Posted on 02/21/2006 4:23:44 PM PST by bnelson44
Statement by Senator John McCain on the debate over the Bush Administration’s decision to allow Dubai Ports World of the United Arab Emirates manage U.S. sea ports.
“We all need to take a moment and not rush to judgment on this matter without knowing all the facts. The President’s leadership has earned our trust in the war on terror, and surely his administration deserves the presumption that they would not sell our security short. Dubai has cooperated with us in the war and deserves to be treated respectfully. By all means, let’s do due diligence, get briefings, seek answers to all relevant questions and assurances that defense officials and the intelligence community were involved in the examination and approval of this transaction. In other words, let’s make a judgment when we possess all the pertinent facts. Until then, all we can offer is heat and little light to the discussion.”
(Excerpt) Read more at corner.nationalreview.com ...
This is one confusing issue....my GUT tells me UAE operating our ports is just plain stupid if NOT TOTALLY WRONG. My brain tells me George W Bush and his superb supporting cast [Cheney, Rice & Rumsfeld] would never do something to jeopardize this nation.
But an arab nation in some capacity operating our ports on the east coast? I just don't get it!!
And listening to 3 hours of interviews that DEFENDED this issue by port authority personnel on the Tony Snow show today STILL hasn't changed that ONE LITTLE FACT........UAE is going to operate our ports!!!
Do you realize that's a behind the back personal attack?
Do you realize that it's against forum rules to post ABOUT another poster without pinging them?
If I gave a crap about you, I'd hit abuse for your doing that; but you're such an insidious ridiculous snot, let everybody see what you do.
And you do do it ALL the time.
Are you in high school?
"Trust us" was the line from the Harriet Miers nomination. It didn't fly then and it won't fly now. This is the same crowd that says "trust us" as millions of Mexicans colonize our country out from under us. While the administration deserves the benefit of the doubt, there is little doubt that some of our most important ports are about to be controlled by a major terrorist-producing nation.
If we need to engage the UAE economically, there are ways to do so that don't involve extreme national security risks.
BS; some people WISH it were, but it's not.
No. And I'm definitely uncomfortable with him permitting the sell of the control of these to UAE.
Those of the religion of peace - Muslims, have consistently demostrated emotional instability and a willingness to destroy western culture. Bush should not assist them with this?
They are operating terminals, not ports.
Not mine; new yorker 77 muddied up the waters with some facts.
Don't forget Jimmah Carter is on YOUR side. Game, set, match.
If you find anything please keep us informed.
it is. are you listening to talk radio? up and down the line, hardly anyone in the ranks supports this. and I am not just talking about Michael Savage.
That's what I've been saying. The UAE has some of the best ports in the world and companies that do this kind of work are based there that handle container ports all over the world. People are getting a little paranoid about this one. There are Arabs and Muslims working in sensitive positions in this country by the thousands. If you are going to allow the one, I see no reason not to allow the other. Dubai is not some haven for Al Qaeda (no more than this country is). They even want to build the first commercial spaceport. Doesn't sound to me like a bunch wanting to go back to swinging scimitars and riding on camels. Get real folks! Not every Middle Eastern country is like Saudi Arabia.
What? You want to be calm and reasonable? Unheard of!
It's clear to me there's a lot more to this deal than shows on the surface. The only thing that really troubles me so far is Carter's support. But if no U.S. company bid on it, and if it has the long-term effect of castrating the Communist-infested Longshoreman's union, I'm all for it. Naturally I want our ports protected from terrorists, but from what I'm hearing so far the deal won't affect any safeguard we want to put in place. We need more information.
The only information anybody needs is whether or not the UAE are friend or foe. That's easy to find out, just google their track record of financing and helping terrorists, and their siding with Iran that Israel should not exist.
Or you can just check in with your own intellect and reason. We are at war with Arab muslim terrorists. Dubai, an Arab muslim country and member of the UAE has highly questionable (and unresolved) ties with al Queada, the Taliban, and the Iraqi insurgency, (financing ties through their banking system). We know that the UAE provided cover, money and fake passports for the 9/11 hijackers, as well as two of their own countrymen. I found the process to be an easy one when I asked myself just one question: "Why do we need them to run our seaports"?
You've just summed up exactly what the issue is and what appears to be on most people's minds and that is precisely why this will not stand.
There is already discussion in the New York/New Jersey area of Port workers walking out if this goes through. And every day, more Republican legislators are saying they will not support this action.
Um, and if you're on the other side, you're aligned with Clinton and Schumer.
"Do you realize that it's against forum rules to post ABOUT another poster without pinging them?"
Wow, seriously???
OOPS-- lets just say howlin has a double standard when it comes to following rules-- she SCREAMS at others for not doing so but....well, youll see:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576693/posts?page=127#127
The "ranks" of what, telephone callers?
Everybody needs to CALM down and find out the facts.
People have been stampeded into this story - even though it's four months old.
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