Well, this issue should be a good one to cause a riff in conservative ranks, including among blogs. I'm incredibly disappointed to see some major blogs jump head long into stirring up this pot.
That's where we are tonight. A company from a country tinged with 9/11 is seemingly suddenly in charge of running several American ports (did I mention the company they are buying-out is also foreign?). The White House says it is OK. International shippers say the company has a great record. But 9/11 families and members of Congress say different. Even the former head of DHS, the Department of Homeland Security, says he can understand why politicians are saying "wait a minute."
By the way, the British government also had a chance to block the deal, because the Dubai company would be in charge of a couple of UK ports. It didn't. This one ain't going away for a while.
The administration will likely cave to political pressure and the issue could be just the lever Dems want to try to gain ground in areas of national defense. But it really is a non-issue, likely to be seized on by the sensationalist minded to drive ratings, clicks and American xenophobia. So much for blogs lending depth to the media narrative.
I'm not going to go through the details now. But you might want to read this for a start.
I hope you talk more about this, as it is a lightning rod for knee jerk reaction on both sides. But it is more involved than most realize and actually should paint the administration in a favorable light across the political spectrum.
Posted by: ViVi | Monday, February 20, 2006 at 10:45 PM
Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business of the United Arab Emirates will be managing the ports (with your tax money). They will need to work closely with the United States governmental and military agencies to keep the ports secure.
It's reasonable to assume that whatever clasified information Dubai Ports World is privy to the intelligence service (Mukhabarat) of the United Arab Emirates will also be privy to. Not that this is a problem, for example the intelligence service of Pakistan, "a crucial American ally in the war on terrorism" is was privy to some information on our hunt for UBL and look how swimmingly that turned out.
Not to imply that any individual in either the UAE or Pakistani intelligence services would have anything other than the best interests of the USA at heart.
===========================
Posted by: Sgt. York | Monday, February 20, 2006 at 11:35 PM
Because people think it's a bad idea all the sudden they're toeing the media line? Come on Dan, sometimes people just agree.
Posted by: Digger | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 02:57 AM
fortunately we have been lucky so far....no port originating attacks from the middle east yet....oh, wait-who runs the ports over there? duh....
Posted by: COLUMBO | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 09:47 AM
Because people think it's a bad idea all the sudden they're toeing the media line? Come on Dan, sometimes people just agree.
DIgger, I dont think people are necessarily towing the media line at all. I just don't think a lot of people are even thinking it through, that's all I'm saying. Actually, the same thing I heard Limbaugh say today. LOL Not sure if that's good company, or bad. As I said, it's an open question. But people opposed it just on principle because it is the UAE. Most didnt even know the Brits had the contracts before that.
Posted by: Dan | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 04:24 PM
Dan, great minds blog alike I guess. I think this case of "Arabophobia" is getting a little out of hand.
Posted by: Crazy Politico | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 07:57 PM
Dan, great minds blog alike I guess. I think this case of "Arabophobia" is getting a little out of hand.
Posted by: Crazy Politico | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 08:01 PM
The story was shut down very quickly, but a few years ago, there was a facility in Roswell, New Mexico called H.E.A.T. This facility was started as a training ground for the Army Special Ops and was given the green light by the FBI. As soon as the FBI left, the owners of the facility kicked out the Army and brought in people from United Arab Emirates. They also brought in airplane cockpits for training in how to take over an aircraft.
How quickly this country forgets what happens when their gaurd is let down.
Posted by: Jody | Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at 09:53 PM
There is something more going on with this story.
Ask yourself...do you really think
President Bush would be in favor of this if
there is not soemthing more to it?
I think not. Even I as a suporter of
Bush say hell no ! So, when I think about
it all there has to be something going on
behind the scences we do no know.
I am sure the public will no soon.
Then maybe, and I saw maybe more people
will agree. I am thinking it must have
something to do with undercover folks working
for the company that maybe has insight on
some goings on that could stop something
really big that may very well be in the works
as we speak that has a possibility of going
down that would be horrible or our country
and this may be the only way to stop it.
Give it time. We may know a little more
about it soon but probably not all we would like
to know about it.
Posted by: MyOpinion | Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 01:38 AM
WHAT IS UP WITH THE GOV SELLING US ALL OUT NO PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABOVE SCANDEL DOES THE GOV WANT MORE CONTROL OF THE IMPORTATION OF TONS OF COCANE TO SELL ON THE STREATS AND NAFTA TO GIVE MORE OF OUR JOBS AWAY ALONG WITH THE PORTS OF ENTRY FOR NUKES. THAT IN TIME WE WON'T EVEN KNOW WHO IS RUNNING US OUT OF MONEY. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT ANY PROGRAM THAT HAS COME UP IS RIPED OFF FOR MILLIONS AND GOOD PROGRAMS ARE TOSTED IN THE TRASH. THAT THEY WANT BILLIONS TO GO INTO SPACE TO NOWERE THAT IS HABITABLE AND LEAVE THE EARTH A SEWER WERE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO LIVE JUST FOR THE CAUSE OF SCIENCE. IS IT JUST BUSH OR THE REPUBLICANS THAT PUT US INTO DEBT LIKE IT WAS THERE MONEY PIT. AND THAT NAME BUSH AGAIN TO LET THE ENEMYS KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE A CRAZY AND NOT IN CONTROL GOVERNMENT FOR 8 MORE YEARS.THEY ONLY HEAR THAT THE BUSH IS STILL HEAR AND NOT GOING AWAY.THAT SIMPLE PROGRAMS TO FIGHT INFORMATION SCANDLES
ARE FORGOT ABOUT AND ANY INFORMATION IS SCATTERD EVERY WERE FOR ANYBODY TO GET THERE HANDS ON.
THIS IS PURE SHIT FROM ALL THE ASS HOLES THAT THINK POWER IS A DRUG TO ABUSE IN TRAGEDY.
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