Port Whine: Why Republicans should stop their bickering about the Dubai debacle.

Slate ^ | February 22, 2005 | John Dickerson

[quidnunc]

Republicans, who usually have the good sense to avoid fratricide, are engaged in perhaps the most vicious intramural squabble of the Bush presidency over the deal allowing Dubai Ports World to control operations at several major U.S. seaports. The controversy ignited in an instant and has now involved virtually every prominent Republican in Washington and a bunch of Republican governors near the affected ports.

-snip-

Congressional leaders are feeling cranky and neglected. Bush is always doing stuff without telling them, and they're always grumbling he doesn't recognize that they're up for re-election this year. So, it probably feels very satisfying to push back at him for a change. And their opposition also seems like smart politics, at least superficially. …

Those political calculations may make sense for today, but in the long term, this fight will harm the GOP. Republicans can't distance themselves from Bush on security issues. He's not only the head of their party; he's the commander in chief. By pouncing on this issue so quickly and joining Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, Republican leaders send a global message: They don't trust Bush. They don't trust him enough to even wait to understand the facts of the deal. They don't trust him enough to even worry that they might have their facts wrong and wind up embarrassed.

-snip-

The squabble will also irritate the president. He's tired of congressional second-guessing—especially in a case like this where GOP leaders willfully refuse to acknowledge the complexity of global diplomacy and the value of global capitalism. You don't hear the deal's critics explaining who exactly will control port security if not Dubai Ports World. …

-snip-

[pissant]

Minor compared to the Harriet Myers selection.

[Vicomte13]

Bush will be irritated. Second term Presidents always are when their authority starts to ebb.

In concrete terms, this deal doesn't threaten American physical security at all. But the optics are pretty bad.

[Cornpone]

"The squabble will also irritate the president. He's tired of congressional second-guessing—especially in a case like this where GOP leaders willfully refuse to acknowledge the complexity of global diplomacy and the value of global capitalism."

What arrogance. Second guessing? Isn't that the intent of our Constitution and its balance of powers principle? Bush has blown it on this one.

[Clintonfatigued]

Does this mean that Republicans rubber stamp everything Bush says and does, regardless of merit?

The President is mistaken on this issue.

[King Moonracer]

By pouncing on this issue so quickly and joining Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, Republican leaders send a global message: They don't trust Bush.

Thats a tough one. Frist, Schumer and Clinton versus Bush and Carter? I'm going to need a coin, I'm too confused.

[bad company]

In concrete terms, this deal doesn't threaten American physical security at all. But the optics are pretty bad

Bingo. He let the dems set the tempo on this one. He knew that the dems have been hard up to federalize the ports. They should have seen this one coming.

[Nasty McPhilthy]

If Dubia Worl Port doesn't take over the day to day operations, then who will?

[Luker]

Someone should ask Bush if he would like the Arabs to take over his personal security detail - see if the Secret Service would like to turn over their weapons to the Moos - good enough for all of us, good enough for him.

[bert]

it is positively amazing to read the belligerant rants of all the FReepers who have suddenly jumped in the bed of the "one whose name must not be mentioned". After all the Whitewater crap, there they are, in her bed doing only God knows what.

I hope they don't catch something. I hope that if they do it isn't contagious.

[Ben Mugged]

In concrete terms, this deal doesn't threaten American physical security at all.

I would agree with you if Dubai Ports World was a private company. But I think Neal Boortz has it right this time that the United States has never been attacked by a private company.

[Clintonfatigued]

There is no way that Dubia Worl Port is the only company which can do this. What's so unreasonable about an American company performing this function?

[ARCADIA]

Please, didn't you get the memo; you must be assimulated. The Republican party will no longer tolerate any opinion that is contrary to that of his Highness George W Bush.

[kiriath_jearim]

"If Dubia Worl Port doesn't take over the day to day operations, then who will?" ****

[Reagan Man]

>>>>Republicans can't distance themselves from Bush on security issues.

Wrong! Republicans have distanced themselves from PresBush on this issue and rightfully so. On this issue Bush is deadwrong.

[bayourant]

Basically at the end of the day the argument comes down to this by the anti port people. NO Arabs Period- Dont LIke Muslims there crazy-

I have seen people all day on these threads say "hey the more I learned the more comfortable I was with this"

The President has the gosh darn common sense to know the Forign policy disaster if he renigged on this deal because there "arab". Folks the world moved on. the arabs own alot including a bit of our national debt. We have a future engagement with Iran in our future. I really cant expect UAE to put their people in danger and all those pretty new buildings as well as their ports To IRanian missiles if we treat them like a common prositiute. LOng term and Short term because the Dems and Republicans have made this a "race" issue and "religion" issue the President will have to veto it. IN fact in some tiny way the anti arab and anti Islamic rants have forced him to do that since the whole world is watching.

[Darkwolf377]

Thats a tough one. Frist, Schumer and Clinton versus Bush and Carter? I'm going to need a coin, I'm too confused.

New York Times against it, Wall St. Journal for it. ;)

[Darkwolf377]

Please, didn't you get the memo; you must be assimulated. The Republican party will no longer tolerate any opinion that is contrary to that of his Highness George W Bush.

Yeah, because obviously NO Republican is against this, NO Republican commentators...and ONLY 95% of FR.

Please, be against the deal if you like but spare us the victim pose when you all are the ones following the MSM herd on this one.

[FFIGHTER]

The politicos, pundits and the MSM are spouting off opinions, not based on fact or knowledge of the deal in question, and in the bigger picture, shipping operations, port operations, port and cargo security. Second, they know little or nothing about the company in question, other than the location of its headquarters.

They would be surprised to learn that the company in question works and has a longstanding relationship with Israeli shipping interests and handles a good portion of their operations. Second, the company is the front line cargo transit operator for our military in the region, that is responsible for cargo and supplies heading to and from our troops in the field. The UAE has served as both an operation center and is complete with air facilities, port facilities and numerous mini bases from which our military operates command and control functions and work integrally with our intelligence units located there. They supply minor repairs, fuel and supplies for our naval assets in the region and other support functions, water, mail, sewage, lightering, harbor services,etc.

These port related functions provided to our military in particular the Navy are provided by this company. They work closely with them and are a important link in the logistic operations in the region.

Last, terminal operators and cargo handlers, are not responsible for port security, cargo security, cargo inspections and other security related procedures, operations. Ultimately these functions fall on the Port Authority, Port Police, USDA, Customs Service, INS and the U.S.C.G.

[Willie Green]

Republican leaders send a global message: They don't trust Bush.

Cool, I don't trust the doubletalking, backstabbing little weasel either.
Heck, he's already responsible for sinking us over $2 Trillion deeper in debt.