Why Dubya's right to back Dubai on P&O

Telegraph, Uk. ^ | 03/08/2006 | Jeff Randall

[TheLion]

Given the extraordinary amount of petro-dollars that Dubai has spent in recent years, much of it with US companies, transforming itself from a desert fiefdom into a centre for tourism, media, technology and finance, the tiny state's commercial interests are inextricably aligned with the West rather than the Jihadis.

Dubai's Internet City has attracted leading US technology companies, such as Cisco Systems, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.

American designers are behind the $1bn Burj Dubai development, which includes the world's tallest building. Boeing has been selling fleets of aircraft to Dubai's Emirates airline.

[TheLion]

The reality of Dubai, is far different than the debate going on about a few terminals

[TheLion]

Port Ping!

[McGavin999]

Tell that to our illiterate and embarrassingly ignorant congress.

[jude24]

No country that recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government can be trusted to provide for our security - even if they are the Las Vegas of the Middle East.

[SwordofTruth]

The reality of Dubai, is far different than the debate going on about a few terminals

You know I could care less how rich they are. I know they are rich, 6.8 billion for ports operations is no small change. But that is no excuse to let them run operations at our ports, no excuse at all.

[TheLion]

I ashamed of these people. They should have least given it a 45 day review!

[Chgogal]

Bush only has to have a fireside chat with the country during prime time and explain the deal (business transaction between two foreign companies), security (which would be in American hands) and what access Dubai would have to our security process (this I am not clear on). Detail that clearly and most likely the port issue would disappear.

And to get more mileage Bush could throw egg on the face of Hillary/Schumer by thanking former President Clinton for his help as an agent to Dubai and thank Dubai for the generous donations to Clinton's library and then invite the nation to see Clinton's library and what Clinton did with the Dubai money. ;)

Wonder why he isn't fighting back hard? Any thoughts?

[TheLion]

You might be right, but we should not run our country by polls.

Just the facts.

[ARCADIA]

"You get the drift. For years, US companies bought and controlled foreign businesses. That was fine and dandy when America was winning; free trade was indisputably a good thing. But now that US economic hegemony is fraying at the edges, anxiety about the benefits of unfettered competition and open markets is emerging from sea to shining sea."

That is right why should we back a losing game?

[p23185]

No country that recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government can be trusted to provide for our security

Nobody is giving away our security.

[ExcursionGuy84]

True, I mean, the Dubai company would just be the administrators of the operations at the port terminals....alhtough it could be just the chance for opportunistic terrorists to really work on another September 11, 2001 scenario.

I'm still trying to make up my mind about the whole deal 'cause it's really confusing with all the different message coming from Left & Right.

[jveritas]

Did you ever ask yourself why they recognized the Taliban government in the past?

I will tell you why. It is because there are tens of thousands of Afghani workers who work in the UAE (cheap labor) and the UAE government needed to recognize the Taliban because of this.

[ARCADIA]

You might be right, but we should not run our country by polls. Just the facts.

Why don't you find a nice yummy dictatorship and move there? It is obvious you have no use for a democratic republic.

[jude24]

Nobody is giving away our security.

They'd pay the bills. The power of the purse determines all.

[tennmountainman]

Then you and the other 29% supporters of this deal should be busy writing your congressman or woman and tell them to let the deal go through.

This deal will soon be a bad memory like the Harriet Miers nomination.

[jude24]

It is because there are tens of thousands of Afghani workers who work in the UAE (cheap labor) and the UAE government needed to recognize the Taliban because of this.

Oh. That makes it all better.... So either they're jihadists, or they don't give a damn if they can make a buck.

[SwordofTruth]

No country that recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government can be trusted to provide for our security - even if they are the Las Vegas of the Middle East.

Absolutely! Whatever happened to Bush's statement: "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." Seems that Bush has even forgot what he said.

[McGavin999]

Yep, that's the very least they could have done. At least look like they were giving it a fair trial. Instead, they have discouraged moderate governments in the ME and told them they never have a chance of being considered equals so they might as well be on the other side.

[TheLion]

"Bush only has to have a fireside chat with the country during prime time and explain the deal (business transaction between two foreign companies), security (which would be in American hands) and what access Dubai would have to our security process (this I am not clear on). Detail that clearly and most likely the port issue would disappear."

"And to get more mileage Bush could throw egg on the face of Hillary/Schumer by thanking former President Clinton for his help as an agent to Dubai and thank Dubai for the generous donations to Clinton's library and then invite the nation to see Clinton's library and what Clinton did with the Dubai money. ;)"

Beats the hell out of me, he has the bully pulpit. I would have done this in a heart beat!

[p23185]

Then you and the other 29% supporters of this deal should be busy writing your congressman or woman and tell them to let the deal go through.

I tried, but the Congresscritters are more concerned with getting in front of a camera in an election year, than doing what is good for the country. Just my opinion, which will soon mean nothing. But I vote.