Bush: Port Deal Collapse Sends Bad Message

Associated Press ^ | March 10, 2006 | LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

[griswold3]

I totally agree with you. In order to enact change, we should do it from within a country.
Read Washington Journal. Are you happy now? I second the motion that Haliburton should come up with the terminal LEASES.
Ignorant you can fix, stupid is forever....

[jimbo123]

The White House never addressed the concerns head on. Instead, they sent out paid lobbyists that included a strange mix of Tommy Franks, Bob Dole, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Maddy Albright and Tom Dashle which added to the mess.

The good news is the deal is dead. The President should learn from this debacle and remember that he works for us and owes us a direct explanation for his actions. "Trust me" no longer suffices.

[CharlesWayneCT]

UAE does business with Israel, notwithstanding their "official" position on the boycott.

[MACVSOG68]

The message was crystal clear from the Republicans. "We could care less about Iraq, Afghanistan, the troops or the war on terror. Getting elected is what it is all about". The message continues, "Yes, the 45 day review period would have been better, but we were afraid the Democrats would have gotten in front of us on the port issue, so we elected embarrass the President, our allies, not for any security concerns, but only to get reelected."and finally, "We were afraid to put forward a stand alone piece of legislation, but by holding the Iraq spending bill hostage, we knew the President had too much honor to veto money for the troops, but fortunately we had no such qualms".

[bigeasy_70118]

Shouldn't you be off somewhere defending us from terrorism? I mean, it comes so easily to you! Perhaps you're able to multi-task. I'm impressed!

Wow! What a substantive retort. You argumentative skills are worthy of DU.

[thoughtomator]

I learned plenty from Clausewitz and Sun Tzu, two authors who are apparently not on the White House reading list.

[antceecee]

Well said.

[ilgipper]

I agree with you, and not only did they not get out front on it to explain, they chose to make threats, and call their own party members racist. While I amwith them on the issue, it was severely bungled.

[maryz]

to Middle-Eastern companies/countries which can be easily infiltrated

According to a caller to a talk radio show who has worked in international shipping, all the big shippers are incredibly "multinational" in their personnel.

[Coop]

Great answer. I'm just honored to be on a forum where so many people (I'm betting half of which would not have known the country in which Dubai is located two months ago) are so much smarter -- especially about homeland/national security -- than the SecDef, the SecTreas (chairman of the CFIUS), the DHS (which includes the Coast Guard), etc.

How come so few of the "conservatives" around here haven't raised an eyebrow about the legislative branch sticking its nose into an executive function?

[Dane]

I learned plenty from Clausewitz and Sun Tzu, two authors who are apparently not on the White House reading list

When, in between knee jerk union hall keggar "classes".

[Aliska]

UAE is a committed ally in the war on terror," Bush added. "They are a key partner for our military in a critical region, and outside of our own country, Dubai services more of our military, military ships, than any country in the world.

That, in itself, carries a calculated risk. Up until now, the benefits outweigh the risk factor, for our military and merchant ships that need servicing. It doesn't mean they are as completely safe there.

Many died on the USS Cole in a Yemeni port, not too different a situation and not so very far from Dubai.

I resent being called a rascist and intimidated by the administration, spinners, and posters on this board and wish we could reverse the contract with the Chicoms, as I didn't like it when that went down either. Arabs are Semites. Jews are Semites. I am not a rascist. This is about religious fanatics who want to kill us any way they can get at us.

Even American ports carry certain terrorist risks given the situation we are facing today.

[COEXERJ145]

How come so few of the "conservatives" around here haven't raised an eyebrow about the legislative branch sticking its nose into an executive function?

Because these same "conservatives" think this is a way to "get Bush" which has been their agenda since 2001.

[Rockitz]

I can't believe there are so many FReepers who haven't figured this out yet. UAE is a moderate Muslim nation. We need to encourage moderate Muslim nations and execute the WOT on those that are engaged in terror and proliferation of WMD. Divide and conquer! We can't fight 1.2 billion Muslims at one time.

[yellowdoghunter]

"This should make the issue go away," Frist said.

And this issue will be forgotten quickly, just like most issues. At least by most of the American public.

Politically it was just not the right time.

[indcons]

That's true. I considered a career in the merchant navy for a while (I got the job but decided to go back to school). Any company that does shipping (even if it is national) usually has people from across the globe working for it. That's the essential nature of that beast and not really surprising considering the business.

[AntiGuv]

Everything changed after 9/11 - or didn't you get that memo?

Last I checked, as of February 26th, the UAE was still sponsoring Hamas and the families of terrorist suicide bombers.

[Solson]

IT's those dirty Ay-rabs....

oh ...wait...

"H. Edward Bilkey, the company's top executive"

This is a sad, sad day. I couldn't agree with your statements more.

[Coop]

The President should learn from this debacle and remember that he works for us and owes us a direct explanation for his actions.

This statement tells me how little you even know about this deal. This "action" had nothing to do with President Bush. Only if there were a legitimate security concern would the CFIUS be required to submit a report to the POTUS. The committee did not.

But don't let me stop you and your lemming buddies. Carry on.

[antceecee]

Thats very interesting. Do you have a link to that thread, I must have missed it.