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Tommy Franks Defends Dubai Ports Deal
Newsmax ^ | 2/22/06 | Carl Limbacher

Posted on 02/23/2006 12:00:42 AM PST by Dane

Tommy Franks Defends Dubai Ports Deal

Former CENTCOM commanding general Tommy Franks said Wednesday that the Bush administration was right to approve a deal for a United Arab Emirates-based company to run six major U.S. ports.

"We have more U.S. Navy ships using the port in Dubai, Jebel Ali, than any other port outside the United States," Franks told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."

The former Iraq war commander explained U.S. reliance on the Dubai port facility by saying, "We know he difference between an enemy and a friend."

"The Emirates is a friend," Franks aid. "That is the best run port that I've ever seen."

Gen. Franks said the Dubai company had three essential qualities that commend it for the task of running U.S. ports: the capacity to handle the job, the inclination to do it right and security, which he noted "will remain, in any case, in the hands of the United States Coast Guard."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: cacadmypants; carllimbacher; centcom; dubai; dubyacandonowrong; dubyaisinfallible; emotionalhysteria; emotionalmeltdown; everyonehasaprice; franks; hissyfit; itstheendoftheworld; jebelali; navy; newsmax; panicattack; ports; strategeristinchief; theskyisfalling; tommyfranks; trustnoone; uae; unitedarabemrates; usnavy; wisagenius
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To: danamco

I heard 18% of all worldwide shipping is Maersk out of 35ish total shipping companies, Zero companies in the US. I just heard that, no verifiable links.


21 posted on 02/23/2006 12:19:47 AM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: Dane
Hmm, who should I trust, an outstanding General with decades of military experience, or a blowhard radio commentator(michael weiner) or a keyboard commando who thinks she kills terrorists by writing from behind a keyboard(michelle malkin).

Well, that depends: Is this Gen. Frank's freely offered wisdom or is it bought and paid for? DPW has reportedly hired former Sen. Bob Dole as a mouth on their behalf, maybe they also purchased a General to go with their Senator and President.
22 posted on 02/23/2006 12:20:45 AM PST by milemark (Proud to be an infidel.)
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To: bayourant

This too shall pass. It's a FR trademark to have these kind of battles. Soon they'll crawl back into lurkdome, or wherever they hang out.


23 posted on 02/23/2006 12:22:24 AM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: Dane

Great post, and another great job by Carl.

I'll go with Tommy Franks, too.


24 posted on 02/23/2006 12:23:49 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: milemark

LOL, but don't forget the "/sarcasm" next time you post something like that or some people around here might take you seriously, in the belief that you are a complete fool rather tha a clever satirist!

Best regards,
LH


25 posted on 02/23/2006 12:26:41 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Dane
Hmm, who should I trust, ..Franks, Weiner, Malkin

Gotta agree with you, Dane. Democracy has gone too far here; we need to just declare martial law and let the generals craft policy.

...never cease to amaze me all the guys who turn into groupies in bobby socks when a General starts yapping..
26 posted on 02/23/2006 12:27:50 AM PST by farmer18th
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To: milemark

You can discuss this issue without questioning the loyalty and patriotism of prominent Americans.


27 posted on 02/23/2006 12:29:32 AM PST by leadpenny
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To: Dane
Great find, Dane. Thanks for posting this!

28 posted on 02/23/2006 12:29:39 AM PST by bd476
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To: Dane; Allegra; beachn4fun; tomkow6; Echo Talon; pax_et_bonum; beyond the sea; Recovering Hermit; ...
EXTRA!...EXTRA!...EXTRA!...EXTRA!...

EXTRA!...

I have more New York Slimes Editions on my FR Homepage and my Archives Page

29 posted on 02/23/2006 12:30:17 AM PST by Bender2 (Redid my FR Homepage just for ya'll... Now, Vote Republican and vote often)
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To: milemark
maybe they also purchased a General to go with their Senator and President.

...and how much you reckon Bush cost them? Sheesh!

30 posted on 02/23/2006 12:32:19 AM PST by Chuck54 (SCOTUS - Us 2, Them 0. Who's next?)
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To: milemark
Well, that depends: Is this Gen. Frank's freely offered wisdom or is it bought and paid for? DPW has reportedly hired former Sen. Bob Dole as a mouth on their behalf, maybe they also purchased a General to go with their Senator and President.

