EXTRA!...
I have more New York Slimes Editions on my FR Homepage and my Archives Page
Posted on 02/23/2006 12:00:42 AM PST by Dane
Tommy Franks Defends Dubai Ports Deal
Former CENTCOM commanding general Tommy Franks said Wednesday that the Bush administration was right to approve a deal for a United Arab Emirates-based company to run six major U.S. ports.
"We have more U.S. Navy ships using the port in Dubai, Jebel Ali, than any other port outside the United States," Franks told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."
The former Iraq war commander explained U.S. reliance on the Dubai port facility by saying, "We know he difference between an enemy and a friend."
"The Emirates is a friend," Franks aid. "That is the best run port that I've ever seen."
Gen. Franks said the Dubai company had three essential qualities that commend it for the task of running U.S. ports: the capacity to handle the job, the inclination to do it right and security, which he noted "will remain, in any case, in the hands of the United States Coast Guard."
I heard 18% of all worldwide shipping is Maersk out of 35ish total shipping companies, Zero companies in the US. I just heard that, no verifiable links.
This too shall pass. It's a FR trademark to have these kind of battles. Soon they'll crawl back into lurkdome, or wherever they hang out.
Great post, and another great job by Carl.
I'll go with Tommy Franks, too.
LOL, but don't forget the "/sarcasm" next time you post something like that or some people around here might take you seriously, in the belief that you are a complete fool rather tha a clever satirist!
Best regards,
LH
You can discuss this issue without questioning the loyalty and patriotism of prominent Americans.
Great find, Dane. Thanks for posting this!
I have more New York Slimes Editions on my FR Homepage and my Archives Page
...and how much you reckon Bush cost them? Sheesh!
Franks is a straight shooter, but I'm sure you really do know that:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/port-rashid.htm
Both Hannity & Colmes were sputtering.Time to change the name of the show to KneeJerk & Jerk.
Who's who?
Why is Condi for it also?
"The former Iraq war commander explained U.S. reliance on the Dubai port facility by saying, 'We know he difference between an enemy and a friend.'"
Gosh, I'm so relieved they can spot them. Maybe we don't have to worry about terrorists flying planes into our buildings.....oh wait.....did they miss that one...?
I know, at first reading the headlines I was like WTF! Then after some digging im like ehhh "nothing to see here"
LoL!
Interesting that you should mention Maersk. I posted this yesterday on another thread:
There is a weird similarity between this port operations affair and the recent cartoon explosion. Last weekend I learned through an acquaintance who works for the world’s biggest cargo carrier, Maersk — a Danish company (!) that in one mideast country there was a peculiar reaction to the cartoon story. At the outset there was a big hullabaloo in that country about boycotting Danish companies --- you know, no more Danish butter, cheese and beer. No problem, or so everyone assumed.
Then someone pointed out that something like 30-40% of imports and exports are handled by the Danish shipping company. Whoa! Now what? Some thought they could simply shift business to another shipper, but then they found out that there is a severe shortage of shipping capacity in the world market. In other words, stop using the Danish company, and you've effectively cut your own exports and imports by about 40%. Their economy could hardly afford that. Real pain. Not just giving up some Lurpac butter and an occasional Carlsberg brew (surprising how many Muslims do drink). From what I understand the “boycott everything Danish” ended up being everything except the most significant commercial enterprise which is the shipping.
There are differences between the cartoons and the ports, but this much is similar: reacting emotionally before the facts are known may be initially satisfying, but MAY be silly in the long run.
When I first heard about the port story I initially reacted with the idea, “how could anyone be so foolish?” — but as I learn more and more I find that most of what I thought I knew, just isn’t so.
I’m not yet fully convinced that the deal is without any security risks at all, but I’m not in a position where I can know that independently. I’m going to weigh the information as it becomes known, and try to use some reason and logic to come to a reasonable conclusion.
Now I would say that Tommy Franks is one in a position to have an informed opinion on security. Admiral Bone of the Coast Guard is another:
http://www.radioblogger.com/#001406
By the way, it looks almost like Hugh Hewitt is aware that he fell off the dock and is wanting someone to throw him a line to climb out . . .
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