Posted on 03/12/2006 2:59:23 AM PST by PrinceOfCups
DP World will not manage six ports in the US as initially agreed, but the aborted deal has achieved for Dubai an outstanding triumph by any yardstick.
First, and as Ghassan Tahboub, media manager in the executive office of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said, it is an invaluable lesson. "It was an exercise you have to live with, win and then learn from. This was America. There are lobbies, politics and interest groups, and Dubai found itself in the middle of a jungle. In the end I have to thank everybody there for this lesson," he said.
Then, Dubai has gained the greatest international publicity possible and people anywhere can now name the emirate that has laid bare an obstinate mindset of racial discrimination and ethnic prejudice that no public relations gloss will ever cover.
It has also shown beyond any doubt that its amazing success story has never been a cheat and that the geographically small emirate could now compete with the most advanced economies of the world.
Cairo in the 1950s and Beirut in the 1960s succeeded to define trends, but it was mainly on political issues. Dubai in the 2000s thanks to its pro-globalisation trends is showing values that promote success and prowesses that indicate leadership and triumph.
Dubai has demonstrated that while it is moving vibrantly ahead with globalisation, other countries that have always championed free trade are now shackled by a xenophobic tsunami and are likely to feed a global backlash against globalisation.
It has shown the world that the US economic anxieties are being senselessly fuelled by nationalist sentiments that seem to be inexorably on the rise.
The port deal debacle has also proven that Dubai possesses a broader mind than the US when it comes to welcoming and promoting investments and that its openness is genuine and not decided by race or creed.
Last week, US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez told Gulf News in Manama that the decision against DP World was not racially motivated. Either he was not aware of the strong anti-Arab powers within his own country or he did not wish to hurt our feelings.
Either way, the truth is here for everyone to see and contemplate: Dubai is an economic power that is re-writing books and all those who opposed the port deal should think in that direction and should appreciate that it too can cancel deals.
US economists were quick to bandwagon the belief that the flap over the ports acquisition is unlikely to make a consequential dent in foreign investment flows into their country. But Arab analysts predict that this unwarranted hostility will certainly affect Arab investments in the US and will make US assets less attractive to Arab buyers.
Economically, DP World's takeover was never a special case: a state-owned company from the Middle East is buying an American asset already managed by a non-American entity. Suddenly, ethnicity, tainted by hostility and envy, and not a proven success record, became the guidelines to assess the deal.
America has always been comfortable with most multinationals that invested in the United States because they came from Western countries and are unlikely to be subject to such scrutiny. However, the United States is obviously becoming a less welcoming place for investment from Arab countries.
The port deal opponents should appreciate that their public statements might secure them some political benefits, but will most certainly have grave economic consequences.
Its incredible. True they treat Rice in a horrible way. Of course now they treat anyone in front of their committees like trash.
I'll believe those "suckers" Gens. Tommy Franks and Peter Pace.
Good point.
But you must also realize that if not for the billions of US dollars going to the Dubai/UAE monarchy each day, they would likely run back to their Christian-Judeo hating friends.
Money is a very powerful incentive to "friendship". And consider that Dubai is addicted to our dollars just as much as we are addicted to their oil.
If the dollars were suddenly cut off, they'd go into withdrawal, and it wouldn't be pretty.
And Tiger does that for free too! (/sar)
How am I a leftist?. I hate to be viewed as "droning" however there is an honorable position within the conservative movement for the positions that GWB is taking. I just want to do my part to defend it till a few others wake up this morning to take over.
I know to even put the House of Saud and Pakistan into the same category as the UAE just shows the level of misinformation that is out there. My GOd they had a hard rock concert fest this week. Does that sound like the House of Saud? Why dont people listen to people that live ther including the guy that started this thread.
Yes, they cleaned up their act twice.
Once in 1990 when they saw a half million highly armed US soldiers heading their way, gunnin' for bear (and Saddam).
And again after 9/11, when another US army headed their way.
After 9/11, they realized the US would not tolerate their duplicitious ways in which they befriended the USA, and the radical Wahabi-Maddras shieks at the same time.
One Israeli company does not an acceptance make.
Take away Zim's substantial $$ payments to Dubai, and what's left?
They keep it hidden, not necessarily 'out'.
American Revolutionary War
From Wikipedia,
Date: 1775–1783
Location: North America and at sea
Result: Treaty of Paris (1783
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was the military component of the American Revolution. It was fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen British colonies in North America, who declared their independence as the United States of America early in the war. The war began largely as a colonial revolt against the economic policies of the British Empire, and eventually widened far beyond British North America, with France, Spain, and the Netherlands entering the war against Great Britain. Additionally, many Native Americans fought on both sides of the conflict.
Throughout the war, the British were able to use their naval superiority to capture and occupy coastal cities, but control of the countryside (where most of the population lived) largely eluded them. French involvement proved decisive, with a naval victory in the Chesapeake leading to the surrender of a British army at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 recognized the independence of the United States.
Only about 25% of Americans supported the American Revolution, 5000 loyists fought for the British and 7000 left the country after the war. It was mostly about trade. Were the other 75% wrong?
If you don't like Wikipedia, check any History book.
Dont you think its very likely that the Israeli company mentioned consulted with people in the Govt as to their defense. There is more to the relationship between the UAE and Israel that meets the eye here.
IMO since 9-11 UAE has demonstrated their willingness to stand with the US and modernity and stand against jihad. The Pentagon says they're a good military ally in civilization's war on terror.
We should not have behaved as we did towards DP World. I thought it demonstrated our distrust of Arabs at this time in history. I would expect that from the dems - but I expected better of the republicans. Silly me.
They keep it out. Thats one reason you dont have terrorist attacjs there like in Saudi Arabi. There might be a few running around but the bloggers in the UAE opening show their contempt for it on a daily basis.
God help us if another terrorist attack occurs here in the next 6 months. The hysteria toward our allies will go through the roof right when we might need them the most. I cant wait till this fevor pitch of "ISLAM ISALM ISLAM" goes down a bit
My point is that this ports deal represents maybe 1/100th of 1-percent of the business we do with Dubai/UAE, and we aren't about to stop that business. (because we both benefit)
But if that money were to stop, they are not beholden to the US because of any special love for our Christian-Judeo ethics, or our western ideals.
They love us because we flood them with enough money for them to be able to buy gold plated Boeing 767's, etc.
Actually, Israeli business interests do work in and with Dubai. If you'd bother reading some of the news articles posted about that relationship you would know that.
When I leave for a six month naval deployment in September, I, for one, hope that this mess has blown over. My ship will pull into Jabal Ali several times and current US-UAE relations will likely determine if we are allowed to leave the confining "sandbox" surrounding the ship and take a 45 minute cab ride to Dubai.
I loved Dubai. I've been there three times. Fond, fond memories. A gem in the Middle East.
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