[Dallas59]

If that's the case then the Libs will have to support Bush.

[BlueSky194]

So if President Bush allows the Dubai/Arabs to take over our ports they will be able to tell us that we cannot import things from ISRAEL!!

Whats also interesting about this story.
The Dubai port's company admits, It takes its order from Syria about the boycott of Israel.
Syria who's the biggest supporters of the insurgents in Iraq, who are killing and maiming civilians every day.

Syria who has 10 terrorist organizations in there country and who's one of the biggest promoters of terrorism.
Now we learn, this Dubai port's company is in bed with Syria.

[goldstategop]

We'd let a Dubai company manage our ports that at home in the United Arab Emirates helps to enforce the Arab boycott of Israel in violation of American laws? No thanks.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Echo Talon]

Dubai Ports World uses [Israeli Shipping Co.] Zim connection in US deal

[Echo Talon]

I don't believe this article for a second and question their motives.

[bayourant]

This is my view on the whole "ISrael" question as to UAE
(1) If people feel so strongly about this recognition issue please be consistent and stop purchasing all petro and other goods from countries that dont officially recognize Israel.
(2) How come the only complaints I been hearing about this is from American bloggers and not hardly a thing from the State of Israel or some legit political party there.
(3) Related to point 2, is I suspect that there is a lot of wink wink and nod, nod between place like the UAE, the companies there and Israel. Boycott offiially but really alot going on and not just trade either.
(4) DOnt we want to encourage International trade, education, all the things we have inthe UAE because it will lead to ISrael being recognized
(5) Related to point one shall we all now boycott COuntries that trade with the regime of Cuba
(6) Over the night reports have come out that China has again threatened the Soverign Nation of Tawain. Its is beyond me why we care so much about little ole UAE and their vast army(not) and their current diplomatic relations with Israel as of Feb 27 2006 and ignore poor ole Tawain that has over 40,000 missles pointed at it knowing there shall be no trade sanctions for China's attitude. An attitude that more likely to engulf us in war than the Israel/UAE relationship will. I know China is not Islamic and therefore not a threat but lets try to think outside the box.

[NRA2BFree]

Let's see, how did that go......."any nation who supports terrorism?"

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking the keyword or topic Israel.

---------------------------

Unfortunately co-operation with the Arab Boycott is a violation of American law. They can't do that and operate here, any more than they can import Cuban cigars. Unless Congress changes the law, unlikely, or the administration suddenly ceases enforcement.

[mikey565]

So, the profits the UAE makes from the port will be used to enforce the Israeli boycott. It will go towards the "Dubai Customs Department's Office for the Boycott of Israel"

Can you believe they actually have an office that! Can we have our cake and eat too?

[takenoprisoner]

Trust me, very few here care not one iota that Dubai is as nation that does not recognize the right of Israel to exist much less do business with Israel. Dubai is a "great nation and a great friend of America." You are islamophobic if you oppose this deal on any grounds. You are a racist if you oppose this deal on any grounds. Allah will punish us if we refuse to allow muslims run our ports.

Our port safety is now guaranteed by Bush and DHS if we allow muslims to run our ports. Plus muslims are much better at it than anyone else. So it might not be a bad idea afterall with this guarantee in place. :)

No threat here. Move along now.

[dajudem]

If you people who think it is no big deal if people whose values are thus clearly perverted and go against the grain of the US- run the ports of the US -- if you are wrong then God help us all. We have made way too many concessions to the Arabs. I think this deal is a major mistake.

[Wolfie]

The whole idea of Foreign management of our ports is insane, I don't care who the Foreigners are. One of the charms of globalization, I guess.

[WatchingInAmazement]

The UAE has also boycotted the Danes because of the Muhammed cartoons.



http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/08/cartoon.protests/index.html

The cartoons have prompted boycotts of Danish goods throughout the Muslim world. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, travel agents said travelers were not booking flights to Denmark or Norway.

