When people have been in a cult for a significant portion of their lives, breaking away is not the easiest thing to do. If they stray off the reservation for a while, there are often lingering feelings of doubt as they miss the structure that life in the cult gave them. In other words, the Republicans are coming home to Bush on the Dubai Ports issue. Glenn Reynolds is issuing rallying cries in the WSJ, the Blogs for Bushies are making batches of Kool-Aid, and the Wizbang crew is now saying this was a diabolical plot by the Democrats.
The cultists are home!
But here’s the problem, the right-wing media – at least in the blogs and political journals (National Review, Weekly Standard), we’ll see if the cult homing signal reaches Newsmax, WorldNetDaily, talk radio (Rush is already with Bush) and Fox News – is out of touch with their own base. For maybe the first time in 6 years the Republican base position on a national security issue is on the same side as Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.
This is a fight we need to have. For a long time the administration has talked tough on homeland security as their budgets have undercut it. And now, the most vulnerable element of our homeland security, our ports, is being handed over by the Republican party to a government-owned entity with disturbing ties to Al Qaeda terrorism.
Senator Clinton and Menendez say they plan to offer a bill to stop this sort of power grab of our ports by foreign entities. That bill must come to a vote, and if it doesn’t Democrats must demand an “up or down vote on securing America’s ports” and remind the voters which party – the Republicans – is obstructing the passage of such legislation.
It’s also a local fight that Democrats are and must engage in. In New Jersey Gov. Corzine is ordering lawsuits and a review of the issue, while here in Maryland GOP governor Ehrlich has flip-flopped on the ports issue (he was sort of against it, now he’s neutral, who knows what his stance will be tomorrow) while his opponent Martin O’Malley is rallying signatures (currently 1,600 Marylanders) to stop the deal.
My philosophy has always been that Democrats should do what’s right, but when you’ve got so many people who agree with you it should be extra incentive to gun the engines.
That was a THEORY I posited, Oliver, and one that fits most of the available data. It makes a hell of a lot more sense than your “cult” babblings.
Just where was all this paranoia about the ports back when China — you know, Communist China — was taking over West Coast ports? Oh, yeah, that’s right, since they were funneling buckets of cash to Clinton and Gore, that was OK.
J.
For all their humans rights problems, China never launched a terror attack that killed 3,000 Americans. You’re exhibiting what I believe has been referred to as a “pre-Sept 11 mindset”.
No, China hasn’t. Neither has the UAE, for that matter. 2 9/11 hijackers came from there, while 15 were from Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the port of Dubai refuels and reprovisions more US Navy warships than any other port in the US. They take in our forces on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan. And, most importantly, they sit astride the Strait of Hormuz, right across from Iran, and have been very supportive of us in the last few years.
Also, could you name a US company that expressed the slightest interest in doing this job? DP World has done a damned fine job managing ports (and NOT security — just the administering end) around the world, from what I’ve heard. The only threat they pose could be to dockside unions and organized crime — but I repeat myself.
If you could pry your head out of the DNC/George Soros’ ass long enough to actually LOOK at issues from anything beyond a strictly partisan perspective, and recognize that “good for the Democrats/bad for the Republicans” is a horribly shitty ruler for measuring matters outside the US borders, and actually THINK about matters, you might find yourself coming to some different conclusions.
Frankly, I doubt your ability to do that. But I’d be thrilled if you proved me wrong.
J.
Oliver, if anything, this issue proves that there is no Republican cult, and (thought it pains me to say it) no Democratic cult.
At last, America is polarized, but not along party lines. Hallelujah!
Isn’t this the way you wanted it to be?
It’s what the Founding Fathers wanted… And I am loving it!
I know what I believe, I’m not changing my mind, and I don’t care whose side I’m on.
It’s about time!
Saddam ties to bin Laden post 9/11 – yes
UAE ties to bin Laden post 9/11 – no
Got that?
Saddam ties to 9/11 – Yes.
UEA ties to 9/11 – No.
Got it.
I have a feeling that most of the ‘theories’ and ‘explanations’ from the
right on this deal is BushApologism.
It is synonymous with BushLove. Just as a loving family member
makes excuses for a sibling or child, so too the defense mechanisms
are in full play.
This Port matter is mostly about little of substance, and just balances
on the fulcrum of symbolism. But it is the plot line of the play, and
not this minor Act, which sums up the Fools we have allowed into
the WH.
The Plausible Denialists will carry their Mantra “We were right’ to their
grave, just as did the hard-liners who still believe Nixon was
rail-roaded.
From the Washington Times?!?:
The U.S. September 11 commission’s report is replete with accounts of some of the 19 hijackers — two of whom came from the United Arab Emirates — using Dubai’s permissive banking system and lax passport certification to gain entry into the United States and bankroll a mission that killed more than 3,000 people.
During bin Laden’s stay in Afghanistan — where he built terror training camps, a personal army and a financial network — some of the United Arab Emirates’ upper crust, known as emirs, visited him. The United Arab Emirates was one of only a handful of countries that recognized the harsh Taliban regime, bin Laden’s protector.
In 1999, bin Laden spent time in the Afghan desert south of Kandahar near the Sheik Ali hunting camp. It was regularly used by visitors from the United Arab Emirates, according to the September 11 commission report. U.S. intelligence detected an official United Arab Emirates government airplane there on at least one occasion.
