Posted on 02/25/2006 9:30:52 PM PST by Cornpone
WHAT IS TAKING place in Washington over the proposed takeover of container operations at six major ports in the US by a UAE-based company is nothing but a reflection of the real mindset of American politicians influenced by Israel into seeing Arab and Muslim countries as a security risk to the US after the Sept.11 attacks.
We in the Arab World have to draw our own lessons from the affair.
The UAE is involved in this particularly dispute. But there is no doubt that such deals involving any Arab or Muslim country would draw the same objection from American congress members.
Notwithstanding the sweet talk that American politicians give to us, it is a high probability that any other Arab-owned company would face rejection in the hypothesis that it secures a similar deal in the US.
The facts of the current dispute are clear:
Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the government of the emirate of Dubai, has signed a nearly $7 billion agreement with Britain's P&O to take over the shipping company's port operations around the world. The agreement is awaiting formal approval by a British court.
Under the agreement, DP World will also take over P&O's container operations in six major US ports that the British company had been operating for years. It is a natural transition of operations from one commercial entity which is bought by another.
US security agencies and departments will continue to be in absolute control of security at all ports in the US, including the six involved in the DP World agreement.
Nothing changes whatsover except that DP World will handle all incoming and outgoing containers, which are subject to routine scrutiny by US Customs and security officers from various agencies at the point of final entry and exit.
DP World will have no role whatsoever in any security aspect of the port. It is entirely an American affair.
There should be no hitch in the take-over if all these factors are taken into consideration by critics of the deal. Instead, they are citing "security concerns" and pointing out the UAE had recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the 90s.
What the critics are overlooking or deliberately ignoring is the excellent track record of the UAE.
The UAE was among the first in the Arab World to sign up in all measures aimed at tightening security and adopting anti-terrorism measures as suggested by the US following the Sept.11 attacks.
The UAE does not have a record of engaging itself in any extremist attacks or harbouring militants. On the contrary, the country has said it remains on high vigil and alert against extremists.
The UAE is among the leading voices of moderation in the Arab World and it has always followed a positive approach to Arab, regional and international issues.
If anything, the UAE, like Jordan, is known for advocating dialogue to resolve conflict, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere.
The UAE has signed bilateral extradition agreements with others and is also following its obligations under them without fail.
It is ridiculous at best to suggest that the UAE has links with extremism simply because extremist suspects happened to pass through the country on their way somewhere else.
Isn't primary that had the UAE had any inkling of their real intentions while they were present in UAE territory, then they would have been arrested and questioned?
Well, US security and intelligence agencies had tip-offs about an impending attack ahead of Sept.11, but they failed to take preventive action; so how anyone could blame others where they themselves had failed?
The key factor in the dispute over the DP World deal is that a commercial entity from an Arab Muslim country, seeking to build itself as a major player in the international market, is facing bitter opposition to a key project that would catapult it towards its strategic business objectives.
Indeed, not everyone critical of the DP World deal might be inclined to oppose it because of inherent hostility towards Arabs and Muslims.
They might indeed have concerns that they might see as genuine when seen from their perspective. That is where they needs to realise that the DP World-P&O deal as given clearance after a careful intelligence and security reivew.
There is a security system in place in the US, and that has vetted the deal. That should put to rest any "security" concerns, unless of course American congressmembers do not trust their own security arrangements.
If the latter is the case, then they should have no trust in their government either. That being not the case, the obvious conclusion is that Jewish-dominated political and business circles supported by vested interests are mobilising themselves against any effort by any Arab country to emerge into the international market and thus gain an influential role in world affairs whether it wants it or otherwise.
It is heartening to see that the Bush administration committed itself that the DP World takeover would go ahead although after a brief delay.
Security measures are taken when the containers are loaded and before the leave foreign Ports, Security measures are then taken again when the U.S. Coast Guard boards all Ships while still at Sea, they then pilot the ship into our Harbors and then Homeland Security picks which Containers need to be screened for radiation and Xray'd before they leave the Port.
The Company unloading the Cargo has NOTHING to do with security, all they do is physically lift the containers from the ships and load them on the Trucks that transport them to the Importers
Yep great post, glad that some people here have the facts.
Why did you add (port sale) to the headline?
NO PORTS HAVE BEEN SOLD.
"Why does this not make me feel better? Call me a reactionary know-nothing but the unloading of cargo into the US just MIGHT have a teeny bit to do with security."
The same reason that our efforts to 'pre-screen' cargo at the ports of 'loading' should not make us feel better....OBL is said to have 4-5 ocean going cargo vessels! What is to prevent ISLAMOFASCIST'S WMDS from being loaded in the middle of the damn ocean after leaving any port in the world? We have no guarantees from any law we enact or security measures we undertake to protect this country. We are in a war that will last long into the future and our enemy is determined to attack us no matter what we do. Unfortunately, the dems are positioning themselves on the side of their own political ambitions..and not on the side of our country!! This should come as no surprise to those of us who have witnessed the evolution of the communist left in this country from Vietnam on.......
It has EVERYTHING to do with big labor unions!!
The clincher here: "Follow the money" = longshoremen!!!
30% of our ports/terminals are already being managed by foreign companies. No American companies want to do the work because of the labor unions.
Security is being done, as always, by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security.
This hysteria is not about national security. It has everything to do with big labor losing power. Period!!
Youforgot to mention racial bias as well.
Sorry.... handling that cargo *IS* a national security issue.
It's shocking to me that one week after Chuck Schumer claimed that President Bush was selling our Port Security to the United Arab Emirates while we were all focusing on Dick Cheney accidental shooting his hunting buddy, we STILL have Freepers spouting that same spoon fed MSM headline.
lol...I listen to Rush too and have been leaning to his analysis of the whole 'portgate' issue from the beginning! Although..Timothy McVeigh had many ties to Islamofascists..do your homework! (wink)
He could do that even if this deal were canceled.
Imagine how this is going to play to our troops in the UAE who know they are our allies?
That's a given. I did not forget it, but you are correct to mention it!!
It's like debating with liberals and frankly im getting sick of it! The President needs to have a prime time address to the nation and explain this because im getting tired.
Clinton built a Library, not a Fleet of Air Craft Carriers :-)
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