Dubai Poised To Acquire Large Stakes in N.Y. Banks

New York Sun ^ | November 21, 2007 | NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT

[AuntB]

Dubai..... Ally of the USA? Duncan Hunter ‘gets it’!

Last nights 60 minutes episode about Dubai, UAE had many glowing words and scenes of the modernized Arab state. To be sure, they are on the economic upward trend, a virtual playground for the rich. Actually Dubai is more like DisneyLand on steroids.

While 85% of the population is alien cheap labor, the Dubai citizens prosper as they pay their imported slave labor $5 per day wages and resentment grows.

The most enlightening part of the program were the remarks of their leader, Sheikh Mohammed.

From the transcript:

Asked what he likes about the U.S., Sheikh Mohammed says, “I like everything about them, except their foreign policy little bit. I don’t like their foreign policy.”

“Can you be more specific about the foreign policy? What don’t you like about the foreign policy?” Kroft asks.

“No I’ll leave it vague. Just, I’ll leave it like that,” the sheikh says. “I think the American people will know what I mean.”

“You had conversations, and consultations with the United States before the Iraq war,” Kroft says.

“Yes. Yes. We gave the best advice we can to our friends. But, as you know, they don’t always listen,” the sheikh says.

Sheikh Mohammed acknowledges he was against the war. “It was wrong war,” he says.

There are also differences with the U.S. over Iran, which is one of Dubai’s closest neighbor, largest trading partners, and one of its biggest investors. Any hostilities in the Persian Gulf could present the sheikh with some difficult choices. But for the time being, business is still booming.”[snip]

During a recent debate the subject of Dubai operating US ports as requested by the Bush Administration was presented. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Tennesssee Sen. Fred Thompson, and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback agreed with the deal, but no so for but California Rep. Duncan Hunter and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo.

If you recall, Duncan Hunter is the man who stood against the port takeover by the Dubai Sheikh. Hunter said he does not believe the company should have been allowed the large stake in the exchange.

“Because I don’t trust them,” he said.

And with good reason, Mr. Hunter! Perhaps Duncan Hunter understands more about our ‘friends’ than most of us realize.

Congressman Duncan Hunter: “No, because I don’t trust them. And I don’t trust them because a few years ago Dubai, while an American Customs agent was trying to stop them, set for delivery a set of nuclear triggers to an anonymous recipient in Islamabad, probably for the A.Q. Khan network. That went directly against American interests. So I would not do that.”

Tammy Bruce has some comments while blogging about the debate and Dubai:

“I think the clearest indication of what sort of people we’re dealing with here is their position on Dubai, a Jew-hating, non-democratic Islamist regime, can buy whatever they want here. With the exception of Hunter and Tancredo, all get an “F” on that national security/values question........ Hunter: NO!!! He doesn’t trust them. !! Finally. Says Dubai helped ship nuclear triggers probably to our enemies. We still don’t know who. [No one mentions their boycott of Israel and the refusal to touch things a Jew has touched.]”

I’m getting bored. Hunter is coming across as the strongest, most clear on what’s happening internationally, and the impact of Unfair Trade on this country. I find it slightly ridiculous that these men, who’ve been in office forever, are talking incessantly about how things have to change in Washington when they’ve been in that town for decades creating the problem. It’s as though they think they can convince us they’re all outsiders or something. Listening to John “Amnesty” McCain talking about the need for change is especially surreal.

Duncan Hunter notes 1.8 million jobs going to Communist China is the problem. Bravo. Yeah, notes that all the senators voted for Most Favored Nation status for China, sending those jobs to that pit. He was great.”

Key GOP Lawmaker Blasts Ports Deal Rep. Duncan Hunter Says He Will Try To Stop Ports Deal WASHINGTON, March 3, 2006 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/03/politics/main1365718.shtml
See Duncan Hunter interviewed on the Dubai Ports Deal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JyZTd5UeGE

Transcript and video. A Visit To Dubai Inc.
Steve Kroft Reports On A Success Story In The Middle East
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/60minutes/main3361753.shtml

http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/search?q=Dubai

[Glenn]

IMO the banks need the influx of money.

