I don't think it's that black and white, and at the end of the day I bet the deal gets approved by all the blowhards.
Yep, all they want to do is bloviate and get their few seconds on the evening news.
"I don't think it's that black and white, and at the end of the day I bet the deal gets approved by all the blowhards."
I think so too... part of the issue is actually shipping with china.
But there is real risk here, from several fromts.
Agreed. I do believe Bush has decided since his reelection not to play politics anymore. He wasted 2005 because of that, and he should understand that politics is part of the job and he needs to engage in it to govern.
Sirs,
If you believe the President has been right in his aggressive approach to terrorism, do you now believe he doesn't know what is good for us? Maybe the President feels that the geo-political significance of an alliance with the UAE far outweighs the risk DWP poses to our security. Maybe, since the President is aware that DWP already has a hand in the transportation of nine million containers a year that enter our points, he believes that there is little additional risk to this transaction.
With the concessions that were made by DWP in regards to the operation of the necessary security apparatus, and the reported extra scrutiny these ports will receive, maybe these ports will be more secure than any other port in America. Maybe this is what the President believes. Again, do you not trust him to a proper risk/reward assessment?
One thing for sure. We can use all the allies we can get in that part of the world. We saw what happened when the 4th I.D. needed to get into Iraq and Turkey would not give them passage. Our inability to secure cooperation from most governments in this region, because those governments fear inflaming their populace, is a real hindrance in our effort to prosecute the war on terrorism. We simply cannot afford to lose any strategic or operational advantage we have carved out through hook or crook.
As far as the UAE goes, sure, I don't fully trust them. But none of us knows what cooperation, information, and logistical assistance the White House has been able to secure from the UAE govenment. Importantly, nobody should think for a second that the United Arab Emirates wants to be blamed for a catastrophy on American soil. The retaliation they face would probably end the regime. Do you really think they want that.
In my opinion this is a big to-do about nothing. If everyone was this upset about our borders there would be an American military presence, en masse, there now. It is, however, a problem for the President. But I don't know how he could ever have avoided it as Debra Orin suggests. It is a transaction between private businesses and the President has no say-so in that venue.
Freegards,
PresidentFelon