Also in UAE, a university professor was fired after distributing copies of the cartoons to her students. The nation's minister of education, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahan, said he ordered Clauda Keepoz's dismissal because "her behavior has nothing to do with the freedom of expression."

http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5256
Protests against “blasphemous” cartoons mounts in Islamic nations
Jan. 31,2006

[snip] Burnt flags, political condemnation, and appeals for a boycott are involving even traditionally moderate Islamic nations, like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The Arab League and Organizations from the Islamic who announced their intention to appeal to the United Nations for a resolution blocking all forms of attacks against religious faiths.

But the wave of protest continues. “It’s cultural terrorism, not freedom of expression” intoned Mohammad al-Dhaheri, Minister for Justice and Islamic affairs of the United Arab Emirates.


http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0201/dailyUpdate.html
In an editorial, the Khaleej Times of the United Arab Emirates expressed dismay that the Danish government has not formally apologized for the episode.

"The prime minister [Danish] continues to defend the insensitive newspaper in the name of ‘media freedom’. All freedom including that of the media comes with responsibility. Mocking people’s deeply held religious beliefs and sentiments is no media freedom. It’s sheer and unpardonable callousness."

[Paul Ross]

Interesting. Goes in line with this:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21449

Friend Or Foe?
By Zogby International
FrontPageMagazine.com | February 28, 2006

Here are a few key findings on the UAE from a 2004 poll conducted by Zogby

International:

-- 73% of UAE citizens had a negative view of the United States; only 14% had a favorable view.

-- Only 5% of UAE citizens felt that "democracy" was an "extremely important" reason for the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction was cited by 16%. "Oil" and "domination of the Muslim world" were the main reasons offered by UAE citizens for our invasion of Iraq.

-- 81% of UAE citizens felt Iraq was worse off after the war. Only 4% said it was better off without Saddam.

-- Asked to identify their "most admired" world leaders, 18% of UAE citizens chose Osama bin Laden. "No one" finished first with 22%.

-- When asked how they viewed themselves, only 19% said they identified first and foremost as citizens of the United Arab Emirates, while 66% said they saw themselves as "Muslims" first.

We should not be so quick to deceive ourselves about the nature of this "friendship." The United Arab Emirates is not Great Britain. Its citizens share neither our values nor our interests. Yes, the rulers of the UAE have been cooperating with us, but they are sitting on a powder keg of radical Islamic fundamentalism, making it much more likely that Dubai Ports World, and thus the U.S., will be susceptible to infiltration.

Excerpted from Gary Bauer's "End Of  Day."

[Mike Darancette]

Every one this board that matters knows that I do not oppose the Ports deal. But if DPW were to be a part of "Boycott Israel" or would not allow Israel equal access to their assets world wide I would oppose the deal

We do not need bigoted governments or organizations operating a "Gentleman's Agreement" on out shores. DPW should renounce such nonsense in no uncertain terms.

IMHO: Saudi Arabia, Communist China and other foreign entities operating on our shores scrutinized for similar reprehensible behavior.

[Mike Darancette]

This should bring Pat Buchanan on board in favor of DPW.

[familyop]

So the UAE--a country with an anti-American majority--is boycotting Israeli products and buying administration rights over six of our ports. The deal is being made as Islamists in other nations are simmering toward world war against us.

We don't need to make such deals in order to get intelligence or bases/posts in that part of the world, although having yet another regional leader or two around the Middle East to make some of our higher staffers feel more comfortable is nice.

Even some of our generation's greatest men can be incrementally motivated and brainwashed into making serious tactical mistakes that their WWII predecessors wouldn't have made. We're getting very soft, and we're doing it to stay richer for today. It's a shame. ...reminds me of an old, romantic hippy song about living for today and not worrying about tomorrow.

Where's our General Ike when we need him? Why are there no longer men like our fathers? Why are we tolerating so many public rationalizations from globalizing, corporate socialists (as most of them support US social programs to bust families and keep the labor pool large) who hate Israel with an obvious, weird obsession?

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from February 28, 2006.