Tommy Franks Defends Dubai Ports Deal

Newsmax ^ | 2/22/06 | Carl Limbacher

[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."

[Dane]

Gee I guess you are also one of those that thinks he can also fight and kill terrorists with "wisdom" from behind a keyboard.

[smoothsailing]

How's this for a 2008 R ticket:

FRANKS & RICE

[ajolympian2004]

Ditto! I too got caught up in the initial emotional reaction against this deal.

This transaction has nothing to do with the security of our ports of entry, whether they be sea and/or/ air. It is simply a free market transaction. And who is all upset about this... free market conservatives.

[Cedar]

Look in the mirror.

[BlueNgold]

Been there, seen it, lived it, and the General is right - again.
Now, Mr. Santorum, please sit down and get off the grandstand stage...

[Echo Talon]

I'd vote for that.

[Cap Huff]

Hmmm, Franks? Weiner? Malkin?


How about Hot Dog?

[Dane]

And who is all upset about this... free market conservatives

Actually it wasn't "free market" conservatives. It was self called "true conservatives" who ran gleefully with the schumer talking points.

[zbigreddogz]

Yah, I am too.

The more I've thought about this story, the more I've realized that there's nothing to it.

[milemark]

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!

Oh, I'm not a clever anything, just suspicious to the point of paranoia. The last time I saw the name of General Franks it was in a back page newspaper ad for a "Get Motivated" seminar with Zig Ziglar and company at a Holiday Inn west of Detroit. Why did he suddenly pop out of obscurity to weigh in on this issue? He felt so much more strongly about it than say, the cartoon jihad? I'm sure he could have had face time on TV on that or a dozen other issues in the last year or so, yet he enters this fight on the likely losing side?

[BigSkyFreeper]

By the end of the month, Vannity will still be stuck on stupid, Congress will be backpedalling, and the rest of us will have moved on to bigger and better pressing matters.

[BigSkyFreeper]

And who is all upset about this... free market conservatives.

I'm a free market conservative. I'm a defender of the free market system. The ones who were screaming the loudest were the "purist conservatives", the ones who hate Bush no matter what, and have never voted for the guy once. They never miss a chance to jump at an opportunity to whip up frenzied hysteria.

Schumer and Clinton are just twerps who've never been on the right side of any issue, including national security.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I'll be the first to admit that, like a lot of people, my initial reaction was, WTF? But the more I learn, the more I think this is what Bush had in mind-make the Dumbascraps look like the racists and hypocrites they are for attacking the deal. I'm glad they used Franks as a spokesman; i really do feel better-and more informed.

[milemark]

You can discuss this issue without questioning the loyalty and patriotism of prominent Americans.

Suggesting that someone may be a paid lobbyist for Dubai is not equal to questioning their loyalty and patriotism. Unless of course we now accept as fact that Dubai is an enemy of the United States.

[ex-Texan]

Dubai is a cover for the mullahs of Iran. Seventy-five families who have stolen billions from Iranians now own over 7,000 businesses, major banks and hotels in the UAE. Dubai has been involved laundering money to Hamas. The UAE is one of the few governments in the world to recognize the Taliban as legitimate. There are two military ports in Texas that will be turned over to Dubai Ports World to operate. This port deal was done in secret which violates U.S. law. John Snow has financial ties to the originating entity, which is a major conflict of interest. By law, Congress has 45 days to review this deal and will have hearings about everything that, thus far, has gone on secretly.

I am in favor of a full investigation in accordance with U.S. law.

[smoothsailing]

So would I.

[endthematrix]

There's plenty of "prominent Americans" that are willing to sell America out for a buck. It's business.

[BigSkyFreeper]

This story is just one more example of "cooler heads will prevail".

The way this story was reported from the word "go" by the media was enough to send up red flags everywhere. They've been misreporting it from the outset. Each one, filled with alarmist BS and lacking any substantive facts.

[nopardons]

They already have; some have called him a "traitor"; even.

[bd476]

Good news Ping.