Posted on 03/22/2006 2:15:36 PM PST by rface
Now that the Dubai Ports deal is apparently down the drain because of irate protests from the public and Congress, the United Arab Emirates company is taking a new tack.
The San Francisco Examiner recently carried a column by P.J. Corkery that told how the UAE ,through its government-controlled Dubai Investment Group, is trying to buy the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain after failing to acquire the Albertson’s grocery chain.
Corkery outlined who is the front man in this deal, and who is doing the lobbying and buying for Dubai. This is what he wrote: “The Yank partner of the Dubai Investment Group is quite a well-known name. He is a big-time Democratic contributor and grocery store magnate, Ron Burkle of Beverly Hills. Burkle’s bidding entity is called the Yucaipa Cos.
“Yucaipa’s chief marketing guy is Bill Clinton. Burkle pays Clinton $10 million a year for his services—which are mainly to drum up money in Dubai. Bill flies to Dubai so often on Burkle’s 757 that he calls it “Air Ron.” Clinton, of course, has lately been defending the Dubai Ports deal, while his wife opposes it. Oh, and also on the Yucaipa Cos board is the Rev. Jesse Jackson.”
Burkle’s Democratic connections run deep, Corkery said, and include doing business with CALPERS, that’s the huge California public employees pension fund. He also has ties to: former Vice President Al Gore and his new media network; California gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides; and the notorious political figure and former mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown, now a host on the Air America Radio network, who once worked for Burkle.
Most are not surprised all the corruption in national politics is not just on the Republican side. Many decry the one big club, sometimes known as the corporate world or the one big New World Order house. Check any major present or former politician’s Wall Street connections, and check the boards of directors of major corporations. The facts are there.
Or they being conservatives could set up a chain of conservative papers and become the dominent voice in print.
Following the Murdoch Fox News model, such a contrarian move could prove profitable. An idiot would knoe better than to pour money down the liberal media rat hole.
Good lord, those A-Rabs might get holt' of National Enquirer ~ oh the humanity!
At least, for the people that own them.
Knight Ridder exclusive: Interview with Iraqi guerrillas - fighters reject label of terrorist
Yeah, the UAE is actually a friendly nation. They get it. It's all about business.
IMHO Knight-Ridder didn't publish the cartoons out of fear, and they won't publish them in the future for the same reason. Or for that matter anything that might offend anyone who might come after them. So, who cares?
All that chomping at the bit to fight for freedom of speech appears to be a fraud. Let the UAE have 'em.
Thanks for the ping!
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.