Ports fiasco reveals political hypocrisy, public ignorance

MercuryNews.com ^ | Mar. 16, 2006 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Cannoneer No. 4]

In retrospect, America went collectively insane over the possibility that a company owned by Dubai's government would operate several of our ports.

Rarely has reason been so routed by pure emotion. Dubai is a Westernizing state that long ago left the eighth century and accepts the modern world of globalized commerce and finance. This member of the United Arab Emirates has -- especially after Sept. 11 -- passed on intelligence, hosted our fleet and provided a foothold in the gulf near Iraq and Iran.

For a country that is addicted to imported petroleum, hooked on cheap imported goods and eager for illegal-alien labor, and which has hundreds of military bases abroad, it is a little late to worry about dangerous foreign ganglia.

. . . the Dubai port deal shows how at odds are American perceptions and reality. For the past half-century, we have been living in a complex interconnected world of mutual reliance.

Soon we will import more food than we grow. We already burn more oil than we pump. For years we have bought more than we export, and we borrow far more than we lend. To justify these precarious dependencies, America assures foreign business leaders, investors and lenders that our markets remain open and immune to the distortions of xenophobia and provincialism.

Americans may not like that devil's bargain, but it was made long ago and, for better or worse, we are long past being an agrarian republic.

The resulting singular affluence of the American consumer derives from just these trade-offs in our autonomy -- and the trust we receive from those who loan and sell us things we cannot immediately pay for. So rejecting the Dubai port deal is not only hypocritical, but in the end dumb.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

How do you know that Dubai is not a Westernizing state that long ago left the eighth century and does not accept the modern world of globalized commerce and finance?

Did you read that someplace?

[Willie Green]

Did you read that someplace?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.... There must've been a security breach...
SOMEBODY leaked the info that the UAE is a confederation of hereditary tribal fiefdoms.
Let us know when the royal families agree to abdicate in favor of true westernization and democracy.

[Alberta's Child]

The problem is that you're looking at this as if it were a political issue from the start, which it wasn't. There was no "political mistake" to be made here because it was much more of a legal/financial issue than anything else. This is why nobody gave a damn about it for more than two months after it was formally announced in late November of last year. This is also why it is absolutely ridiculous for the Bush administration to face this kind of criticism (especially from Republicans) for doing exactly what the law says it is supposed to do when the proposed acquisition of P&O Ports was announced.

Citing a 19% "approval rating" for this deal is like telling me that 19% of the people in the U.S. approve of paying taxes, or approve of how much they pay for gasoline.

[pissant]

Then explain the relative success of Turkey, Indonesia, Kuwait, the UAE, and a few others in getting along with the West and exterminating terrorists as well.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The San Diego-based aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan arrived yesterday in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, for a short break from patrolling the Persian Gulf.

About 4,800 sailors from the Reagan and its strike group, air wing and destroyer escorts will be allowed ashore to tour and shop, according to a news release from the strike group's public affairs office.

Recreational activities will include shopping trips, desert safaris, city tours, golf and a water-park visit.

This is the Reagan's third port visit since leaving San Diego Jan. 4 for a cruise to the western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. The strike group's tour is expected to last six months.

Jebel Ali is a major hub of U.S. military supply operations in the Persian Gulf. It is the operational headquarters of Dubai Ports World, the UAE-owned company that recently came under fire for its plans to take over management of six U.S. ports.

You don't have to be rich.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Just trying to evaluate your depth of knowledge.

Separating the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) (Sept. 10, 2004) - A Sailor playing on the Strike Fighter Squadron Three Four (VFA-34) team serves the volleyball up to the opposing team during the Moral Welfare and Recreation (MWR) volleyball tournament in the oasis during a recent port visit by the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy (CV 67). The oasis referred to as the "Sand Box" is an area where Sailors can take advantage of athletic, laundry and telephone facilities along with a variety of food venders. Kennedy and embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) are operating in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Units attached to the Kennedy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) are working closely with Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Iraqi forces to bring stability to the sovereign government of Iraq

[tiki]

How secure are we going to be if we don't have tires for our Humvees? There are just so many things that aren't made in America anymore that not getting stuff unloaded could be a national security matter.

[Willie Green]

...the Moral Welfare and Recreation (MWR) volleyball tournament in the oasis...

???

Is that anything like "midnight basketball"???

[Cannoneer No. 4]

No, Willie.

Volleyball tournaments are popular with young, fit, Americans who have been cooped up aboard ship or on FOB's for weeks at a time.

[Liberty Valance]

In heading off a dirty bomb attack, the Dubai/ports issue is a gnat in a hurricane compared to our unguarded southern border.

...and northern border.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Dominic Harr]

So:

1. Mainstream media broadcasts lies to public: "Bush Selling US Ports to Arabs" (heck, I'd be opposed to that!).

2. The majority of folks who never read past a headline get all up in arms.

3. Congressmen up for re-election see a chance to gain favor with the public: "They want something done, this is something, therefore I will do this and be their champion!"

There was a cost ya'll haven't considered yet.

The main selling point the R party had with many of us was the idea that when the Ds and the MSM perpetrated a lie on the American public, the Rs would stand up to them.

That is clearly no longer the case. If the MSM can create a public frenzy, the Rs will march to the tune of Schumer and Hilly.

I believe there will be quite a few of the 'rational' conservatives who will *not* vote R this fall. A vote for an R *is* a vote for supporting D tactics.

Bush won. The R Congress may have just committed suicide.

[maica]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597244/posts

A very similar article posted here today.

[duvausa]

An article about how Chuck Schumer orchestrated the outrage over the ports--with the help of M.Savage. The dems will be trying to do this again soon.

http://www.observer.com/20060320/20060320_Ben_Smith_pageone_newsstory2.asp

[Willie Green]

Volleyball tournaments are popular with young, fit, Americans who have been cooped up aboard ship or on FOB's for weeks at a time.

Well I think it's sweet that the princelings are so benevolent to our troops... perhaps they'll even serve them cookies and lemonade...
Just the same, the OPECkers need to be reminded that we're not there to serve as their private security force. Afterall, they (and the Saudis and Kuwaitis) are the spineless ones who stopped Papa Bush from removing Saddam 15 years ago. If they want to be our allies, they have to start instituting democratic reforms in their own nations.... and stop meddling in OUR national politics through oil puppets like Dubya.

[Dominic Harr]

“This gives Democrats a window that opens on other security issues,” Mr. Schumer said.

Excellent article.

I don't personally see how I can vote R this fall. These Congressmen will not in any way oppose the Ds and their emotional scare tactics. Voting for an R will be just lending support to Schumer and Hilly.

But ymmv, I suppose.

[Dominic Harr]

and stop meddling in OUR national politics through oil puppets like Dubya.

"Oil puppets like Dubya"?

Are you an R? Is this now the R party?

• Can't get it straight that the line "owning" or "controlling" our ports is an MSM lie.
• Won't oppose Schumer or Hilly, but instead join in lock-step with them.
• Won't stand by and trust our own allies.
• Don't like Bush.

It's always amazing to me how groups who get into a can't lose situation so often snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I wonder what will happen this fall? Can the Rs afford to lose the rational, level-headed voters like this? Will they be able to get re-elected only on the votes of people who don't read past headlines and can't understand what a 'port terminal' is?

[duvausa]

Well said.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

and stop meddling in OUR national politics through oil puppets like Dubya.

President Bush is an oil puppet?