The 'Ports' Hysteria
February 23, 2006
By Douglas B. Wakeman
I can’t seem to get excited about the UAE/ports deal. I know that we shouldn’t allow a company from a country that has willingly hosted and financed terrorists, particularly those involved in 9/11 access to our ports. But considering that we knew the terrorists were here and what their plans were and that they were learning to fly jumbo jets, and we refused to even listen to their phone conversations or examine their laptops, didn’t we host and train them? I guess that means American companies are out of the question too.
Somebody said that we shouldn’t deal with any government that refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist. Considering our government’s sending of billions of dollars to the Palestinian Authority over the years, not to mention Oslo and the current administration’s official position of a two-state solution, I guess that cuts us out again.
Sami al Arian, officials of CAIR and dozens more Islamo-fascists and their financial backers have visited the White House as honored guests.
Our universities are hotbeds of officially sanctioned pro-terrorist, hate-Israel activities.
We host dozens of the wealthiest charitable foundations on Earth, all allied with the Islamo-fascists and dedicated to the extermination of Israel.
We created the Taliban (wink wink, just throwing one out for the moonbats).
One of our major political parties, basically half of all American elected officials, has chosen to side with the enemy in the war on terror.
Can the UAE match any of this “terrorist support?”
Jimmeh Carter, the god-father of the Iranian Islamo-fascist revolution, thinks the UAE/ports deal is just fine. Then, I’m against. But, Hillary and Chuckie Schmuckie are against it. That makes me lean to favor it.
The unions are against. Hmmmm, I am for.
Mark Shields, a far Left, radical pontificator said to his comrade Jim Lehrer "There are only three countries in the entire world that diplomatically recognized the Taliban government of Afghanistan. And the United Arab Emirates was one of them. So, I mean, this isn't exactly Iowa we're talking about or Vermont or some sort of a friendly - necessarily friendly ally of ours in all of these struggles.”
So, is Shields against? Then I’m for. I mean I have to take the contrary position to somebody who believes that Vermont is some sort of friendly ally!
Bush’s position is irrelevant. It is completely impossible to discern any basic value system common to this man’s actions. I think he throws chicken bones and has them interpreted by an inmate of some lunatic asylum to come up with his stand on any issue. Then, he orders up 5 or 6 talking points to repeat over and over again when challenged. He is unmovable on the voodoo outcome whatever it may be. So, who cares what this clown thinks.
Before two weeks ago, I didn’t even know that there were huge multinational companies that ran the services at ports.
Is this company good at running a port? Haven’t heard. Are they the best? Has anyone said? Has there been any terrorist activity linked to this company’s operations? Has this been brought up by anybody?
So, do you go with first principles? This would counsel rejection based on the war between civilizations. We need to exterminate Islam. So, we should refrain from any entanglements with its state sponsors. But, we can’t avoid such entanglements as long as they sit on the oil. So, what policy can encompass both these realities with any coherence?
Pragmatism – the goal of quashing Islam might be advanced by interaction with more moderate regimes. But, is there such a thing as a moderate Islamic regime?
Free market principles – Hey, let the highest bidder win.
OK, how’s this? Go with pragmatism and markets. Give ‘em a chance at it. I think that by now the whole world is aware that if you as a nation support an attack on us, we will invade and replace your government. I think we should pick out a few known terrorists on the loose and kill their friends and family just as a reminder of this.
But, anyway, I don’t think we have so much to fear from an established company and known nation. If we can survive the Democrat Party and the mainstream media, working from within to throw this fight to the enemy, we should be able to survive this.
Reference Columns and Articles
Online Intelligence Review – The G2 Bulletin, comes up with meager fare as far as objections. How is this “ruler”, Sheikh Mohammed so different in his views from John Kerry? Then again, I wouldn’t want John Kerry running any of our ports.
On Fox the other night, Krauthammer strongly supported a new objection regarding dissemination of our security secrets through this company. He goes into it a bit more in this column, but the previous vehemence of his objection is mellowed.
3/9 - Time. This article addresses, "the reality of living in a globally connected business world." Our military ships are serviced by foreign companies, particularly Dubai companies!
3/10 - New York Post editorial. This column validates my opposition to the unions in favoring the deal. Also, explains how the foreign ownership concern is a gnat compared to the vulture of home-grown malfeasance, corruption and blindness to danger.
3/10 - Wash Post. Foreign ownership is the rule in American ports. This from the article - "There is an important reason why terminals are usually managed by foreigners: The shipping companies themselves are largely foreign, and they have generally sought to control terminals so that they can be certain of having the most reliable, efficient facilities possible for loading and unloading their vessels quickly to reduce costly time in port. That arrangement has suited local port authorities; they want to ensure that their ports will draw enough traffic to generate revenue and employment."
3/10 - The American Spectator. A short review of the whole deal. Will UAE retaliation be costly for us?
3/10 - Mark Levin blog on National Review
Online.
This is basically Mark's opening monologue from his Friday show.
The UAE seems to be a handy spot for the smuggling of dual-use technology.
Department of Homeland Security Fact Sheet. This explains how security is handled at our ports.
3/13 - Washington Times -
Vermont Towns Call For Bush's Impeachment.
Check this sentence - "He has attended anti-war demonstrations featuring
"alert-the-media" protester Cindy Sheehan, but considers himself a progressive."
What's with the, "but?" A progressive is a hate-America Marxist! Of
course he supports the traitor mom!
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