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Just because you're Islamophobic
Orlando Sentinel ^ | 2/26/2006 | Kathleen Parker

Posted on 02/26/2006 6:50:55 AM PST by Dark Skies

As I inadvertently failed to mention in an earlier column on the subject, the ports in question already were managed by a British company, which is selling the operational rights to Dubai Ports World with American approval. As I've now written in countless e-mails, "Some foreign companies are more foreign than others."

Great Britain, though home to the infamous shoe bomber, is nonetheless a blood brother in the war against terror. The UAE is now being lauded as helpful in that global fight, but its history relative to terrorism is problematic. The emirates joined Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in recognizing the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan. The UAE also was a transfer point for shipments of nuclear components to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

Given that history, it's hard to pretend that there's no reason whatsoever for concerns about Dubai Ports, a government-owned company, managing U.S. ports.

(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: borders; ports; uae
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1 posted on 02/26/2006 6:50:55 AM PST by Dark Skies
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To: Dark Skies
Islamophobic? Moi?

Islam is PeaceTM
Embrace Diversity!

Image hosting by Photobucket

2 posted on 02/26/2006 6:56:43 AM PST by Bon mots
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To: Dark Skies
Given that history, it's hard to pretend that there's no reason whatsoever for concerns about Dubai Ports, a government-owned company, managing U.S. ports.

Evidently it's not that hard, as we see people here pretending exactly this, day after day after day. People seem to forget that the Saudis were allegedly a solid ally, but the government-to-government relationship was a key element in opening the doors to the 9/11 hijackers.

3 posted on 02/26/2006 6:59:15 AM PST by thoughtomator (I understand Democrats' impatience; If Kerry were President, Iran would have nuked Israel by now)
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To: Dark Skies

BTTT...


4 posted on 02/26/2006 6:59:49 AM PST by veronica ("A person needs a sense of mission like the air he breathes...")
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To: Dark Skies
Who to trust Gen. Tommy Franks, a much decorated military professional who has recent experience dealing with the UAE, or a journaist(Kathleen parker) who thinks she kills terrorists from behind a computer.

I'll take Gen. Frank's opinion.

5 posted on 02/26/2006 7:02:35 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: All
It is just an example of the incredible "tin" political ear of this administration (another was Harriot Mears). I find it equally hard to believe that Bush only found out about this on Feb 16. Some people in his administration are just not serving him well. Leadership must be accomplished by appearances as well as reality. Placing major ports in the hands of an Arab firm with loose connections to the 9/11 incident just flunks the smell test, whatever you feel about Arabs. In fact this has nothing to do with racial profiling, but about appearances. It is simply too soon after 9/11 to be that objective about it.
6 posted on 02/26/2006 7:11:35 AM PST by bennowens
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To: Dane
Last time I saw that post it was Michele Malkin.

I suggest the point is not that the deal is good, bad or indifferent, but that the Adminstration doesn't understand the way the people of this country feel about the islamic world.

Tommy Franks is a terrific guy, but he isn't a politician.

As a retired investment banker, I am shocked that the bankers on this deal didn't realize that it was politically flammable and would require a strong PR campaign to calm concerns.

7 posted on 02/26/2006 7:11:57 AM PST by Dark Skies ("Free speech is THE weapon of choice against islam.")
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To: Dark Skies
Tommy Franks is a terrific guy, but he isn't a politician

Then whose opinion should I take, a military professional whose has much experience with the UAE(Tommy Franks) or a politicians(chuckie schumer).

I'll take Gen. Tommy Franks's opinion.

8 posted on 02/26/2006 7:15:36 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: bennowens

Excellent points.

The way I see it, if there were 5 brothers and 4 were convicted pedophiles, would you hire the fifth one to babysit your kids? No way that I would. I don't care how nice the fifth one is. I figure he ought to find some other job and I ought to find some other person to babysit. Sure it's unfair to him since he's done nothing wrong (as far as anyone knows), but it would be absolutely irresponsible to take the chance.

Why is this so hard for the pro-UAR-port deal people to understand?


9 posted on 02/26/2006 7:16:44 AM PST by generally (Ask me about FReepers Folding@Home)
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To: generally

Does Dubai Ports World have a track record?

Why, yes they do.

They even manage a port in the home of our ally in the WOT, Australia. Heard any complaints from them?

They're hardly an unknown.


10 posted on 02/26/2006 7:23:29 AM PST by Dog Gone
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: generally

> Why is this so hard for the pro-UAE-port deal people to understand?

I'd be happy if they just stopped insulting us, calling us stupid, liars, and Democrats.


12 posted on 02/26/2006 7:32:23 AM PST by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender!)
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To: Dark Skies
As a retired investment banker, I am shocked that the bankers on this deal didn't realize that it was politically flammable and would require a strong PR campaign to calm concerns.

I'm disappointed that they don't understand that it could become literally flammable as well.

Paris inferno is ominous
Paris/France burns, Live thread (night #10)

13 posted on 02/26/2006 7:33:24 AM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: Dark Skies

How can I put this delicately...
Hmm...
Perhaps broccoli is a good example.

I dislike broccoli.
I don't fear broccoli.

I feel the same way about many things without having a phobia.


14 posted on 02/26/2006 7:35:35 AM PST by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
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To: Dane

Agreeded If the US Navy doesnt have problems with this thats something that should be looked at. McCain has gone up a alot in my book by the way. He is one of the few Leaders and in fact the only one that is holding a pro-port position on this that is prob going to run for Prez.


15 posted on 02/26/2006 7:42:33 AM PST by bayourant
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To: VictoryGal
I'd be happy if they just stopped insulting us, calling us stupid, liars, and Democrats.

Indeed. They are, after all, siding with some rather dubious liberal characters themselves. In today's New York Times, Nicholas Kristof (that well known conservative columnist) wrote about how the port deal presents no threat because the UAE is such a swell and upstanding country -- actually stating that the UAE "is the Disneyland of the Arab world."

I think its become a kind of collective hallucination. Yeah sure, Dubai was once chock full of money-laundering, terrorist facilitating scoundrels, but that was a couple of months ago, and everything has changed since then!

16 posted on 02/26/2006 7:44:46 AM PST by atlaw
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To: Dane
Unlike you, I won't settle for anyone's opinion...protecting the US is the primary duty of the Feds. If they want my support on this, they'll have to do a better job of explaining it. If they don't then I'll assume the worst, and it will have an affect on my support in '08.

"You're a racist," and "You don't know enough to even have an opinion," are not arguments. They're anti-arguments, designed to end discussion.

17 posted on 02/26/2006 7:45:17 AM PST by gogeo
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To: atlaw

I think it's a matter of high profile public figures wanting to prove how open minded and "un-Islamophobic" they are. It's a substitute for judgment, and a poor one at that.


18 posted on 02/26/2006 7:47:49 AM PST by gogeo
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To: Dark Skies

The security of our nation should not rest upon a series of business deals with foreign countrys.

Security is not a commodity ment to be traded for.


19 posted on 02/26/2006 8:49:45 AM PST by o_zarkman44
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To: Dane

I will take the public's opinion over that of any political puppet. The public has access to all sides of an issue, not just the political pundits justifications.

Our government is of the people, by the people, for the people, not by the government, for the government.

Franks is a PAID representitive of the lobby that supports the deal. Paid experts have to be especially questioned.


20 posted on 02/26/2006 8:54:54 AM PST by o_zarkman44
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