mudball
Posted on 03/12/2006 11:29:47 PM PST by STARWISE
The controversy over Dubai Ports World was a great victory for them—but a defeat for candor and sensible security and economic policies.
Untruth by Robert Samuelson
March 20, 2006 issue - The idea of letting an Arab-owned company, Dubai Ports World, run container terminals at five U.S. ports struck many Americans as an absurdity. Why not just turn control directly over to Al Qaeda?
In late February, a CBS News poll found that 70 percent of respondents were against the deal and only 21 percent in favor. The company's withdrawal last week can be seen as a triumph of public opinion. Or it can be acknowledged for what it is: a major defeat for the United States, driven by self-indulgent politicians of both parties who enthusiastically fanned public fears.
Leadership in a democratic society requires a willingness and ability to challenge and change public opinion when it is based on misinformation, no information, prejudice or stupidity—as it was in this case.
There never was a genuine security problem. The Dubai company wouldn't have "taken over" the U.S. ports. It simply would have run some terminals.
Cargo would still have been handled by American, unionized longshoremen. The Coast Guard and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency would still have been responsible for port security.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
(snip)
If this isn't what we want from Arab countries, what do we want? Much bitterness is reported in Dubai, especially among those who are pro-Western. They blame racism. That's understandable and perhaps correct. A Washington Post poll last week found that 46 percent of Americans had a negative view of Islam—a crude proxy for Arabs. (Yes, not all Arabs are Muslim, and not all Muslims are Arabs. But the poll is still suggestive of American opinion about Arabs.)(snip)
It will be said that other countries are equally nationalistic and political, so their currencies aren't realistic alternatives to the dollar. Not true. If we imitate the French or Malaysians, the dollar will have compromised its special status. The irony is that the people who are creating all these risks are the very same members of Congress who claim to be protecting us.
Ding
The facts don't matter; don't you know that? But please DO keep posting them.
mudball
Save us from 'political opinion columnist'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/opinion/columns/samuelsonrobert/
The Saudis are not a race. Muslims are not a race. It's not racism. Please, get that straight right now. This has nothing to do with the race of anybody involved.
The media fails to recognize the difference between ports and terminals. Nor do they recognize that many of these operations are already being run by foreign countries.
They should also dial 1-800-JimmyCarter regarding the Panama Canal operations.
"The company's withdrawal last week can be seen as a triumph of public opinion"
What a retard...public opinion is lead by the MSM...like sheep they are. They ( sheep ) don't need to think, they only need to react, and react they( sheep ) did.
Interesting.
Although it is no big issue here in Europe most commentaries see it as "typical" US-protectionism. Since your coast guard and your customs are those being responsible for the security in American ports this alarmism is difficult to understand from the outside.
We Europeans made good experiences with investors from the middle East. They usually do not want to loose their money with crazy terrorism but want to earn more in stable conditions. The biggest shareholders of the Daimler-Benz AG are i.e. Kuweit and Dubai International Capital.
Anyway this development is not bad for us Europeans since our firms are going to skim the money from Dubai and others in the near future.
What would you call it?
Concerned Citizens that love their country more than money.
Too many people do things with good intentions that result in the exact opposite due to ignorance.
That's what Liberalism is today... Good intentions, bad results... Predictable results...
Fear and ignorance won the day regarding the "port" deal. That's hardly a win for the country.
I do not want to start a fundamental discussion here but things can be seen from different views. Anyway we had numerous economic conflicts with the US in the past and we are used to some forms of American protectionism just as you are used to some forms of European protectionism.
How's those "youth" riots treating you with that liberal immigration policy. Seen any good cartoons lately? Let me know when you are praying to Allah the merciful.
BuHuHaHa! Allahu akbar! We are deeply shaken but appreciate the possibility to marry a stable of new young wives. ;-) (amused sarcasm)
"Concerned Citizens that love their country more than money."
Pot calling kettle black...
I still think that whoever wrote the initial press releases should go to jail. They miscast this business transaction to get the worst visceral public reaction. If we do not findout who did it, we are really in for a nasty political season.
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.