Not surprising an Arab nation would threaten us. But don't worry - Bush has promised to veto any bill to stop the sale. I just have to wonder why he is so determined to see this through.
It is called strategery.
Bush puzzles me at times ... . This and his failure to address border security ... something stinks here.
I can't believe that there has never been a thought about the ramifications of blocking the deal. The UAE is a close to being a Europeanazed country as there is in the Middle East. THEY are the ones who are taking a huge risk with their relationship with the US. The more that relationship is publicized, the more risk there is that terrorists will start targeting them. Given that they have spent billions to attract foreign capital and tourism, we thank them for their risk taking by kicking them in the teeth.
Because without basing in the Gulf, we may as well pull our troops out now and give Iran the bomb. Who do YOU think is going to let us base there? Especially now that we've informed them that ALL Arab nations will be regarded as unable to do normal business with the US? Iran? Saudi?
"I just have to wonder why he is so determined to see this through."
Probably something to do with the fact that Iran is just a hop, skip and jump away from the Emirates and it is strategis to the US to have a navbal presence there as well as a jump off point to get to Iran.
Unfortunately, no one is saying this because it is an election year.
Because it is a gigantic insult to one of our most important allies in the War Against Terrorists. Like this is so hard to figure out? Who in their right mind would believe the Party of Treason gave a sh!t about National Security?
He needs Dubai to do Iran.
To your delight the President will not veto the bill because our REPUBLICANS in the House of Representatives inserted the blocking of Dubai Ports into the appropriation bill for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This deal is dead and now be ready for the bad consequences.
You said -- "Not surprising an Arab nation would threaten us. But don't worry - Bush has promised to veto any bill to stop the sale. I just have to wonder why he is so determined to see this through."
There was a lot of "quid pro quo" going on after 9/11. Look at Pakistan. That took a lot of effort to "turn" Pakistan from the way it was to supporting us. And that's at the detriment to the leadership of Pakistan (already subject to multiple assasination attempts). The general populace in that country are mainly influenced by the Muslim clerics. And they have a lot of infiltration throughout that society's infrastructure by those radical Islamic clerics. So, to get Pakistan to back us like they have takes a lot of "quid pro quo."
And so, there is a lot of that going on in many countries, now -- after 9/11. The United Arab Emirates is another one in that same line of thought -- except that they have better connections with us than Pakistan did. I'm sure there was a lot of arm-twisting -- considering the United States' previously-demonstrated proclivity to abandoning countries.
Iran and Syria are the main enemies right now (over in the Middle East and having to do with radical Islam) -- with Iran being at the top of the list. With Iran's history going all the way back to the fall of the Shah of Iran and with the take-over of the American Embassy -- Iran is definitely enemy number 1 -- in the Middle East and in connection with our interests over there in relation to Israel. The fact of Saudi Arabia not being such a good friend, being so anti-Israel and kicking us off our bases in Saudi Arabia -- the United Arab Emirates is an excellent position to have in the Middle East -- excellent!
Now, with the United Arab Emirates knowing all this and knowing how the U.S. gains such a tremendous advantage and how the United Arab Emirates will thus end up being "linked" with the U.S. (in terms of the radical Muslims) -- to have the U.S. "snub" them so *eggregiously* in this "port deal" is beyond comprehension -- even if you are not of an "Arab culture" (and "saving face").
If I were in such a deal as this -- I would say, to the other party -- if you think so little of me in this kind of deal, then you can have back all your other dealings -- and *everything is off*. That would be my own personal reaction.
I would question (being a party in such a deal) whether it was worth it to *ever* have such a partner (as the United States).
This is simply something that the Democrats saw as an easy "political football" to kick around and a bunch of stupid Republicans jumped on the bandwagon.
If the American people are so stupid as to believe all this absolutely ridiculous rhetoric concerning Arabs and port security -- then the American people *deserve* the results of their stupidity -- along with the resulting disaster that will come in the Middle East and the higher gas prices (probably doubling and tripling) and the loss of the Boeing deal and the entire economy "tanking".
I mean -- "How stupid can one be??" From the looks of this -- pretty darned stupid, it seems. The American people are apparently that stupid and cannot read between the lines and cannot see the enemy (of Iran and radical Islam) for what it is -- and a demonstrated ally (the United Arab Emirates) for what it is, too.
It's just too amazing. I can see why "Armageddon" is going to happen pretty soon -- because the U.S. is driving the whole process towards Armageddon -- with the grand approval of the radical Islamist (who are looking forward to that prospect).
We're headed -- very quickly (now) for this "judgment day" in which we have this grand battle of Armageddon, because we're just too stupid to defeat the radical Islamists.
That's just too bad.
I hope President Bush can veto anything that comes through Congress that attempts to stop the deal. But, I fear that a lot of damage has been done by the idiocy of the Democrats (playing politics) and the stupidity of the Republicans (stumbling into it) -- and the dumbing-down of the American electorate (who can't seem to think for themselves, and only live in 10-second soundbites).
What a deal!
Do you still ask the question -- "Why he is so determined to see this through?"
Regards,
Star Traveler
It's the vision thing. Seeing the BIG PICTURE. A gift Jimmy Carter didn't have when he turned his back on the Shah of Iran and ushered in Islamofascism.
Jihadi nations like the UAE et al love to threaten, bully, and intimidate other nations. The UAE's reaction is another good reason why we should not allow the port deal to go through.
Maybe because our veto of their business deal would torpedo a vital strategic partnership in our war on terror, ya think?
Bush is determined because this deal was good for American foreign interests. Some of you people don't have a clue. America is the lone ranger in the Middle East. Without friends like the UAE we can lose our power and leadership in the area along with friendly relations with countries we trade with.