“According to reporting from the tribals, bin Laden regularly went from his adjacent camp to the larger camp where he visited the Emiratis,” according to the report.
In fact, the presence of the United Arab Emirates rulers at the camp gave the Clinton administration second thoughts about ordering an air strike to kill bin Laden, more than two years before the attack on the United States.
“According to CIA and defense officials, policy-makers were concerned about the danger that a strike would kill an Emirati prince or other senior officials who might be with bin Laden or close by,” the commission said. The Clinton administration was so concerned about the emirates’ cozy ties to bin Laden that one official called a United Arab Emirates political leader to complain.
So let’s assume that *since 9/11*, UAE has had no contacts with “the terror network” (whatever that means). The prize for acting in good faith for a few years: Major US ports?
“Sorry about 9/11; thanks for the ports.
Love,
UAE”
Excuse me for being skeptical.
So let me get this straight. The Dems are exploiting post-9-11 American paranoia to advance the agenda of an important domestic constituent, namely dock unions? Is that right? God damn. FINALLY! The Dems have finally learned a lesson about politics from the Bush administration. And it’s all too beautiful that they used Bush’s own political bludgeon — “Fear, fear the Muslims!” — against him. I love it.
frameone: Why am I not surprised? Idiot.
UAE will not be in charge of security. They have been vetted. They have been successful. What do you want?
I understand that it probably hasn’t been actually submitted yet, but just what would Senators Clinton and Menendez’ bill actually do? Is it aimed solely at the Arabs, or is it aimed at all foreign ownership?
If it is the former, even our honored host would complain about profiling, and if it’s the latter, what are we going to do about all of the ports?
If P & O cannot sell to DPW, the immediate cause of the kerfuffle, then the ports contract remains in the hands of P & O, which is still a foreign company! When P & O wanted to sell (that was last October; this ain’t new), there were two bidders: DPW and a company from Singapore.
There were no American bidders at all!
Will the Clinton-Memendez bill require P & O to sell to an American company — when there wasn’t one interested in bidding for it in the first place? What about the ports which are managed by the Red Chinese? Will they have to sell?
What you are going to have is an American company or companies taking over port operations — at much higher costs. If none of them saw profit opportunities previously, at the kinds of prices they could charge, well the Clinton-Menendez bill will create a semi-monopoly, because only American companies will be allowed to do this work.
Might as well plan on more no-bid contracts for Halliburton!
And, in case it hasn’t crossed your minds yet, there are plenty of American companies which own facilities and companies and all sorts of things overseas. If we are going to say that no damned fur’ners can manage our ports, just what other types of things in them damned fur’in countries are going to be suddenly prohibited to American companies?
Again, Dana, good post.
Dugger
While I wasn’t exactly comfortable with this idea hopefully the agreement reached between Congress, the Bush Adminstration and P&O allowing a 45-day review of this sale will Ensure that any national security concerns are addressed. This is not really a major concession since the legally authorized 45-day review was apparently side-stepped on the grounds that it did not pose a threat to national security. That being said, common sense would seem that after all of the rhetoric last year from both sides of the political isle about safeguarding our ports, performing this would have been a no-brainer. What I would like to see though is a full review (not rejection) of the management of all our ports to ensure that all requirements for oversight by the federal government that include the Dept. of Homeland Security are fully addressed.
JayTea… where to start.
First, Two american companies tried to bid, but were excluded. One of them is now filing suits in England and the US to block the sale – Eller & Company Inc.
Secondly… how could you not remember the Repub anger and outcry over the China acquisitions? That’s all you kept hearing… “He’s selling the country”.
What amazingly short and selective memories you guys have.
Finally that whole little rant about Soros anatomy, and contortionist positions; and a supposed political/philosophical view – that I’ve heard no one on this thread espouse… is frankly, childish.
So – next time, do a little research… you know as you advised, examine the issues.
———-
Frank – yes, they won’t be in charge of security, but considering how helpful they’ve been in the Hairiri Assasination investigation… and tracking the movements of the van used to kill him through UAE ports… I’m more than a little dubious. Then of course, there’s that lovely little exclusion carved into the deal that allows them to NOT maintain physical records on premises at any of the US facilities. And don’t even try to go with the technological tact… “it’s part of a paperless solution, etc.” ; this is an unusual arrangement… and as with Hariri’s van… one that makes tracking all that harder.
http://consortiumnews.com/2006/022206.html
Bushwhacked – good point(s).
(I note the new arrival of Cosortium News as a source of “anti – UAE” talking points — welcome!)
Good points, and I can’t say I have any countering argument, except to say that perhaps this is the best deal we’re going to get.
What next, Halliburton?
Frank,
“Good points, and I can t say I have any countering argument,”
Then have another cup of coffee. That Consortium article is bravo sierra.
AS ex military you should be wella ware of host tenat relationships. Happens every palce. the hoist base is still responsible for base operation adn security. The tent does whatever its mission is.
Twice the article illustrates that it completely misunderstands the CENTRAL point of the whole issue. the UAE company will neither own nor control the ports. they will not do scurity. Other than that it is speculation about Hariri and anonymous quotes.
It all wreak BS.
Dugger
D*mn I’m a bad typist.
Dugger (but what can Rove expect at $10 a pop)
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