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Dubai has triumphed
Gulf News ^ | March 12, 2006 | Habib Toumi

Posted on 03/12/2006 2:59:23 AM PST by PrinceOfCups

DP World will not manage six ports in the US as initially agreed, but the aborted deal has achieved for Dubai an outstanding triumph by any yardstick.

First, and as Ghassan Tahboub, media manager in the executive office of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said, it is an invaluable lesson. "It was an exercise you have to live with, win and then learn from. This was America. There are lobbies, politics and interest groups, and Dubai found itself in the middle of a jungle. In the end I have to thank everybody there for this lesson," he said.

Then, Dubai has gained the greatest international publicity possible and people anywhere can now name the emirate that has laid bare an obstinate mindset of racial discrimination and ethnic prejudice that no public relations gloss will ever cover.

It has also shown beyond any doubt that its amazing success story has never been a cheat and that the geographically small emirate could now compete with the most advanced economies of the world.

Cairo in the 1950s and Beirut in the 1960s succeeded to define trends, but it was mainly on political issues. Dubai in the 2000s thanks to its pro-globalisation trends is showing values that promote success and prowesses that indicate leadership and triumph.

Dubai has demonstrated that while it is moving vibrantly ahead with globalisation, other countries that have always championed free trade are now shackled by a xenophobic tsunami and are likely to feed a global backlash against globalisation.

It has shown the world that the US economic anxieties are being senselessly fuelled by nationalist sentiments that seem to be inexorably on the rise.

The port deal debacle has also proven that Dubai possesses a broader mind than the US when it comes to welcoming and promoting investments and that its openness is genuine and not decided by race or creed.

Last week, US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez told Gulf News in Manama that the decision against DP World was not racially motivated. Either he was not aware of the strong anti-Arab powers within his own country or he did not wish to hurt our feelings.

Either way, the truth is here for everyone to see and contemplate: Dubai is an economic power that is re-writing books and all those who opposed the port deal should think in that direction and should appreciate that it too can cancel deals.

US economists were quick to bandwagon the belief that the flap over the ports acquisition is unlikely to make a consequential dent in foreign investment flows into their country. But Arab analysts predict that this unwarranted hostility will certainly affect Arab investments in the US and will make US assets less attractive to Arab buyers.

Economically, DP World's takeover was never a special case: a state-owned company from the Middle East is buying an American asset already managed by a non-American entity. Suddenly, ethnicity, tainted by hostility and envy, and not a proven success record, became the guidelines to assess the deal.

America has always been comfortable with most multinationals that invested in the United States because they came from Western countries and are unlikely to be subject to such scrutiny. However, the United States is obviously becoming a less welcoming place for investment from Arab countries.

The port deal opponents should appreciate that their public statements might secure them some political benefits, but will most certainly have grave economic consequences.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: dpw; dpworld; dubai; ports; uae
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To: MojoWire; bayourant
So much for your vaunted "free trade."

The American Revolutionary War was fought mostly because of the prevention of free trade and imposition of taxes. Now you would restrict trade that is most responsible for the wealth and well being of the US. You want a government to tell people how they survive. When will be the Monarchy or dictatorship you seek to prevent free trade for a democracy does not.

101 posted on 03/12/2006 6:14:27 AM PST by jec41 (Screaming Eagle)
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To: Lazamataz
Laz, my man, our military in the ME uses Dubai as an R&R port. Over the course of a year we have 77,000 young men and women rotate through there.

We also use it as a permanent base of operations for air, ground and sea forces, and its deep water ports are the only ones in the region that can actually service aircraft carriers ~ which they do.

This campaign against Dubai carries with it the risk of endangering our military forces in the ME.

The only people who could possibly wish for such an outcome are those who do not want us there, or who want Saddam Hussein back in office, or who work for the Iranians.

102 posted on 03/12/2006 6:17:24 AM PST by muawiyah (-)
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To: bayourant

Tookie WAS executed anyway.


103 posted on 03/12/2006 6:18:52 AM PST by bvw
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To: thoughtomator
The opposition on these threads has followed an inverse track ~ the usual suspects who really don't want enforceable employer sanctions voiced opposition to the Dubai terminal deals.

Those who really do want the Southern, and Northern, borders protected, thought there was more utility in keeping out the bad stuff by being able to operate abroad in the busiest ports.

104 posted on 03/12/2006 6:22:10 AM PST by muawiyah (-)
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To: Drew68

I think you will be fine. I have been watching the UAE blogs and paers a good deal. The reaction has not been so much rage or anger but a sense of profound dissapointment. The places will be as friendly to westerners as ever I suspect. Unless congress does something stupid again. BTW thanks for serving


105 posted on 03/12/2006 6:22:48 AM PST by bayourant
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To: thoughtomator
The UAE is presently the only Arabian peninsula country to tolerate and foster the construction of Christian and other churches, temples and places of worship.

Did it ever occur to you that it might have been less tolerant interests there that brought on the outcry?

You could be a tool of the Saudi Arabian religious police~!!!

106 posted on 03/12/2006 6:25:56 AM PST by muawiyah (-)
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To: Homyak3; bayourant
They are islamics. That comes way before money.

