Let the sun shine in.
Posted on 02/25/2006 3:00:55 AM PST by Cannoneer No. 4
February 24, 2006: The recent controversy over the acquisition of the British firm Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, by Dubai Ports World, a state-run company in the United Arab Emirates, has been largely a matter of heat opposed to light. This is largely because of a number of myths that have quickly circulated throughout the blogosphere. These myths have led to a lot of controversy that has cast one of the strongest American allies in the Persian Gulf in a poor light that is undeserved.
First, a look at the United Arab Emirates is in order. This is a country that has been a long-standing ally of the United States since 1971. The UAE was part of the coalition to liberate Kuwait in 1991, and also has supported the United States in the war on terror (including, among other things, providing access to a deep-water berth that can accommodate aircraft carriers, use of a training facility for air-to-air training facility, airfields, and logistics support). It is a country that has proven largely inhospitable to al-Qaeda (instead, the focus is on business), sent forces to Afghanistan to protect the construction of a hospital that they donated and built, and also has sent humanitarian assistance to Iraq while also providing a location for training Iraqi police. In 2002, the UAE also captured a major al-Qaeda figure, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who was involved in the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, and handed him over to the United States despite threats from the terrorist organization. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the UAE donated $100 million for the relief efforts. Both Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General Peter Pace have described the relationship the United States has with United Arab Emirates as "very close" and "superb". It would be interesting to know what sort of information Michelle Malkin has that would override the judgment of Rumsfeld and Pace. Her characterization of the United Arab Emirates as "demonstrably unreliable" is not just factually challenged, it is slap in the face to the strongest ally the United States has in the Persian Gulf.
One of the other things that has been ignored in the anti-UAE diatribes from Malkin is the fact that the United Arab Emirates is a Middle Eastern country where religious tolerance is the rule. The UAE's constitution guarantees freedom of religion (albeit it declares Islam as the official religion), and largely permits religious freedom. In 2003, the UAE shut down the Zayed Center for Coordination and Follow-up, which was publishing material that promoted anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.
Second, nothing will really change at the ports, particularly with regards to security. Security will remain the province of the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. In another fact ignored by the scare campaign, the UAE has the only port in the Middle East that is part of the Container Security Initiative. Dubai Ports World has also agreed to mandatory participation in other programs to improve security and to prevent the illegal shipment of nuclear materials, and will also provide documents on internal operations on demand and has agreed to cooperate in future investigations. The deal was also scrutinized by the intelligence community, which found no problems. The only thing that changes hands is who owns the company that will handle the day-to-day operations (often performed by American longshoremen – usually unionized). Dubai Ports World also bought out the port operations of CSX in 2004 – with no real issues.
Third, several claims have been made regarding connections to 9/11, specifically the fact that two of the hijackers were from the UAE. First, none of the critics have any proof that either the government of the UAE or Dubai Ports World was involved in the attack. By the standard of these critics, the United Kingdom would be held responsible for Richard Reid, or Germany would be responsible for the Hamburg cell that planned the attack. Second, the United Arab Emirates have stepped up efforts to make money laundering less easy after Dubai was used as a financial conduit for the attacks (again, there is no proof that the UAE or DPW were active participants in the laundering). It should also be noted that at least two Americans have worked with al-Qaeda (Johnny Walker Lindh and Jose Padilla) as well.
The last thing to consider is that in the day and age of the Internet, this debate is not staying inside the United States. Past irresponsible comments (like those by Senator Richard Durbin concerning Guantanamo Bay) have spread across the world very quickly. The scurrilous comments directed at the United Arab Emirates by Michelle Malkin have the potential to assist al-Qaeda recruiting in that country, and thus do more damage than the port deal would have done.
Uh-huh.
Probably not a good idea to wear a skull cap, but if a Jew didn't call attention to his religion, how would anybody in Dubai know he was a Jew?
Let the sun shine in.
I just read something about it because the UAE is a very interesting country. Its a long time since I read it so I just want to verify it. Other than that I have friends and family that has been to the UAE. For vacation and honey moon. The UAE is an amazing country with the best hotel in the world and other very nice projects going on.
Gee, I worked in Indonesia which also requires an exit visa from the sponsor, and I didn't feel like a "slave". But I did feel like I'd better complete the specifics of my well-paid contract.
The other bidder for P&O was Singapore. There are lots of folks out there who object to Singapore's harsh system of justice, which has recently included quick executions of Aussie drug runners.
Hutchinson also considered bidding, but backed-off because they knew the U.S. would object to the deal.
So we're getting down to a small handfull of potential remaining bidders for P&O. Was the US government expected to subsidize the deal so that a "preferred" operator would have been attracted to it?
Passports is a way to stop many Jews entering the country.
This used to be the home of the brave.
Here's a huge part of the communication problem on this topic: My local TV news had it as the top story on our 5:30AM news just now, because it affects the Port of Houston.
Once again, the news anchor went on and on about the UAE "taking control of six US ports." And this was just the story about the delay on the approval!
Can't any of them read the "rest of the story" and comprehend that no one is "taking control" of any entire ports? They are simply providing some services for certain portions or terminals of some ports? Aaarrghh!
Go look on your passport. Where does it have your religion?
There is an agenda at work at your local TV station that a whole lot of people I expected better from fell for.
When I first heard that US ports were being SOLD to a foreign state I along with everyone else thought this was indefensible. When I looked into it and saw that no PORTS were being SOLD to anybody I realized people were either fatally uninformed or were deliberately working to stampede me with distortions and outright lies.
From Hannity to Hillary, we have shot ourselves in the foot with the anti-UAE demogoguery and overreaction. Why would ANY muslem work with us when they see this example of how we treat those who try.
He was the first I heard to call attention to this deal. He was on every talk show that I listen to, (which does not include Michael Savage - but I can imagine their conversation!)
From his sounding the alarm, elected officials began to be asked for comments. None of them had a clue about the deal but that did not stop most from making knee-jerk comments.
Meanwhile, Michelle Malkin and some at NRO got on the hysteria bandwagon. As soon as the press corps got over their Cheney fixation, they were able to focus on this.
And so Americans have spent the past week, sounding a lot like the folks around the world who got hysterical over reports of drawings of the prophet.
It has been profoundly disallusioning for me - I have had to switch to Discovery Health, or HGTV to regain some compusure.
Their busy promoting fantasy island. I talked to one of my mothers friends who just got back from driving a truck in Iraq. He says he traveled freely in Jordan and Kuwait (with a warning to be carefull) but in the UAE they strongly suggested that he not leave the resort areas.
Gaffney: According to records, the UAE has had some questionable dealings with some folks--
Savage: George W. Bush is a liberal traitor who can't say a complete sentence and his pro-homosexual agenda is proof he should be impeached!
Gaffney: Uh...yeah. Anyway, I was alarmed when--
Savage: Liberals! LIB-ER-ALLLLS!!!!! Drunken drug addicted homosexual godless commie scum!
Gaffney: Do you want me to go outside for a minute, Michael?
Savage: The Mexicans are probably behind this, and the AIDS-infested commie pinko, George Bush is a traitor, and drugs, DRUGS!!! Rush Limbaugh is jealous of me!
(sound of door closing quietly)
Savage: Where the hell did he go? The liberals must have dragged Frank Gaffney out into the alley, which is a mess because the drunks in the garbage union have let the rats and the filth take over, and they're doping him up with the heroin George W. Bush gave them! You're all jealous of me! YEEARRGGHH!!!!
Announcer: SAVAGE!
LOL!
WHO strongly suggested that he not leave the resort areas? Somebody from his employer?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.