I'm not a "globalist," but I know some.
Posted on 03/16/2006 5:02:26 AM PST by Cannoneer No. 4
In retrospect, America went collectively insane over the possibility that a company owned by Dubai's government would operate several of our ports.
Rarely has reason been so routed by pure emotion. Dubai is a Westernizing state that long ago left the eighth century and accepts the modern world of globalized commerce and finance. This member of the United Arab Emirates has -- especially after Sept. 11 -- passed on intelligence, hosted our fleet and provided a foothold in the gulf near Iraq and Iran.
For a country that is addicted to imported petroleum, hooked on cheap imported goods and eager for illegal-alien labor, and which has hundreds of military bases abroad, it is a little late to worry about dangerous foreign ganglia.
. . . the Dubai port deal shows how at odds are American perceptions and reality. For the past half-century, we have been living in a complex interconnected world of mutual reliance.
Soon we will import more food than we grow. We already burn more oil than we pump. For years we have bought more than we export, and we borrow far more than we lend. To justify these precarious dependencies, America assures foreign business leaders, investors and lenders that our markets remain open and immune to the distortions of xenophobia and provincialism.
Americans may not like that devil's bargain, but it was made long ago and, for better or worse, we are long past being an agrarian republic.
The resulting singular affluence of the American consumer derives from just these trade-offs in our autonomy -- and the trust we receive from those who loan and sell us things we cannot immediately pay for. So rejecting the Dubai port deal is not only hypocritical, but in the end dumb.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
I'm not a "globalist," but I know some.
Hey Vic, it also pointed out the gaping holes in our national security umbrella. Would we have let anyone control our ports during WW II? If not, then why now when we have a global war on terror?
ping
You don't know the difference between a port and a terminal.
Do you know the difference between an airport and a gate?
Which begs the question: "What else will we "trade off"?
If we start down the road of depending on foreign sources for much of our food supplies, as we now depend on foreign sources for much of our oil supplies, when will we start depending on foreign sources for much of our laws as well?
Can you tell me what this has to do with national security? Importing things has nothing to do with allowing Islamic nations to control our points of entry. This is the same kind of goofy argument we had on the Meirs nomination. Name calling is always easier than confronting a problem.
The "global war on terror" trumps just about everything, including the Constitution. But NOT global trade. Tell ya what, scrap the PATRIOT Act, and Dubai can run the ports.
Whatever russ feingold.
Port or airport, it doesn't matter. Would a dirty bomb exploded at a gate close the gate or the entire airport? Now insert this scenario into your rosy port scenario.
Please do explain the infringement on our Constitutional rights with the Patriot Act? No one has bothered me or infringed on my rights since 2001. I can do exactly what I want just like it's Sept. 10, 2001, and the bad guys are on the run. Please give me specifics on how your rights have been personally infringed.
BINGO BUMP!
Pull out a map of New York City or Philadelphia or similar from 1939. Look at all those names of Steamship Lines on each of the Piers. Notice some foreign ones? Yeah, foreign companies were allowed to manage piers and warehouses back then too. That's all this ever was about. Its not about "controlling the ports". That's what our Port Authorities do.
"Dr. Goebbels"
I would like an apology for your characterization. I haven't called you anything, and I have tried to have a discussion without name calling. If you can't argue your point without stooping to this low blow, you have the IQ of a child.
This is such a tough call to me because Dubai is everything Hanson has said and more. Having been there three times, I can tell you that Dubai is nothing like people would expect. It is a beautiful, modern, liberal cosmopolitan city. I have fond, fond memories of the place and would recommend a visit to Dubai to anyone who wants to enjoy a great time. I hope dearly that the Pentagon can smooth over this ugly event and American servicemen and women can contiune to enjoy liberty in Dubai --which is a little bit of paradise for those of us who find ourselves in the Middle East.
That being said, I just can't come to terms with a Muslim entity controlling our ports.
I noticed you picked 1939. How about 1942?
Aha! So lets forbid any foreign airliney from landing at a US Airport, or any foreign shipping line from bringing a ship into a Port Terminal. And lets also forbid any foreign trucker from crossing our border. And don't forget those pesky foreign railroads too that have the hubris to interchange cars of Mexican and Canadian goods into the US.
That'll show 'em!
It must matter, else you and the rest would be whining about airliners from Arab and Muslim countries flying over our cities and landing and taking off from our airports. After all, a dirty bomb might explode.
"That being said, I just can't come to terms with a Muslim entity controlling our ports."
I understand your points, and I hope we can patch things up as well for the sake of our servicemen and women, but I'm also not willing to give them carte' Blanche when it comes to national security issues.
The drumbeat in the media and from many uninformed (or lying) politicians referred to "owning the ports." The reality was owning the right to lease some terminals and run the loading and unloading operations there. Too bad we Americans can't at least debate issues based on facts.
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