[jveritas]

Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country. It will be a great strategic loss of an ally and military bases in the midst of the war on terror. Also do not be surprised if Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain will have similar reaction to us in consolidation with their brethren in the UAE. Even to make it worse the Arab dominant OPEC may cut its production by 1 million barrel and the oil prices will soar. Already two other non Arab countries (Iran and Venezuela) were asking to cut production.

The knee jerks in Congress just do not know what they are getting us into.

[Dane]

The funny thing is that the "true conservatives" bought the schumer line that this was a "secret" deal, hook, line, and sinker.

When it was not, DPWorld bought P&O and all was above board, but scream the Arabs are taking over the ports(when they are not) and it was stampede to beleive schumer's lies.

[dead]

Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country.

Complete nonsense.

They don’t allow our military to use their ports because they’re our bestest buddies or because they want to unload container ships in New Jersey.

They let our military use their ports because our very presence there helps provide some level of stability in an very unstable part of the world. This stability, in turn, allows the Royal family to make oceans of money in their banking and tourism industries.

They’ll bitch a little. That’s it.

[rodguy911]

Great post and analysis. It's so sad that now both parties will demagogue an issue just for political advantage no matter how it effects the country.

[TAdams8591]

"Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country. It will be a great strategic loss of an ally and military bases in the midst of the war on terror. Also do not be surprised if Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain will have similar reaction to us in consolidation with their brethren in the UAE. Even to make it worse the Arab dominant OPEC may cut its production by 1 million barrel and the oil prices will soar. Already two other non Arab countries (Iran and Venezuela) were asking to cut production."

I don't think the first is going to happen let alone the rest. Don't you think you're overeacting just a bit?????

[Bubbatuck]

So they're blackmailing us? And we should give in to them? No thanks.

The notion that our entire alliance rests on this one deal has been repeated here again and again, but nobody's ever provided any evidence.

Is it really all or nothing? There's NO other paths toward friendship we can pursue short of this deal? If so, then tough luck, UAE.

I don't want us blackmailed by ANY country.

[RobbyS]

I don't think they will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

[MikefromOhio]

At this point, I hope the UAE tells us to get the hell out.

I hope it happens and I can't wait to hear the crying about it.

Dubai is still a great place to take some time off.

[MizSterious]

I think you are exactly right. I think this bill, if it passes and is not vetoed, will do terrible damage to our foreign policy. I'm starting to think most of our government would sell their own grandmothers if they thought it would keep them in power just one more year.

[Hill of Tara]

I will bet you ANY amount of money (seriously) that none of your predictions will happen.

[LasVegasMac]

Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country. It will be a great strategic loss of an ally and military bases in the midst of the war on terror. Also do not be surprised if Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain will have similar reaction to us in consolidation with their brethren in the UAE. Even to make it worse the Arab dominant OPEC may cut its production by 1 million barrel and the oil prices will soar.

I have not read / heard / seen any indications that would support your 'feelings' on this. If you have, please tell me.

I really think they are in no hurry to "kick us out".

The US has, led by the LSM, went off the scale on this issue. I don't think you will see the other side do the same thing. It was a business deal, nothing more.

Besides, this means Dick Cheney is going back to Halliburton and they will get the deal.

:)

[tennmountainman]

"Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country".

Mark my words, if the UAE kicks us out, it won't be long before IRAN, just a stone's throw away, invades UAE, beheads the King, Princes and ruling family
and causes general myhem.
The UAE needs us more than we need them.

In addition, quit blaming those who oppose it, instead of those who PROPOSED it!

[mickie]

According to your posts.....you just have it all figuered out. FYI

The EAU needs us and will do no such thing. I have one thing to say....

Rep. Duncan Hunter.

[F16Fighter]

"Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country."

Yet another FR Jeanne Dixon?? (yawn)

You Bots kill me with your absurd "predictions."

[Stultis]

Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country.

Well, they're sure as %&$* going to have to do something to save face with their citizenry and with other Arabs and Arab states. One can only hope that it will be cosmetic/superficial and not too damaging.

This president and his administration have been awe inspiring in the care, craftsmanship, and often downright cunning of their foreign policy; from the Chinese surveillance plane crisis to date. And have displayed consistent competence and achieved frequent success against often long odds (e.g. getting China to work with regional democracies on North Korea, even if they [the Chinese] haven't come as far as they should, the seven party talks are nevertheless an amazing accomplishment) and heavy, sometimes devious, opposition (e.g. French perfidy on Iraq). And have done this all while enacting the most sweeping (and idealistic) reforms in American foreign policy of the last half century.

Watching congress critters piss all over this -- half of them spineless and panick-stricken, the other half cynical demagogues -- is disgusting.

Of course the ultimate blame redounds to the viciously partisan and obstructionist 'Rats: The vile creatures who, determined to "Watergate" Bush, the absence of relevant basis be damned, have bit by bit destroyed public trust in the executive. This project has been nothing but hate-driven, as illustrated by the fact that the slime-slinging 'Rats have in the process damaged their own political viability as much or more than that of their target.

I think I'll step away from the computer now and vomit continuously.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

What bargaining chips do they hold?

The only reason that these pathetic, artificial little sheikdoms, emirates and monarchies even exist is because of the military umbrellas provided by the United States Armed Forces.

Do you actually think they're going to ask us to leave?

Or if they did, that they could actually enforce that request?

[gotribe]

Just mark my words on this.

Well then, we'll just turn their little paradise into glass.

[LenS]

Good. Then we can stop this nonsense of pretending that Islam is our friend. Ann Coulter had it right when just after 9/11 she said that we need to kill their leaders, destroy their cities and convert the rest.

Democracy will succeed in Iraq. I'm sure of it. But only for a while.

Eventually, the parasitical nature of Islam will drag them back into barbarism (just look at Turkey or what happened in the past after Islam ruled an area for a century or so). And when it happens, they'll have the ability to kill tens of millions of us (since Western technology will many times more deadly than it is today and they'll have access to it). Our grandchildren will wonder why we helped them instead of crushing them when we had the chance.

[flattorney]

Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country. It will be a great strategic loss of an ally and military bases in the midst of the war on terror. Also do not be surprised if Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain will have similar reaction to us in consolidation with their brethren in the UAE. Even to make it worse the Arab dominant OPEC may cut its production by 1 million barrel and the oil prices will soar. Already two other non Arab countries (Iran and Venezuela) were asking to cut production.

This post is total ignorance! They need our money dummy.

[jackv]

"It will be a great strategic loss of an ally and military bases in the midst of the war on terror."

Yep...and I will be holding everyone of these fools responsible when all hell breaks loose.

[Big Horn]

Just mark my words on this. If Congress blocks the Dubai Ports from managing the ports terminals then the UAE government will ask our military to leave their naval and air bases there, as well as kicked out our CIA and FBI agents from their country. It will be a great strategic loss of an ally and military bases in the midst of the war on terror. Also do not be surprised if Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain will have similar reaction to us in consolidation with their brethren in the UAE. Even to make it worse the Arab dominant OPEC may cut its production by 1 million barrel and the oil prices will soar. Already two other non Arab countries (Iran and Venezuela) were asking to cut production.
The knee jerks in Congress just do not know what they are getting us into.
All of that plus the huge amount of capital they have to invest into our economy