Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Outside U.S., Puzzlement Over Reaction to the Dubai Port Deal
NY Times ^ | February 25, 2006 | Heather Timmons

Posted on 03/09/2006 9:32:13 AM PST by santorumlite

Outside U.S., Puzzlement Over Reaction to the Dubai Port Deal port operations has surprised and puzzled shipping officials and experts outside America, who called the criticism misguided and contrary to global trade. With its $6.8 billion purchase of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the emirate of Dubai, would acquire terminals not just in the United States, but in 18 other countries, among them Britain, Belgium, France, India and China. Yet nowhere else has the deal for P.& O., as the company is known, drawn much anxiety. Instead, the call from American politicians to review the purchase, and some of the talk surrounding the discussion, has cast the United States in a negative light to outsiders. "We've been shocked by the level of animosity and xenophobia leveled at D.P. World," said Nick Savvides, the editor of CI Online, a research company for the shipping container industry with headquarters in London. The reaction is particularly galling because under the deal "port security remains firmly in United States hands," "Container traffic is dominated by foreign companies." The takeover is not a security concern, she said. "We don't think the shifting of owners will make a difference in this, since we have our own security measures," Ms. De Laet said. "\In Britain, which privatized its port industry when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, the deal was seen as a capitalist, not a political, issue. "The real issue is about international trade," Mr. Whitehead added. "If you accept international trade, you have to accept international participants."

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ports; uae
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

1 posted on 03/09/2006 9:32:16 AM PST by santorumlite
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: santorumlite

This Dubai-ous port deal is getting out of hand.......


2 posted on 03/09/2006 9:33:14 AM PST by Red Badger (And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: santorumlite
Mr. Whitehead added. "If you accept international trade, you have to accept international participants."

You can't participate in international trade unless your port operations are foreign-owned?
3 posted on 03/09/2006 9:34:56 AM PST by andyk (Go Matt Kenseth!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: andyk

That is the way business is done.

The people that are against this deal are stuck on stupid to quote a famous general.


4 posted on 03/09/2006 9:37:19 AM PST by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, over there, We won't be back 'til it's over Over there.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: andyk

hmmmmm where else have i seen "everyone else in the world hates everything we do" used as a tactic in debate?????


oh yeah....that would be the DUmp


5 posted on 03/09/2006 9:38:04 AM PST by jneesy (certified southern right wing hillbilly nutjob)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: andyk

Remember the days when America could operate without being told what to do?


6 posted on 03/09/2006 9:38:39 AM PST by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: santorumlite

IMO the opposition to this deal is political maneuvering taking advantage of Islamophobia. Everybody knows this kind of deal is nothing new. Why the sudden opposition? I'd rather have Dubai own our ports than Beijing.


7 posted on 03/09/2006 9:40:20 AM PST by loreldan (Lincoln, Reagan, & G. W. Bush - the cure for Democrat lunacy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: santorumlite

This whole port ordeal shows how incredibly stupid the populace of the Country is. This is going to come back and bite us in the future. I'm so mad at the Republicans for not standing up to what is right. I'm mad at Bush for not getting out there and explaining it in third grade terms to the idiots of thsi country. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS DEAL. It's just going to make our friends distrust us, and the image of the stupid, racist American grows. God help us.


8 posted on 03/09/2006 9:42:21 AM PST by Hildy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: santorumlite
Outside U.S., Puzzlement Over Reaction to the Dubai Port Deal

I'll add another aspect of this . . .

Among People who Understand the Issue, Puzzlement Over Reaction to the Dubai Port Deal

9 posted on 03/09/2006 9:43:40 AM PST by Alberta's Child
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: loreldan

True. This stuff is getting out of hand. Now it turns out the UAE might not buy from Boeing if they are continued to be treated like this. Wow how many thousands of jobs is that. I


10 posted on 03/09/2006 9:44:16 AM PST by bayourant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Hildy
I'm so mad at the Republicans for not standing up to what is right.

I agree with you. The biggest problem on this issue is that people like Peter King, Michael Savage Weiner, and Michelle Malkin found themselves competing to see which of them could match Chuck Schumer as the dumbest public figure in the United States.

11 posted on 03/09/2006 9:46:50 AM PST by Alberta's Child
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: santorumlite
Gee, coming from the Times about "puzzlement"? Let's see, misrepresent facts, write libelous articles, make skewed polls, etc. Ummmm,"Puzzlement"?
12 posted on 03/09/2006 9:47:00 AM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Not all countries inhabited primarily by Muslims are our enemies. UAE is one of the good guys.


13 posted on 03/09/2006 9:47:33 AM PST by loreldan (Lincoln, Reagan, & G. W. Bush - the cure for Democrat lunacy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

They're already talking about pulling out of some of the deals we've made with them--bases, Boeing, and while unstated, I'm betting that all the intel they've been helping us with will dry up too.

Hope these geniuses are happy with what they're bringing down on us. If this is the way we treat allies, we won't have many, after this.


14 posted on 03/09/2006 9:49:39 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: loreldan

Maybe we should pay them reperations while were at it. LOL


15 posted on 03/09/2006 9:50:17 AM PST by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: loreldan

Where will it end? arabs could buy the whole world. Do you want to live in a country owned by arabs?

moose-limbs are the vermon of this planet


16 posted on 03/09/2006 9:53:01 AM PST by bicyclerepair (Moonbats are everywhere!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: loreldan

Chavez's state owned companies own u.s chemical plants.

I love the hypocracy with the dems hands out for chavez.

Chavez who is kicking out u.s airlines, military, and working with iran, and giving his private planes to hamas with the red carpet out.


17 posted on 03/09/2006 9:53:31 AM PST by santorumlite
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: santorumlite

"Americans are possibly the dumbest people on the planet."
Michael Moore

"Remember, keep close to the people--they are always right and will mislead no one."
Abraham Lincoln

Gee, if had to choose . . . .

So, because the American people are opposed to this deal they are--let's see, what are some of the adjectives I seen used here: "idiots", "bigots", "racists" . . . .
You get the picture. It smells like DU in here today.
Sayonara!


18 posted on 03/09/2006 9:53:43 AM PST by tumblindice (You were wrong about Harriet, too, but I suppose you weren't a "sexist" . . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bicyclerepair

They aren't buying the terminals.

They are leasing them from the port authority.

I blame Bush's inept press secretary for this.


19 posted on 03/09/2006 9:54:16 AM PST by santorumlite
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Hildy
I disagree. When 9/11 occurred, I have no doubt millions of Americans asked themselves, "What could we have possibly done to have deserved this treatment? We paid our taxes, sent money overseas to help the poor, took up school room collections to feed the starving, took up church collections to fight disease, and this is the payoff???"

Now, the UAE's asks, "What have we done to deserve this treatment? We have put ourselves at odds with our Arab brothers by trying to root out terrorists, we have put our country at risk for cooperating with the U.S. by harboring their ships, we have tried to keep our oil priced at levels a nation at war can afford, and this is the payoff???"

The only people who are out of the loop are the good folks who go to work every day, believe their duty is to advance peace and health and tolerance, pay their taxes and write the checks for a government and corporations who are accountable to no one.

Can you afford to quit your job and take on the task of keeping governments honest and good? Can you afford to let your family go hungry to monitor the greed of corporations or, for that matter, the employees who are not always honest? Can you give up days of your time to make sure those who are incompetent are educated? Unless and until we each take responsibility for what we do each day, right where we are, this foolishness will continue and the pain and suffering of the world will advance unabated.
20 posted on 03/09/2006 9:56:00 AM PST by Constitutions Grandchild
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson