable delay to allow Congress to investigate it.
It would be better, in this case, for America to proceed with a consensus opinion rather that one made unilaterally by your administration.
As for you hyperventilating opponents:
Take a breath, please. Take time to consider what I have stated above, our alternatives in this case are very limited. There are currently no American alternatives to Dubai Ports World. It is easy to criticize the administration on this, but criticism is pointless without a viable alternative, so don’t just whine, offer a solution.
I already know the Microphone Moth’s solution, a new federal bureaucracy like the marginally functional TSA. Do we really want another bureaucratic boondoggle on our hands? I know I don’t.
I also know this, if I were on the Halliburton’s board of directors, I would get my lobbyists activated, and put a team of experts together and come up with a strong port operations proposal immediately.
Who ya gonna call? Port Busters!
Sorry, BBC. That doesn't wash. I suspect that there are many of Arab descent who are employed in positions by the current operators that could enable them to do harm.
Nothing regarding current port security will change.
Why don't you just sit back and watch the Libs have to explain why, all of a sudden, their in favor of profiling. I want them to tell me why OBL is no longer the only threat. I really want to hear their reason why we should isolate portions of this region rather than embrace and corporate with them.
Ray Charles could see that this is a complete about face for the left.
They don't like Israel, but the Patriot Act gives the President plenty of power to track any illicit terrorist connections and, God forbid, they feel like risking their $6.8 billion investment, the President can take that too.
Dubai bid 6.8 BILLION to buy P&O. This wasn't just a contract deal.
Well maybe not Ray Charles, but Stevie Wonder could.
You should not presume so much.
"A Tone Deaf President: A Hyperventilating Opposition"
The secret of Bush's success is his tone-deafness. He simply doesn't react to the opposition, so they end up going stark raving mad.
Actually Eller & Company were partners with P&O. Eller is in Miami.
If the company run by Smith and Hemingway submitted a proposal, I'm sure it would have been considered.
Do you know if they did, and aren't they the ones that form so many joint ventures with the Chicoms?
Isn't THAT the truth. But then DP World is govt. owned. And even THEY had to get a loan for the money to buy P&O. I think few American companies would try a loan that big.
You misunderstood what I was meaning. I will leave it at that. Your name calling speaks volumes about your character.
For a first post, you post flame bait? Slow down or you won't be here long.
Here are the ports currently operated by SSA Marine in the U.S.:
Seattle - Terminal 18 & 25; Bell St. Terminal & T30
Aberdeen
Astoria
Bellingham
Coos Bay
Everett
Kalama
Longview
Olympia
Port Angeles, WA
Portland
Tacoma - Sea Star
Vancouver, WA
Long Beach - Pacific Container Terminal; Terminal A; Pier F, Berth 206; C60Outer Harbor 54/55, San Pedro
Oakland International Container Terminal
Howard Terminal
Benicia
Port Hueneme
Redwood City
Richmond Terminal 3
San Diego - Conventional and Cruise Terminal
Stockton/Sacramento
Charleston, SC - Union Pier Terminal, North Charleston Terminal, Wando Welch Terminal, Navy Base Terminal
Columbus Street Terminal
Jacksonville, FL - Blount Island Terminal, Dames Point Terminal, Talleyrand Marine Terminal,
Morehead City, NC
Savannah, GA - Garden City Terminal, Ocean Terminal,
Wilmington, NC
Brunswick, GA - Mayors Point Terminal, Colonel's Island Terminal
Georgetown, SC
Columbus, MS (LSI)
Garrison, FL (Tampa)
Gulfport, MS
Houston, TX
Little Rock, AR
Mobile, AL
New Orleans, LA
Panama City, FL
Pascagoula, MS
Pensacola, FL
Port Arthur, TX
Interesting to see how the bidding on the NO property went.
The deal will go through.....
and Bush will become a hero in the Arab world......standing up against Congress.
Bottom line......some executives in Dubai will get the big paychecks......
the grunts over here will stay the same.
As I understand it, the $6.8 billion deal was for the entire P&O company and port leases - the New Orleans terminals were NOT available for sale separately.
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