Posted on 02/21/2006 3:26:05 PM PST by bikepacker67
In other words, this could be a Rove rope-a-dope.
Hahaha! I remember back during his first term, when he was doing all those unconservative things, his hardcore supporters would tell me, "Don't worry! He's just doing that so he can have pull and legitimacy in his second term, when he can really make a difference!"
Is it too late to call bullshit?
I love watching Lou Dobbs. He's doing well today.
/sorry, had to be done.
It's a loser right now, but I am waiting to hear all the facts.
Yeah, and just think: the Panama Canal and most of the other ports are run by the Chinese. Makes you feel all warm & fuzzy, doesn't it.
No, call it if you wish. I just hadn't seen a possible explanation yet, and wanted to see some discussion on it.
There sure are a lot of threads on this. The reaction seems to be shallow at best and makes little rational sense. What is surprising is the Prez's willingness to veto a possible Congressional Bill if that comes about.
I think it will be overridden, and give Bushie a well deserved Omelet facial.
Carter supporting Bush is a HUGE red flag!! This situation requires our immediate attention...and why is Bush being so defensive and threatening to veto any attempt to stop this??
Your post #10. Thanks - very informative
That is possible. There is an amount of mumbo-jumbo coming out of the White House lately that should be backed up by statements in depth. If we listen only to the Prez we get kind of an executive summary from the Man of Few Words. I would like the energy dependency statements, especially of the astounding new technology predictions, to be fleshed out, because nobody can afford to take these statements on faith. If solar cells are going to be available for 5 cents a watt next week, they should say so.
MILITARY PORTS?!? Ok, that does it. Come March 3rd or whatever the date is, Bush has lost me.
Carter would not intentionally support Bush. But, he is gettng on in years and ought to simply retire.
I hate to find out the answer to that question.
Ok thanks..
http://webnewsroom.blogspot.com/2006/02/president-bush-will-veto-bill-undoing.html
President Bush today said that he will veto any bill to cancel the deal granting control of six U.S. ports to a government-owned company from Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, despite heavy opposition from leaders of both parties. Congressional leaders have been promising to send such a bill to the President's desk.
The secret deal would allow Dubai Ports World to gain control of six major American ports through its purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which currently runs the ports: New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Miami.
"Nothing changes with respect to security under the contract. The Coast Guard is in charge of security, not the corporation," said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush noted that the Coast Guard will still be in charge of security. But in order for the company to do its job effectively, security plans and arrangements will have to be shared with the contractor.
The Bush administration considers the UAE a key ally in the War on Terror, but the UAE has been a significant sponsor of terrorism. It was the home of Marwan al-Shehi, one of the 19 hijackers who killed 3,000 people on September 11, 2001. Other hijackers travelled through the UAE. The UAE was an important financial base for the September 11 hijackers.
After 9/11, the Treasury Department reported that the UAE was not cooperating in efforts to track down Osama Bin Laden’s bank accounts. The UAE is a transit point for Al Qaeda. It has been a financier of Al Qaeda. According to the FBI, money was transferred to the 9/11 hijackers through the UAE banking system.
The UAE was one of three countries in the world to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and is militantly anti-Israel.
The CIA has identified the UAE as a major center for drug running and money laundering. It has served as a key transfer point for illegal shipments of nuclear components to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
The UAE is a federation of seven Arab emirates on the Arabian peninsula.
What happens if nuclear materials pass through one of these ports? How will the UAE direct its employees to deal with that? The threat to our national security is clear. It is amazing and disappointing that the Bush Administration refuses to see this.
This deal gives the impression that the Bush administration does not care about port security. While the Administration has done very good things in the War on Terror, this deal undermines all their good work.
This is his reasoning:
["I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a great British company," Bush said. "I'm trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world 'we'll treat you fairly. And after careful scrutiny, we believe this deal is a legitimate deal that will not jeopardize the security of the country and at the same time sends that signal that we are willing to treat people fairly."]
...and his reasoning is correct assuming we are using a carrot and stick approach to Middle Eastern countries. The ones which uphold the liberties of its citizens or move quickly in that direction we should reward, and the ones which continue to oppress the peasants should be moved up the list to be dealt with in the manner of Afghanistan and Iraq.
If this deal goes through, there will be NO change in how port security is handled, and no difference in our safety.
Anyone who disagrees should explain specifically why.
Hysteria reigns right now. Sad and disgusting.
How's your little girl puppy doing?
Bushbot.
[The UAE is our biggest ally in the region and we have a CIA base there. Maybe killing this deal puts all that in jeopardy. There is certainly more to it than the bloviating politicians who are against this in a knee jerk reaction are letting on.]
YES!
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