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Dubai Ports Deal: A Pitchfork Moment
Human Events ^ | February.24, 2006 | Pat Buchanan

Posted on 02/24/2006 10:18:56 PM PST by Reagan Man

“This Dubai port deal has unleashed a kind of collective mania we haven’t seen in decades ... a xenophobic tsunami,” wails a keening David Brooks, “a nativist, isolationist mass hysteria is ... here.”

The New York Times columnist obviously regards the nation’s splenetic response to news that control of our East Coast ports had been sold to Arab sheiks as wildly irrational. In witness whereof he quotes Philip Damas of Drewry Shipping Consultants, “The location of a company in the age of globalism is irrelevant.”

But irrelevant to whom?

Why is it irrelevant, in a war against Arab and Islamic terrorists, to question the transfer of control of our East Coast ports from Britain to the United Arab Emirates?

Our cosmopolitan Mr. Brooks lives in another country. He has left the America of blood and soil, shaken the dust from his sandals, to enter the Davos world of the Global Economy where nationality does not matter and where fundamentalists and flag-wavers of all faiths are the real enemies of progress toward the wonderful future these globalists have in store for us.

“God must love Hamas and Moktada Al-Sadr,” snorts Brooks, “He has given them the America First brigades of Capitol Hill.”

To Brooks there is little distinction between Islamic mobs burning Danish consulates and America First patriots protesting some insider’s deal to surrender control of American ports to Arab sheiks.

But the reflexive recoil to this transaction between transnationals is a manifestation of national mental health. The American people have not yet been over-educated into the higher stupidity. Common sense still trumps ideology here. Globalism has not yet triumphed over patriotism. Rather than take risks with national security, Americans will accept a pinch of racial profiling.

Yep, the old America lives.

Like alley cats, Americans yet retain an IFF, Identify-Friend-or-Foe radar that instinctively alerts them to keep a warier eye on some folks than on others.

But in rejecting a deal transferring control of our ports to Arabs, are Americans not engaging in discrimination? Are they not engaging in ethnic prejudice?

Of course they are. But not all discrimination is irrational, nor is all prejudice wrong. To discriminate is but to choose. We all discriminate in our choice of friends and associates. Prejudice means prejudgment. And a prejudgment in favor of Brits in matters touching on national security is rooted in history.

In the 20th century (if not the 19th), the Brits have been with us in almost every fight. It was not Brits who struck us on 9/11, who rejoiced in the death of 3,000 Americans, who daily threaten us from the mosques of East and West, who behead our aid workers, bomb our soldiers and call for “Death to America!” in a thousand demonstrations across the Middle East. And while not all Muslims are terrorists, almost all terrorists appear to be Muslim.

As Mother Church has a “preferential option” for the poor, there is nothing wrong with America’s preferential option for the cousins.

Does this mean all Arabs should be considered enemies? Of course not.

The folks from Dubai may detest the 9/11 murderers as much as we do, for those killers shamed their faith, disgraced their people, and bred a distrust and fear of Arabs and Muslims that had never before existed here.

Yet, just as sky marshals seat themselves behind young Arab males, not grannies taking the tots to Disney World, so, Americans, in deciding who operates their ports, naturally prefer ourselves, or old friends.

Why take an unnecessary risk? Just to get an A for global maturity on our next report card from the WTO?

The real question this deal raises is what happened to the political antenna at the White House? Did it fall off the roof about the time President Bush named Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court?

Anyone in touch with Middle America, especially after 9/11 and endless warnings of imminent attacks on U.S. soil, would know this country is acutely sensitive to terror threats. Surely, before approving this deal with Dubai Ports World, someone should have asked:

“How do you think Bubba will react when he’s told sheiks will take over the port of Baltimore where, in Tom Clancy’s ‘Sum of All Fears,’ Arab terrorists smuggle in an a-bomb and detonate it?”

Apparently, no one bothered to ask, or the question was brushed off in the interests of hastily greasing the deal.

Now this episode is going to end badly. Bush, who has denied advance knowledge of the deal, is being ripped by liberals for living in a pre-9/11 world and being out of touch with his government.

As for our remaining friends in the Middle East, they have been given another reason to regard Americans as fickle friends who, down deep. Don’t like Arabs.

Unquestionably, this will result in a victory for those who wish to sever America’s friendships in the Arab world. But it is Bush and his unthinking globalists, not the American Firsters whom Brooks cannot abide who engineered this latest debacle.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: alwayswrogpat; bloodandsoil; buchanan; buchananisinsane; dubai; foamingbots; globalism; outoftouchpat; patbuchanan; patisright; patrocks; patthepoltroon; ports; spoton; uae
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To: aligncare

"I hope your not suggesting that we wage physical war against all of Islam?"

uh, well excuse me, but it seems to be a consistent fact around the globe that Islamists are waging war on the western culture.

You got it. I AM SUGGESTING we retaliate and wage physical war against Islam.

If you think that is wrong, I suggest you do a little reading of history.


141 posted on 02/25/2006 12:03:15 AM PST by Sweetjustusnow (Oust the IslamoCommies here and abroad.)
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To: okiejag
Like Jimmy Carter and Madeleine Albright? !

How about like Tommie Franks and Ollie North.

142 posted on 02/25/2006 12:03:26 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon

Not really.

Live threads, oh yeah!