What influx? As I read the article, it appears they are buying bank stocks. The only "influx" would be in the appreciation of any stock the bank holds on itself.

[melancholy]

... It’s not like they finance and support anyhting against our interests. Totally not a problem.

Even if a problem arises one day, say, like caught financing terrorism or spying, etc. they are held hostage to asset-freezing laws in the US.

[cyborg]

You just made petronski sputter and cough. We both agree.

[cyborg]

AMEN

[DoughtyOne]

We didn’t think it worthy of a Manhattan style effort to become energy independent.

A 'Manhattan style' solution wouldn't have worked.  Think about it, one of the biggest reasons oil is at $90 is because we use so much of it. If we didn't use so much of it the price would be $10, and that 'Manhattan style' solution wouldn't make any economic sense, and would be abandoned.

As long as the world is awash in oil, the solution to our problem is to drill at home. That's something that doesn't need a 'Manhattan style' solution.  We just need to steamroller the libs.

To a certain extent, I agree that we should steam roller the libs.  Where we differ is the decision regarding what we steam roller them over.  IMO, we steam roller them on the issue of nuclear power plants.

I would immediately impanel a commission to determine three things.  (1. develop a list of energy needs categories  (2. develop the best alternative method of producing energy for each catergory, if one can be found  (3. develop a five year plan to bring about change so these needs could be met

I would support the need for nuclear power plants, with an eye toward replacing much of the energy supply for dwellings with an alternative power source
I would propose a crash program to develop sustainable single/multiple family dwelling power supplies so that each home would be energy sufficient
I would propose tax incentives to get businesses to develop their own power generating capabilities
I would propose a crash program to develop alternative power sources for transportation
I would cut off any sales of domestic oil supplies to foreign nations  ( this would be coordinated so that we woudn't put an ally in jeopardy )
All domestic oil supplies would be reserved for strategic purposes, the military
All plastics production would be converted to alternatives to oil
A crash program would push soy and other alternative methods to create diesel fuels
A crash program would push alternative power sources and gift the technology to domestic manufacturers

As for your economic reasons why this project wouldn't work, I appreciate the point you are tyring to make.  This is not an economic as much as a strategic defense initiative.  We can no longer afford to be blackmailed by a cartel of foreign entities that has been manipulating oil supplies to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars each year.  We can no longer allow the oil maufacturers to manipulate pricing in the U.S. by operating too few refineries, and closing them down part of the time for adjustments, while the average citizen eats a cost that is artificially super-inflated.

It's time to get serious about our nation's future.  I don't see brutal unstable Middle-Eastern nations in that future.  If we wound up with something like 5 to 10% of of our current oil needs coming from states that were friendly, fine, but one of those states wouldn't have violent sects of people wishing nothing less than our total destruction.  It would be a truly progressive nation wishing to be a part of a world moving on to a highly technical and enlighted future.

The others could simply implode in on themselves without us.

[Drew68]

Here come the Jihadis. They come here not to make silver and gold their focus, they come instead to work on the dhimmitude of America, and the establsihment of Sharia LAw.

You have clearly never been to Dubai. Sharia law? In Dubai? BWAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

The only "green flag of Islam" in Dubai has a picture of George Washington on it. It is a very fun place to visit, BTW. Ask any American sailor.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the correction. I believe you are right.

[Drew68]

Dubai, a tiny country in the Persian Gulf with a matching small population, which is part of the United Arab Emirates, is cash-rich because of its vast natural reserves of oil.

Did somebody do their research on Wikipedia? Dubai is wealthy because of ports and trading. And now tourism. Oil has very little to do with it.

