Posted on 03/14/2006 2:00:29 PM PST by Conservative Coulter Fan
There is much hand-wringing over the collapse of the Dubai port deal.
There is much gnashing of teeth in Washington.
There is much finger-pointing going on – much blame being spread.
President Bush says he's troubled by the political storm that reversed the deal: "I'm concerned about a broader message this issue could send to our friends and allies around the world, particularly in the Middle East."
Then, of course, it stands to reason he should have thought this process through a little better. The political storm is of his own making. It was predictable – if only he didn't have a tin political ear, he should have realized the American people might not take this lying down. If only he had a realistic and pragmatic understanding of the kinds of people he is crawling into bed with in the Middle East, he might have made the right decision in the first place.
Then there was U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow, who said the United States is still "open for business." He continued: "I don't view this as anything but an isolated incident. We don't want to be isolationist. We don't want to turn our backs on the rest of the world." Here's a guy who doesn't get it. Here's a guy who is in denial. Here's a guy who chaired the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which approved the plan. Before accepting his Cabinet post, Snow was chairman of CSX Railroad. Shortly after Snow joined the Bush White House, CSX sold their international ports contracts to Dubai Ports World for over $1 billion. So when he says the United States is still open for business, this is evidently what he means.
I also don't care about what Pierce Bush, the president's nephew, or his father Neil Bush, the president's brother, have to say in their defense of the deal. Their company, Ignite Learning, has major investors in the United Arab Emirates. In fact, the Bush family and Cabinet is up to their eyeballs in conflicts of interest that should have disqualified their consideration of this front company for the oil sheikhs as a potential operator for U.S. ports.
I also don't care whether other Arab companies ever invest in the United States again. In fact, I hope they don't – at least until they join humanity by recognizing fundamental human rights at home. So, please, don't tell me how this is going to be bad for business here in the United States. I don't want the oil sheikhs to have any more influence on U.S. policy-making than they already have.
And I'm not losing any sleep over the fact that the UAE has "coincidentally" postponed trade talks with the United States. The oil sheikhs need to remember that they need us more than we need them. Maybe Americans need to remember that, too.
President Bush likes to portray the so-called "moderate" Arab countries as "good guys" in the war on terrorism. If he really believes that, he is incredibly naive.
Al-Qaida's war with the West would never have begun without their subsidies of hate and fear and terror. And those subsidies continue today.
Whenever I speak out bluntly like this about the reality of Middle East politics, someone always writes in accusing me of "hating" Arabs.
That is so funny.
I speak the truth because, as an American of Arabic ancestry, I have a deep fondness and love for Arabs. I want them to be free – just like I want all people to have a chance at freedom. But the sad truth is they will never be free as long as the oil sheikhs protect themselves by stirring up hate and resentment against "infidels" everywhere – as long as they continue to provide the people with scapegoats who are to blame for all their problems.
I never pull any punches in my writings. I tell people exactly what I believe – and why I believe it. In the case of the Middle East, my views are shaped by my experience on the ground as a correspondent as well as my worldview as an Arab-American Christian.
The United States cannot afford to be seduced by the money and the power of the oil sheikhs. They are not part of the solution in the Middle East. They are part of the problem.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I agree, he gave the American people far to much credit.
People who equate American integrity with making a buck are morons, pure and simple.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Amen.
I don't care if Eurabia let's them by up their ports...even if it means losing a dollar.
You know we have been down this protectionist isolationist mindset before some folks think it led to, or at least hastened WWII. I believe in a perfect World WE wouldn't care, even shouldn't care, but since roughly half of the country is not willing to do anything or allow anything to be done to make this country energy independent, to mine our own minerals. I believe until we really do anything to lessen our dependence on other countries we can not turn our back on the rest of the World. By the way I did not have a big problem with the DPW/P&O sale and since NOTHING was done concerning existing ownership arrangements at many ports terminals and air terminals that this country looks like a bunch of DUMASSES.
I never pull any punches in my writings. I tell people exactly what I believe – and why I believe it. In the case of the Middle East, my views are shaped by my experience on the ground as a correspondent as well as my worldview as an Arab-American Christian.
The United States cannot afford to be seduced by the money and the power of the oil sheikhs. They are not part of the solution in the Middle East. They are part of the problem.
And for those of us with friends and family in the ME, I wholeheartedly agree. Bush and gang went the "elitist" to "elitist" route - and that's not a help to the Arab or Persian people.
This is a Representative Republic and we are going to raise it from the dead. AS this deal has proves. So use the elitist crap on the liberals. True Conservatives have your RINO agenda days numbered.
Liberal types? I'm still waiting for China and Singapore to be kicked out... /cue the chirping crickets..
Then we'll have the monkey off our backs... ( for those not familiar with the term, think: "to break an addiction".
Correctamundo.
And they smell different too.
"he should have realized the American people might not take this lying down"
unionspeak. I stopped right there. the dubai deal shows our rugged ignorance and pridefulness. We are going to fight a war someday to recover the fabulous wealth we relinquished to the ME for minerals. We could have done it the easy way, two way trade. Now we'll do it the hard way. But make no mistake, the day of reckoning is coming. When the rest of the world decides to gang up and push our paper back, we are screwed. then the same ignorant prideful people will be asking, what went wrong?
"Liberal types? I'm still waiting for China and Singapore to be kicked out... /cue the chirping crickets.."
Those crickets you hear are on your side. Check out Senator Craig of Idaho and his (and others) attempted sell off of PUBLIC LANDS.
Let's start being intellectually honest about what is truly going on in the sell off of America, shall we?
Isn't Farah an Arab? Is he trustworthy?
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