We heard you loud and clear

Gulf News ^ | 3/12/06

[Valin]

According to a Gulf News poll, 64 per cent of readers say the DP World affair "changed their opinion for the worst" about investing in the United States. A number of businessmen told the newspaper yesterday that Arab investors would think about other destinations. The majority agreed that DP World has been forced out of the US port operations due to "racism".

President George W. Bush admitted Congress has sent the "wrong message" to the rest of the world.

We don't feel that DP World lost. It in fact won the respect of the international business community when it won the bid to acquire the British P&O Company. It gained the admiration of the political community when it showed the maturity to bow out with grace.

Nevertheless, the whole affair served as a lesson for other Arab companies who may have thought of investing in what has proved to be a hostile US atmosphere. All the free trade talk proved to be just empty rhetoric. Another irony is that the Democrats, the supporters of globalisation, were the key opponents of the deal. There must have been something else behind the sudden change of heart.

It was definitely not the concern for national security, as they fully know the Bush administration had run a meticulous review of the deal, which established it was not a threat. Was it the "Israeli element" as some have suggested? Maybe. Otherwise, why would some Congress members bombard the

DP World executive, during last week's hearing, with questions about the Arab boycott of Israel? Did they want to force the UAE to end the pan-Arab boycott of Israel in order approve the deal?

These questions need to be investigated. But the fact remains it was an ugly scene in Washington. Other foreign-owned companies run US ports but they were not Arab. That is the message.

And we got it.

[soccermom]

Even if you counted every single terroist act done by Muslims terrorists in the last 100 years it wouldn't comprise 10% of the Muslim population. But what do you care about math or facts? They're "all" members of the Cult of Death in your book --- even the ones serving in our military to combat terror while you smear them. I don't see a need for this conversation to continue. You've made it clear you are proud of your bigotry and there is nothing I can do to persuade you to think otherwise. I do think this is a nice thread to keep bookmarked, however, when people cry that supporters of the port contract are unfairly labeling opponents as bigots.

[trubluolyguy]

I don't see a need for this conversation to continue

---

Finally something we agree on.

[Nuc1]

A. I did not insult you so why did you call me a lefty? No Sarcasm.

B. Their leadership wants Taiwan and more and plan to push us out of the western Pacific to get it. They run the Panama Canal and it's eastern and western approaches. So it seems to me that they could delay our response with ease when they decide to go after Taiwan.

[Nuc1]

I think they will move on Taiwan if the Commies are not overthrown. Their control of the Panama canal and approaches and control of some of our heavy lift ports give me cause for concern. IMO they will move to support IRAN in the UN and on the ground if they see an opportunity.

[freedumb2003]

Hmm.. needs fixing..

"The people of America are not incredibly stupid, and care misunderstand mightily about what actually affects their security and their soverignty. Now, there is clearly no doubt as to the truth and reality of that."

[EagleUSA]

Hmm.. needs fixing..
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I really should have used a 50% qualifier...that would have worked --- :-)

[abigailsmybaby]

So you would have their lemming listeners have you tell them how to think?

[Havoc]

You mean China isn't exchanging bullets with us. They are most decidedly at war with us - economically and idealogically - the other two means of destroying an enemy.

[NCLaw441]

I still await some indication as to how this deal would actually have risked port security in any way. I have asked and asked, but no one has ever provided any scenario creating a true risk to security of any port.

[LowCountryJoe]

You're right! I'll admit that I'm trying to influence people reading this forum but the difference between the talk shows and this forum are huge. Here, there's no call screener that will prevent dissenters from getting on and debating the host logically and intelligently. On talk radio, the dissenters that you do manage to hear have been filtered and sifted through so that, in general, the more clever ones are not allowed into the calling queues. On this forum if one writes something anyone can attack it, criticize it, add to it, amend it, etc but it's rarely filtered.

[abigailsmybaby]

You left out degrade people for having a different opinion than you by calling them names.

[LowCountryJoe]

yeah, I do that too. Is thin skin 'in' 'round here now?

[abigailsmybaby]

Gee, I thought one of the rules to posting on FR was no name calling. Did that get repealed?

[LowCountryJoe]

Report me then.

[investigateworld]

Another FReeper who's name I forgot has pointed out this is another masterpiece by K. Rove.
It gave Pubbie congresscritters an opportunity to look even tougher on security than the President. It may halt the usual loss of seats during the next mid-term elections.
But the overall appearance looks bad.