If you weren't such a droning leftist on this subject, maybe you'd understand.

I see no evidence of Islamics or Christians giving up all their money for there religion. I do see that as the thought of the masses and fanatics that have insignificant money.

107 posted on 03/12/2006 6:26:24 AM PST by jec41 (Screaming Eagle)
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To: bayourant

You are right in your point. If we can't differeniate between the two (the political perversion of religion and the billion or so normal Muslims) all can spiral out of control - as humans often regrettably do - with hatred fueled by bigotry.


108 posted on 03/12/2006 6:27:46 AM PST by aligncare (Watergate killed journalism)
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To: kittymyrib

Dubai is a minor oil producer. That's why they are so heavy into commerce and shipping. They are working hard to make a living in a tough world.


109 posted on 03/12/2006 6:28:53 AM PST by muawiyah (-)
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To: bayourant
Unless congress does something stupid again. BTW thanks for serving

Thanks.

I've read that the Pentagon is trying to smooth things over. Last year some 77,000 liberty visits to Dubai were made by US Servicemen and women. We spend a lot of money over there and it is a little slice of paradise for those of us who find ourselves stuck in the Middle East. To be restricted to the "sandbox" (a secure, fenced-in location surrounding the ship and accessible only to sailors and select vendors) would be heartbreaking.

110 posted on 03/12/2006 6:29:37 AM PST by Drew68
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To: Drew68
I loved Dubai. I've been there three times. Fond, fond memories. A gem in the Middle East.

But according to weiner(savage) and malkin it is al-queda's main headquarters.

Thank you for your service and sorry that our Congress may have made your next tour tougher with their knee jerk spasm.

111 posted on 03/12/2006 6:29:43 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: PrinceOfCups

Spin, spin, spin...


112 posted on 03/12/2006 6:30:43 AM PST by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: Bismark
they showed grace and understanding while our county slipped into a shameful display of bigotry.

And if there is one thing Dubai isn't, it's prejudiced and bigoted. All varieties of Islam are welcome there.

113 posted on 03/12/2006 6:33:38 AM PST by JCEccles
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To: JCEccles
Betcha' there are some varieties of Islam that are NOT welcome there ~ in fact, they don't even consider them Islam.
114 posted on 03/12/2006 6:41:00 AM PST by muawiyah (-)
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To: PrinceOfCups
The lesson is that the left has recognized PROFILING as a valuable tool in the WOT. Not that they would ever admit it, or implement it on a wide scale, other than solely for their political gains, which is exactly what they did with Dubai/UAE.

Yipee! No more searching the obvious Amish family in the airports, nor frisking down little pigtailed 5 year old girls, and granny can stay seated in her wheelchair. And the tougher than nails soldier with the paratrooper high and tight, won't have to talk off his shoes to show that he is not a shoe bomber, because our federal government is finally going to go after the people that would do us the most harm... the muzzie terrorists.

Happy days are here again...
115 posted on 03/12/2006 6:42:41 AM PST by freepersup (find the enemy... destroy the enemy... remain vigilant)
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To: JCEccles
And if there is one thing Dubai isn't, it's prejudiced and bigoted. All varieties of Islam are welcome there.

If you stroll through the beautiful City Center Mall in Dubai you'll notice that Westerners and Asians outnumber Arabs. It is a very cosmopolitan place.

116 posted on 03/12/2006 6:51:40 AM PST by Drew68
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To: bayourant
I haven't seen any evidence that Islam is at war with Western civilization. (However, I think it would be prudent to get some good reconnaissance on that point though.)
117 posted on 03/12/2006 6:51:48 AM PST by aligncare (Watergate killed journalism)
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To: PrinceOfCups

"The port deal debacle has also proven that Dubai possesses a broader mind than the US when it comes to welcoming and promoting investments and that its openness is genuine and not decided by race or creed."

To think there will be some Americans that will believe the filth that spews from this satan gives my stomach a churn.

What a lying dog turd. He believes Americans are nothing more than a gaggle of ignorant aholes. He thinks we're too ill informed to know how his nation denies and seeks the destruction of Israel...and how no one with an Israeli passport or a passport that dares to bare an Israeli stamp on it can step foot upon the shores of his terrorist haven. (not that any of right mind would want to)


118 posted on 03/12/2006 6:55:40 AM PST by takenoprisoner
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To: muawiyah
The point is, Dubai is very much a bigoted and closed society compared to the United States. Dubai supporters gush about its tolerance and acceptance of foreigners without bothering to place this praise in context. Dubai appears tolerant and open ONLY when compared to the average Islamic country.

For the UAE to sniff and complain about US "bigotry" and xenophobia is hypocritical and hollow. When US (or any) Christians seek emigrate to the UAE with the same desire and ease that middle eastern Muslims seek to emigrate to the US, I'll lift the label of hypocrite from the UAE. Not one day before.

119 posted on 03/12/2006 6:56:02 AM PST by JCEccles
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To: JCEccles

Most of the people in Dubai are "foreigners".


120 posted on 03/12/2006 6:57:49 AM PST by muawiyah (-)
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