[WalterSkinner]

..a new edit on older debate material

Duncan Hunter on Dubai Port Deal and Free vs Fair Trade

[STARWISE]

I think maybe since we told them what
their options were after 9/11 (this
article is from 11/11/01), they were
persuaded to have a cooperative stance
toward US and security issues.

I know they were one of the first countries
to participate in the container security
initiative.

~~~~~

http://uae.usembassy.gov/pe_12152004.html

U.S. - UAE Sign First Container Security Initiative in the Middle East

15 December, 2004

On December 12, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert J. Bonner and Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chief Executive Officer of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation signed a Declaration of Principles that governs the implementation of the Container Security Initiative at seaports in Dubai. The ceremony took place at the Burj al Arab and marks the first time CSI has reached an agreement with a country in the Middle East.

http://uae.usembassy.gov/pr_14mar2005.html

Dubai Customs To Implement The Container Security Initiative And Begin Targeting And Pre-Screening Cargo Destined For U.S.

14 March, 2005

[Kevmo]

Thanks for the ping. I agree with Hunter, “I don’t trust them because...” and it turns out to be NUCLEAR TRIGGERS this time.

.

.

Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Posted on 11/15/2007 3:43:17 AM PST by Kevmo

[ConsistentLibertarian]

“Funny, you could say exactly the same thing about the budget deficit.”

AGREED.

[WildcatClan]

We have single states that have more energy potential in coal than Saudi Arabia has in oil. So it goes beyond drilling for our own oil, it is overlooking other energy that is already here in abundance. I look it at as a way to separate from the oil ticks and become independent from the RoP. Diesel from coal is viable but first we have to stop ethanol subsidies and beat back the anthropogenic global warming alarmists. It doesn’t matter if oil is $5 a barrel or $205 a barrel. What is important is separating ourselves from the dependence on these idiots and their death cult.

[Calpernia]

>>>Dubai Customs To Implement The Container Security Initiative And Begin Targeting And Pre-Screening Cargo Destined For U.S.<<<<

***Congressman Duncan Hunter: “No, because I don’t trust them. And I don’t trust them because a few years ago Dubai, while an American Customs agent was trying to stop them, set for delivery a set of nuclear triggers to an anonymous recipient in Islamabad, probably for the A.Q. Khan network. That went directly against American interests.****

[Petronski]

But the only way they CAN invest those American dollars is by buying American assets,

Bullshit.

[montag813]

Excellent points. Thanks.

[Candor7]

You have clearly never been to Dubai. Sharia law? In Dubai? BWAHAHAHA!!!!!!! The only "green flag of Islam" in Dubai has a picture of George Washington on it. It is a very fun place to visit, BTW. Ask any American sailor.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are right on about Dubai itself, but so quick do people believe that the Dubai Sheiks would not revrt to their ancestral form when pressured by the Mullahs of Tehrmn , especially so if there was a buck or two in it.

Dubai is our new , "Hong Kong," a free port, but if you read other posts , you will see taht in essence they are Muslims who are quite willinng to side with those who prosecute the evolution of a World Caliphate. Dubai is the tip of the Muslim speer, and the trojan horse they represent is a;ll the more effective because they think that the Dubai Sheiks would not make sharia law a prerequisite to business dealings with companies they have taken over.

For example,, we have arbitration statutes in almost every stae. Imagine the Dubai Sheiks insisting that disputes must be settled by Sharia Law based aarbitration as a matter of contratual obligation with whom they do business.

Generally few people outside of Israel know just how insidious the spread of Islam by commerce is the EXACT same way it had been spread before into new locations , as it did in Spain, for exammple.

If the DUbai Sheiks were genuinely so decadent, as you suggest, the Iranians would not do business with them.

But the Dubai Sheiks are first and foremost advocates of expanding Islam, they have more motivation for such epansion than merely making a buck. THe non sharia aspect of Dubai does not alter that fact one iota.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Bump...thanks.

[nw_arizona_granny]

ping.