Tommy Franks Defends Dubai Ports Deal

Newsmax ^ | 2/22/06 | Carl Limbacher

[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."

[nopardons]

Oh yes...you called it, but left out a few of the other fringe groupie sects.

I refrained from posting anything, until more facts came out. The more facts that are exposed, the more idiotic the hysterics look. Sadly, most of them will never recant, since they hate the president anyway.

[nopardons]

Nobody, who lived through them; that's for sure!

[nopardons]

BRAVO....you tell 'em! :-)

[endthematrix]

Yippee!

[nopardons]

The ONLY lame try here, is your post.

[jonrick46]

I'll trust the General. The Knee Jerks are sounding like isolationists.

[NapkinUser]

"The ONLY lame try here, is your post."

And this post was.....?

[endthematrix]

"whole bunch of nothing, look sinister."

That was a short ten years ago. You want a short list of the wonderful things that was happening in Afghanistan at the time and what happened to the US a few years later? It was considerably sinister. BTW, the US wasn't so against dealing with the Taleban.

[nopardons]

A clear and concise statement of fact. Now wipe that drool from your chin. :-)

[nopardons]

*sigh*

But it isn't the fact NOW and that was my point.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh!

[jonrick46]

"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."

You are kidding right? LOL!

[Roy Tucker]

"This port deal was done in secret which violates U.S. law."

I don't understand this bit of your comment. These are two unlisted commercial companies, one a buyer, the other a seller. Why is negotiating behind closed doors for private companies a violation of US law? Is there something about the port assets that makes it so?

Just would like clarification so I can make my mind up on this issue.

[ex-Texan]

Nothing secret about it, it was well known and reported when DPWorld made it's bid on P&O back in Novemeber (sic)

Bush did not even know about the deal. So, how could it have been public information? What about John Snow's money ties being an apparent conflict of interest? UAE is laundering money for Iran's mullahs. Do you dispute the facts that super rich Iranians owning 7,000 business in UAE? What about the UAE laundering money to Hamas? Of course, you understand that Hamas refuses to admit Israel's right to exist? Do you understand how these critical facts are impacting the White House? Yes? No? Do you even care?

[PrinceOfCups]

YOU WROTE: Dubai is a cover for the mullahs of Iran. Seventy-five families who have stolen billions from Iranians now own over 7,000 businesses, major banks and hotels in the UAE. Dubai has been involved laundering money to Hamas.

If Dubai can be considered Muslim---there are three ex-pat workers to every single local, they are Sunni. Iran is not loved; exception: round-trip flights to an Iranian island to renew UAE Visas is a monthly burden for non-Western ex-pats. Just about everyone in the Middle East has laundered cash for many reasons. But the UAE has been working with USA government to plug the holes; they are not resisting.


YOU WROTE: The UAE is one of the few governments in the world to recognize the Taliban as legitimate.

Hey, we all make dumb decisions. However Dubai is a great party town---the Las Vegas of the Middle east. Bars are open to the wee hours of the morning. We have discos, sports bars, horse racing, great golf, churches, pork in stores. Dubai is commercial; making money is a full-time operation. There is no time for terror---terror is so bad for business. How could they sell the thousands of new villas and luxury suites being built here to Westerners if people are afraid to invest?

YOU WROTE: There are two military ports in Texas that will be turned over to Dubai Ports World to operate. This port deal was done in secret which violates U.S. law.

The merger story was in all the newspapers here for the last 3 months or so. I can't believe this was a closely held secret. BTW, the ports of Dubai outsource their security to Western corporations. (I work for one). We are putting state-of-the-art container inspection equipment besides setting up early-response systems for unexpected events.


YOU WROTE: John Snow has financial ties to the originating entity, which is a major conflict of interest. By law, Congress has 45 days to review this deal and will have hearings about everything that, thus far, has gone on secretly.

Can't comment on Mr. Snow; I have no facts to add to the discussion.

[Earthdweller]

I just love Tommy Franks. I wish we could see him more. He must be having a good time in his retirement.

[ex-Texan]

However Dubai is a great party town---the Las Vegas of the Middle east. Bars are open to the wee hours of the morning. We have discos, sports bars, horse racing, great golf, churches, pork in stores. Dubai is commercial; making money is a full-time operation

"I'm having a party and I don't care," singing along to the melody . . .

[PrinceOfCups]

YOU WROTE: ...As I said before, Dubai is the Vegas, Scottsdale, and Monaco of the Middle East rolled into one. Sheik Makhtoum deserves a lot of credit for demonstrating that the free market is compatible with Arab culture, as well as for his admiration and support of the U.S. DP World, much like Emirates, is perhaps the best run port management company in the world, even better than Menzies. The fact that third rate radio jockeys like Michael Savage keep reporting this as the "Arabs are taking over our ports" when, in reality, it was merely a minor outsourcing of duties unrelated to port security, shows how sensationalistic and ignorant the talking heads are, even on "conservative talk radio."

It's a great city to work and play in. A great (accurate) post.

[wildcatf4f3]

FRANKS 2008

[gotribe]

Bush's rationale is this: The reason for giving our ports up to these guys is to send a message to "moderate" muslim governments that it's worth helping the US in the war on terror.

Problem with that rationale is: there is NO moderate muslim government. Ever. That's what George W. "Islam is a religion of peace" Bush doesn't get.

[bd476]

That was another good post, Prince of Cups. Glad you're speaking up. People with time logged in UAE are needed. Thanks.