143 posted on 02/25/2006 12:03:35 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: Echo Talon; All
The more I read about this story the more it appears that the government thought the American people were still deeply asleep. Maybe if the Olympics were better, maybe if the shrine was blown up last week, if only the American people would have stayed asleep for another week then the deal would have been a done deal and .....is what the government sounds like. Well thankfully we have awoken in time to have a say on this. Here is how the scene will probably play out. The congress will have hearings, the admin will TEACH US lowly mobs that this is the right thing first using the Rush's and Reilly's then have Sean have a leap of faith moment. The reps in Congress will pass a law requiring some strict sounding regulations for the deal, the Dems will fight for the longshoreman unions, and more cargo searches, the president will declare victory because the "mob" has been pacified and put back to sleep. And in the end the UAE will probably get their ports. But the unknown is the AMERICAN people. Will we go back to sleep or will the simmering anger and resentment about the borders, outsourcing, lose of national sovereignty, daily trading of national secrets ect finally catch up to the globalists. When you look at it from this prospective is there much difference between BUSH and KERRY both seem now to want the same thing open world borders the only difference is that Kerry thought we should ask the UN for permission and Bush thinks he should just do it himself it appears. signed a former Bush supporter who will never ever vote for another Bush again. Who will never ever vote for anyone from his administration and who will vote strictly anti-incumbant in the primary and general elections from now until we get some American leaders in the WH and Congress that puts AMERICA first and their own and other nations interest last.
144 posted on 02/25/2006 12:04:49 AM PST by unseen
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To: Echo Talon
The deal was was allowed to go though, maybe we should take your advise and tell the UAE to go take a hike pay them the $8-9 billion fine then, have them kick us out of their country and not allow us to use their ports for naval operations or their airfields for our refueling planes, not to mention the intel we would lose."

You don't really expect the naysayers to grapple with those difficult issues do you? The negative blowback than could result from breaking this deal is not on their radar screen. This evident from Buchannon's article.

145 posted on 02/25/2006 12:05:13 AM PST by Hound of the Baskervilles (Liberals are unfit for citizenship in a country that values freedom and courage.)
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To: babygene
The UAE can "ask" us to do whatever they want... They are not in the position to make these decisions. They are a piss ant country...

Im glad your not in the Govt.

146 posted on 02/25/2006 12:05:46 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon
>>>>I agree, but what are you going to do punish the UAE because of it?

I explained the legitimate actions that the Feds coulod take. Waiting 45-90-180 days isn't punishment. I want this deal fully vetted. Someones gonna have to do the job and unless another management company steps forward, it looks like DPWorld will be that managment company. Not happy about it, but .....

Why are you defending DPWorld/UAE with such vigor?

147 posted on 02/25/2006 12:06:13 AM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: Sweetjustusnow

Yes, those words were pretty haunting.....not wanting to offend an ally (UAE).....and then 9/11 happened.


Guess people need to be reminded of these facts again.


148 posted on 02/25/2006 12:06:54 AM PST by Cedar
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To: unseen

thank God there are other minds of clarity out there willing to take the high road.


149 posted on 02/25/2006 12:07:19 AM PST by Sweetjustusnow (Oust the IslamoCommies here and abroad.)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles; zarf; Echo Talon
ROFLMAO!

Here, maybe a Romper Room drawing will make it plain enough for them:

Originaly posted by zarf.

150 posted on 02/25/2006 12:07:20 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: Howlin

:)


151 posted on 02/25/2006 12:08:10 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Reagan Man
In the 20th century (if not the 19th), the Brits have been with us in almost every fight. It was not Brits who struck us on 9/11, who rejoiced in the death of 3,000 Americans, who daily threaten us from the mosques of East and West, who behead our aid workers, bomb our soldiers and call for “Death to America!” in a thousand demonstrations across the Middle East. And while not all Muslims are terrorists, almost all terrorists appear to be Muslim.

Yes, just don't tell that to a globalist - in their sick world that is bigotry.

Go Pat Go!

152 posted on 02/25/2006 12:08:23 AM PST by Penner
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To: Sweetjustusnow
thank God there are other minds of clarity out there willing to take the high road.

The high road to hell?

You don't really believe that crap, do you?

And here I had such high hopes for you.

153 posted on 02/25/2006 12:08:37 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: aligncare
No the war on terror is about finding a way to live in peace with a culture that has no tolerance for women's rights, religious freedom of any kind, and has a world view that jihad is an acceptable way to spread their religion, that western ways are evil and must be thrown down and that any person that does not believe in Allah must be converted or killed or taxed or put into slavery.
154 posted on 02/25/2006 12:09:01 AM PST by unseen
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To: Cedar
The 9-11 JIHADISTS (note the distinction), received their flight training in Florida. Should we be up in arms about the crazy Florida government?

(I am personally never going to Disney world again!)
155 posted on 02/25/2006 12:09:04 AM PST by aligncare (Watergate killed journalism)
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To: babygene
What you are saying is that if the ask our military to leave their bases there, our military will tell them STFU you are a piss ant country and we will occupy your country despite of you! It is time for you to go to sleep.
156 posted on 02/25/2006 12:09:40 AM PST by jveritas (Hate can never win elections.)
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To: Echo Talon
I was talking about "CFIUS" handing out a sweetheart deal to DPWorld/UAE. You know, "CFIUS", that bureaucratic arm of the Treasury Dept. The one that has approved 1530 of 1531 deals over the years.

The private purchase is just that and is of no concern to me.

157 posted on 02/25/2006 12:10:52 AM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: Howlin

Das Karte ist wunderbar, ja?


158 posted on 02/25/2006 12:11:18 AM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: aligncare; MinuteGal; OXENinFLA
The 9-11 JIHADISTS (note the distinction), received their flight training in Florida. Should we be up in arms about the crazy Florida government?

Now this is a GOOD question..................LOL.

159 posted on 02/25/2006 12:11:35 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: unseen

"the war on terror is about finding a way to live in peace with a culture that has no tolerance"

Please tell me how that works? I can't quite picture "finding a way to live IN PEACE with a culture that has no tolerance".


160 posted on 02/25/2006 12:11:55 AM PST by Sweetjustusnow (Oust the IslamoCommies here and abroad.)
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