Dubai threat to hit back (UAE Threatens Against Boeing and US Bases Support)

The Hill.com ^ | March 9, 2006 | Roxana Tiron

[ClearBlueSky]

And we, as a sovereign nation have a right to not sell any thing, or right, to another.The UAE says we can't change our minds. That we MUST sell to them or else.
They don't have a RIGHT to this deal. They just had an opportunity. Who the hell are they to say we can't change our minds if we think better of it?

Why is no nation owning a part of ours bad? Important infrustructure in the US should be US owned, period. I have a big problem with foreigners 'investing' here by buying up so much private property, but when it comes to ownership of important infrustructure I don't want ANY foreign ownership at all. Nope- not even by allies. If that is counter to international politics- too bad. It's my opinion.

[JamesP81]

Damn, this is the most confusing issue I think we've ever dealt with on FR.

At first, I didn't appreciate the position UAE had taken, issuing threats and all.

Is this really true that they are very pro-american, or at least were? We DO need allies in the ME, and the concept that we may have committed a betrayal against someone does not sit well with me. Doesn't sit well at all. We're supposed to be the good guys here, after all.

If that's the case, then congress did stick its head up its butt. There's just not enough information available to have a well-informed position, IMO. There never has been. If it was such a good idea, why didn't we hear anyone come out and say why?

[isthisnickcool]

Wait just a second. This is Allah's will so what's the big deal?

[Peach]

Brit reported that currently no company can handle the management of the ports that Dubai was going to manage and that one would probably have to be created.

I hope you like having more federal dollars involved in day to day life.

[Junior_G]

I just hope all these IDIOT SENATORS are very proud of themselves....they just cost the United States of America a whole lot of money...

At least you are up front with your priorities. Now if certain greedy businessmen would learn that some things just shouldn't be put up for sale, then that is a good thing.

[mlc9852]

Yep, but seems we don't have any that can. That alone should cause quite a bit of concern for our future.

[prairiebreeze]

To the scale of the operations this sale would've involved, we've been told these are 3 companies that handle that caliber, none American.

Perhaps a company here will now try to come up to "speed". Or size.

[Two-Bits]

For the 900,000 th time, all we are talking about is six goat stinkin container terminals that are leased from us, not owned either. It never involved the transfer of security, just the goat steenkin loading operations.

If these terminals are no big deal than why is it so important to Dubai? No need to flame, just curious as to why.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Schumer says he doesn't trust it and isn't ready to back down.

and this might not meet the house-passed resolution.

The question is, will they be able to find a company that is entirely american and can afford and has the expertise to manage the terminals.

I still vote for WalMart.

[Peach]

Warner just said that Dubai was handing over their management of the ports to a US company (when one is found) in order to preserve their relationship with the United States.

So for those who think they were illogically threatening us, think again.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1593281/posts

[ktvaughn]

"Since when have the Democrats ever given a damn about the security of the US?

Never.

I don't disagree. I believe the democrats attacking the president on this deal are mostly just being opportunistic, but it doesn't change the fact that what they are saying is right. It's no different than when Hillary Clinton seizes the opportunity to sound like she's tough on illegal immigration when George Bush obviously doesn't care about it. I seriously doubt that Hillary cares if illegals flood the US, but how can you blame her for taking advantage of W's woeful ineptness on the issue?"

HEAR, HEAR!

[TigersEye]

Well, are we all happy now...

I'd be happier if trials for treason were underway.

[Siena Dreaming]

It's not clear that a US entity exists to do this work. One might have to be created

Oh, great. Now we have government creating business. Wonderful. Hillary will be thrilled.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I will also note that this is a rational BUSINESS response to a business problem. This issue has always been a business issue, not a security issue, and while the congress was pretending we have a command economy, the free market in the background was working to solve the problem they we you do it in the free market -- by selling off the questioned assets.

[teawithmisswilliams]

Take your other issue to an immigration thread.

I keep mentioning it because it's an example of GWB overriding the people's will (and the immigration laws) because he apparently "knows" better. Sometimes, even a President needs to accept the will of the people. In a democratic republic, at least.

[kinghorse]

hawley. hawley! unbundle those briefs.

[oceanview]

please spare us this stuff about "DPW is the greatest ports company in the world". the same people who were once claiming that "nothing would change" at the ports if DPW got the contracts, are now the first to jump in and say "the new contractors are going to be a disaster". you told us before that "nothing would change" at the ports, that it was just a paper transaction, just a change in the holding company. now all of a sudden, everything is changing?

[johnny7]

Watch it go to Hutchinson-Wampoa.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I was going to ask him about it next week, but now maybe I don't have to.

[mlc9852]

Most people aren't upset because they are "foreign" but because they are Arabs. Big difference.