Goodbye, Dubai (Protectionists Rejoice)

Los Angeles Times ^ | March 10, 2006 | The Editors

[RWR8189]

PROTECTIONISTS, REJOICE! The dastardly United Arab Emirates company that would have presumed to unload containers of underwear and toothpaste on U.S. soil has backed down, and it will now divest its U.S. port interests to an American entity. Rest assured, the nation is now safe from dangerous Middle Eastern accountants and port logistics specialists.

Dubai Ports World did what was necessary, if not necessarily fair, on Thursday by agreeing to give up the U.S. operations of its newly acquired British ports company. The House Appropriations Committee had voted 62 to 2 on Wednesday to block the deal; a similar bill was pending in the Senate.

Although President Bush rightly stood by the acquisition and vowed to veto any bill that stood in its way, he was fighting a losing battle that only deepened a growing rift in the Republican Party. Dubai Ports World officials wisely recognized that they had to put some distance between themselves and their new U.S. assets. The company probably will sell its U.S. assets or create a U.S. company with a separate board to run them.

Much as we wish it would go away, the fight may not be over yet.

For one, the terms of the divestiture remain unclear, and some members of Congress are demanding more details. Will it be enough for Dubai Ports World to create a U.S. subsidiary? Will it have to open headquarters in the United States? Pay its employees in dollars?

[Earthdweller]

Wow!..Republicans are fighting like cats and dogs..Hilary has proven herself to be a bigot...The La times acknowledges that Bush was right about something and its raining little green apples in Indiana.

[Old_Mil]

safe from dangerous middle eastern...accountants and...logistic...

What about enginners? You forgot to mention engineers in that list of dangerous middle easterners.

Mohamed Amanullah Atta, a tall, slim, 33-year-old electrical engineer [who, of course, was one of the 9/11 hijackers]. I'm not sure who is more dangerous to our nation - the actual terrorists, or those Americans who labor under the misconception that Islam is a religion of peace, that Muslims can be befriended and made allies, and that education, peace, prosperity, and democracy are the cure.

[CFC__VRWC]

The La times acknowledges that Bush was right about something and its raining little green apples in Indiana.

They've just watched Bush be all but reduced to smoking rubble over this, thanks in no small part to their own efforts to distort and misinform. They can afford to toss him a few crumbs while they dance on his grave.

[mlc9852]

Yeah, call those who oppose this protectionists. And I would call those who support the deal anti-semites. Fair enough.

[jazusamo]

Can't believe that editorial came from the LA Times. They will surely get a letter from BarBra telling them to cancel her subscription again.

[L98Fiero]

"Yeah, call those who oppose this protectionists."

I just call 'em bigots. Puts them on the same level as UAE, then I guess. Bigots not doing business with bigots. Makes perfect sense.

[mlc9852]

They were bigots first.

[processing please hold]

Many, not all, but, many Americans have not forgotten 9-11 and never will. If I could kick saudia arabian bussiness out, I would gladly do that too.

[Earthdweller]

"And I would call those who support the deal anti-semites. Fair enough."

You are kidding right? If we lose the WOT, Me terrorism will raise up and Israel will go down. Get your head out of your own backyard and look around.

[mlc9852]

I have looked around. How many countries in the ME support Israel or even their right to exist?

[GSlob]

Well, for the sake of discussion, and as a rhetorical device, substitute the ports in question by more obvious national security enterprises of major importance - say, Lockheed Martin, Newport News shipyard, or Pantex plant [nuclear warheads]. Obviously, a proposition to cede control of such strategic assets would be a no-no.
This being the case, the principle of "protected enterprises" is unassailably true, and the only question remaining is where to draw the line.

[junta]

If its that bad and your progressive conscience cannot take it, then end it all and deny us "protectionist bigots" your messianic qualities. We'll miss you. Or you could grow up and stop acting like the Freudian Fruitcake Liberals who think that anyone opposes them has mental instabilities and learn to debate democratically.

[norraad]

They don't even think we should exist!

[HEY4QDEMS]

What about enginners?

Moonshiners??

[HEY4QDEMS]

I prefer to be labeled anti terrorist, but if you want to call me a bigot, suit yourself.

[RWR8189]

That's probably why they let us position ourselves militarily within their borders after Desert Storm....

[Earthdweller]

The ones that are with us pay lip service to their "constituents". They don't want to get killed for saying they don't want to kill Jews.

You are going to have to trust a Muslim at some point in your life. You can not kill them all. There are 1.5 Billion of them.

During the reign of the NAZIs..the Germans who did not want to kill Jews said nothing for similar reasons..they didn't want to die.

Moderate Muslims have to be out there....they are people..they are HUMAN!! The UAE was a shinning example and we kicked them in the b@lls.

So much for winning hearts and minds. This just put us back two years in the WOT..thanks Schummie..thanks a lot for risking future generations to further war.

[jazusamo]

Moonshiners...That's a good subject to debate, it might curb the insults that have been fying back and forth. :)

[mlc9852]

I don't have to trust any Muslims - ever - and I won't.