A number of the world's top sports personalities, film stars and entertainment icons have visited Nakheel's developments.
Madeline Albright, Greg Norman (who is building world class golf courses here)
Posted on 02/22/2006 6:28:54 AM PST by Quilla
Little noticed in the kerfuffle over the takeover of major US ports by Dubai Ports is the key role being played by former Democratic Party leaders. Lobbying firms associated with ex-Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Madeleine Albright (Clinton’s Secretary of State) have been working (paid subscription only link) to secure approval of the purchase by Dubai.
One would think that our leaders, even when out of office, would care more about their nation than their bank accounts.This hopefully will give impetus to a bill (drafted by Republican Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan) working its slow way through Congress that would bar federal employees from representing foreign governments for four years after they leave public service.
A sad statement: we need a law that restricts former government leaders, who presumably would have America’s interest at heart, from going on the payroll of foreign regimes, even those with connections to terror activities.
And the plot thickens.....
A couple things on this story....
1) The media has aligned on the same title for this story as the Democrats "Port Security" even though it is the "OPERATION" of the ports being sold to Dubai. Whenever the media and the Dems align so quickly, it starts to smell like a PR operation.
2) As I understand it, the ports are currently operated by a BRITISH company, not a US company and yet I have seen it claimed that we are selling off US operations.
3) We elect representatives to sift through tons of information and make decisions for us. We clearly don't have the information to make this decision, just little tidbits. Why should we use tidbits to challenge our representatives on this?
4) Suppose Dubai gives $6.2B for the port operations... can we include some conditions that give the US rights to sift through their books, tap their phones, or any other activities we deem appropriate in advance? If we catch them systematically cheating, we take the ports back and they lose their money.
Interesting, two culprits who had no qualms about selling out The Country when they were in power, will now stop at nothing due to utter greed.
Wow..kerfuffle...I like it.
Very interesting. Yesterday a poster on FR was spamming threads insisting Bush should fire Snow, and a couple of other cabinet members as they supposedly stood in line for profit from the UAE sale. It actually sound like this has been in the percolator for a while, with RATS standing to get the kickbacks.
ping
BUMP
I believe that Hillary Clinton was among those making this charge. I also saw a comment (but I haven't confirmed it) that her husband was in power when they were sold to England.
These people put party before country time and time again. I am also suspect of their motives. That said, I do believe that US interests should be running our ports. The money should remain in our economy. The control should remain in our country.
Oh, very good find! Although I have to wonder what Daschle would say publicly about whether this was a good deal for the US or not! Too bad he wasn't asked by Russert last Sunday.
I see some security problems nonetheless..will the physical dimensions and blueprints of the facilities be available to the concessionaire?
Who hires and fires employees?
Who has the keys and combinations? Who can change either?
This deal probably shouldn't pass on antitrust grounds more than security, because the firm already operates most of the ports we receive from outside of China.
People who say no American company can do this don't know the bid process. More likely, no American company wants these ports.
FYI Ping
FORMER US secretary of state Madeleine Albright visited Zayed University's Dubai campus and discussed several cultural, academic and social issues with ZU students and officials.
On arrival, Albright was received by Vice-President of ZU Dr Hanif Hassan and deans.
"The meeting was part of Albright's visit to the UAE; she stressed on the importance of education in building the nations and development of the country. Education is a major cornerstone of political, cultural, and economic fields."
http://tinyurl.com/jqqh8
So are we saying these guys bought out Bush?
A number of the world's top sports personalities, film stars and entertainment icons have visited Nakheel's developments.
Madeline Albright, Greg Norman (who is building world class golf courses here)
Leaders in Dubai 2005 featured The Honourable Madeleine Albright. Listen to her, share her insights with the audience
2005
Bassam Abushakra, Regional Director of ESOL, gave Dr. Albright a tour of the 65,000 sq. meter campus. ESOL manages the Universal American School and the Deira International School, both located in Dubai Festival City, as well as numerous other schools in the region. The former Secretary was very impressed with UAS’s campus, commenting that “these are some of the best facilities I have ever seen”.
Dr. Albright is currently a professor at Georgetown University in Washington DC, where her students currently include graduates from other ESOL schools, including the American International School in Egypt.
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