Franks is a straight shooter, but I'm sure you really do know that:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/port-rashid.htm

31 posted on 02/23/2006 12:32:44 AM PST by demlosers (Kerry: "Impeach Bush, filibuster Alito, withdraw from Iraq, send U235 to Iran, elect me President!")
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To: Dane
I'd already made up my mind on this and avoided most of these threads, but I liked what General Franks had to say.

Both Hannity & Colmes were sputtering.Time to change the name of the show to KneeJerk & Jerk.

32 posted on 02/23/2006 12:32:54 AM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Who's who?


33 posted on 02/23/2006 12:35:34 AM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: bayourant
Dont fall for it -See Bush is from Texas and so IS Franks. Who cant see the conspiracy here --even Franks is bought and sold. Franks is prob getting Free Ranger tickets for life what a sell out

Why is Condi for it also?

34 posted on 02/23/2006 12:35:43 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: farmer18th

"The former Iraq war commander explained U.S. reliance on the Dubai port facility by saying, 'We know he difference between an enemy and a friend.'"

Gosh, I'm so relieved they can spot them. Maybe we don't have to worry about terrorists flying planes into our buildings.....oh wait.....did they miss that one...?


35 posted on 02/23/2006 12:36:55 AM PST by Cedar
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To: Indy Pendance
HA! :)
36 posted on 02/23/2006 12:38:23 AM PST by smoothsailing
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To: Darkwolf377
LOL! Sheesh, every new piece of background on this makes me glad i changed my mind about an hour or two after first being against this.

I know, at first reading the headlines I was like WTF! Then after some digging im like ehhh "nothing to see here"

37 posted on 02/23/2006 12:38:59 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Cedar
Gosh, I'm so relieved they can spot them

Me too. I've got to pass this on to a Marine friend about the secret vetting spray and the "promise not to hire terrorists" pledge.
38 posted on 02/23/2006 12:39:37 AM PST by farmer18th
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To: smoothsailing
Both Hannity & Colmes were sputtering.Time to change the name of the show to KneeJerk & Jerk.

LoL!

39 posted on 02/23/2006 12:40:20 AM PST by demlosers (Kerry: "Impeach Bush, filibuster Alito, withdraw from Iraq, send U235 to Iran, elect me President!")
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To: danamco

Interesting that you should mention Maersk. I posted this yesterday on another thread:

There is a weird similarity between this port operations affair and the recent cartoon explosion. Last weekend I learned through an acquaintance who works for the world’s biggest cargo carrier, Maersk — a Danish company (!) that in one mideast country there was a peculiar reaction to the cartoon story. At the outset there was a big hullabaloo in that country about boycotting Danish companies --- you know, no more Danish butter, cheese and beer. No problem, or so everyone assumed.

Then someone pointed out that something like 30-40% of imports and exports are handled by the Danish shipping company. Whoa! Now what? Some thought they could simply shift business to another shipper, but then they found out that there is a severe shortage of shipping capacity in the world market. In other words, stop using the Danish company, and you've effectively cut your own exports and imports by about 40%. Their economy could hardly afford that. Real pain. Not just giving up some Lurpac butter and an occasional Carlsberg brew (surprising how many Muslims do drink). From what I understand the “boycott everything Danish” ended up being everything except the most significant commercial enterprise which is the shipping.

There are differences between the cartoons and the ports, but this much is similar: reacting emotionally before the facts are known may be initially satisfying, but MAY be silly in the long run.

When I first heard about the port story I initially reacted with the idea, “how could anyone be so foolish?” — but as I learn more and more I find that most of what I thought I knew, just isn’t so.

I’m not yet fully convinced that the deal is without any security risks at all, but I’m not in a position where I can know that independently. I’m going to weigh the information as it becomes known, and try to use some reason and logic to come to a reasonable conclusion.

Now I would say that Tommy Franks is one in a position to have an informed opinion on security. Admiral Bone of the Coast Guard is another:

http://www.radioblogger.com/#001406

By the way, it looks almost like Hugh Hewitt is aware that he fell off the dock and is wanting someone to throw him a line to climb out . . .


40 posted on 02/23/2006 12:40:23 AM PST by Cap Huff
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