Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "I know as much about this deal as I do about the Disney/Pixar deal, and I support it about the same as I did that one. The people who have looked at the UAE deal the most seem to support it." Blind loyalty as foolish as this can only lead to catastrophe. No way do we "trust" the same people who pored over the Iraq intel, can't catch Bin laden, Al Zawahiri, Al Zarqawi, screwed up the Katrina response, nominated Harriet Myers, can't or won't guard our borders, massively screwed up Medicare, came up with a lame Social Security plan, and can't even coordinate a decent response to Cheney's hunting accident. At this point, only a fool trusts these people without them divulging any details.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'm in a job under control of a British company. I am contracted to work for a City and the company I work for is out of England. I'm happy to have the job. I'm American.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger Also, the government of England (probably) doesn't own the company wahoo works for.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe post 86--Douglas--I meant Muslims--I just googled and the most popular figure is 1.6 BILLION worldwide population of Muslims. Come on Douglas. I almost always back you and it is billions not millions. What is dabob driving you crazy here. I'm JOE not dabob. You get my drift here though. We still have a chance not to be hated by everyone. If we are, jihad here we come.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <You get my drift here though. We still have a chance not to be hated by everyone.> Yes, I got your drift. I was just being retentive.
Originally Posted By gadzuux <a href="http://www.dpiterminals.com/fullnews.asp?NewsID=39" target="_blank">http://www.dpiterminals.com/fu llnews.asp?NewsID=39</a> DP WORLD EXECUTIVE NOMINATED FOR PRESITIGOUS US GOVT POSITION Dubai, 24 January 2006: - Global ports operator DP World today welcomed news that one of its senior executives, Dave Sanborn, has been nominated by US President George W. Bush to serve as Maritime Administrator - a key transportation appointment reporting directly to Norman Mineta the Secretary of Transportation and Cabinet Member. The White House has issued a statement from Washington DC announcing the nomination. The confirmation process will begin in February. Mr Sanborn currently holds the position of Director of Operations for Europe and Latin America for the Dubai-based company. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And get this . . . Human trafficing of children for camel jockeys! <a href="http://www.antislavery.org/archive/submission/submission2005-cameljockeys.htm" target="_blank">http://www.antislavery.org/arc hive/submission/submission2005-cameljockeys.htm</a> United Nations Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery 30th Session Geneva 6-10 June 2005 Trafficking and forced labour of children in the Gulf region Children continue to be trafficked from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen to be used as camel jockeys in the UAE. Furthermore, Anti-Slavery International also has evidence that children are also being trafficked to be used as camel jockeys in other Gulf states including Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and also internally in Sudan. The trafficking of children for use as camel jockeys is prohibited by International Labour Organization Conventions 29 and 182 and by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, all of which have been ratified by the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Sudan. It is also prohibited under ILO Convention 138, which has been ratified by the UAE, Kuwait and Sudan. The United Arab Emirates Anti-Slavery International understands that the Government of the United Arab Emirates has introduced three new decrees to combat the use of children as camel jockeys, which relate to the requirement for camel owners to bring underage camel jockeys to the authorities for repatriation; the obligation on children from certain countries, where there is known to be a problem of trafficking for use as camel jockeys, to enter the UAE on their own individual passport; and the prohibition of the use of camel jockeys under 16 years old or weighing less that 45 kilograms. It is of concern that a new law against the use of child camel jockeys, which was announced at the end of March, has not yet been passed. We would ask the Government to provide details of this legislation and when it will come into effect, and also details of the above decrees, indicating how they will be effective in ending the use of child jockeys, when previous measures have failed to do so. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Finally, an overview of human rights violations by UAE. <a href="http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/18/uae12233.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hrw.org/english/doc s/2006/01/18/uae12233.htm</a>
Originally Posted By gadzuux More . . . <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/02/22/national/w042723S91.DTL&type=printable" target="_blank">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/02/22/national/w042723S91.DTL&type=printable</a> Lawmakers Undeterred by Bush Veto Threat - By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, February 22, 2006 (02-22) 06:49 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Lawmakers determined to capsize the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates said President Bush's surprise veto threat won't deter them. Bush on Tuesday brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House that the $6.8 billion sale could raise risks of terrorism at American ports. In a forceful defense of his administration's earlier approval of the deal, he pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement. The sale's harshest critics were not appeased. "I will fight harder than ever for this legislation, and if it is vetoed I will fight as hard as I can to override it," said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. King and Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said they will introduce emergency legislation to suspend the ports deal. Another Democrat, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, urged his colleagues to force Bush to wield his veto, which Bush — in his sixth year in office — has never done. "We should really test the resolve of the president on this one because what we're really doing is securing the safety of our people." "The president wants this deal to go forward because it was followed by the book and he wants Congress to understand that," [White House counsel Dan] Bartlett said on CBS'"The Early Show." He told Fox News Channel that Bush felt strongly that "we need to be adding strategic partners" in the Mideast. But Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., said the bipartisan opposition to the deal indicated "a lack of confidence in the administration" on both sides. "Sure, we have to link up with our Arab friends but ... we want to see and those in Congress want to know what ... safeguards are built in," Biden said on ABC's "Good Morning America." Defending his decision, Bush responded to a chorus of objections this week in Congress over potential security concerns in the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Bush's veto threat sought to quiet a political storm that has united Republican governors and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee with liberal Democrats, including New York Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Schumer. Frist said Tuesday, before Bush's comments, that he would introduce legislation to put the sale on hold if the White House did not delay the takeover. He said the deal raised "serious questions regarding the safety and security of our homeland. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., asked the president for a moratorium on the sale until it could be studied further. "We must not allow the possibility of compromising our national security due to lack of review or oversight by the federal government," Hastert said. "I can understand why some in Congress have raised questions about whether or not our country will be less secure as a result of this transaction," the president said. "But they need to know that our government has looked at this issue and looked at it carefully." Bush said protesting lawmakers should understand that if "they pass a law, I'll deal with it with a veto." Lawmakers from both parties have noted that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used the United Arab Emirates as an operational and financial base. In addition, critics contend the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So among the GOP noses being counted as "opposed" we have a veritable who's who of republican leadership, frist, hastert, and pete king - chairman of the homeland security agency. Another article had mccain coming out for a moratorium. At the same time, we don't see anybody stepping up to the plate saying they support the president. We don't see the president laying out a case for why this company is the best choice - only a threat to veto any response by congress - typical arrogance. I just don't see this deal going through. I do see bush trying to buffalo his way through this, and in the same way he's already doing, by threats and intimidation - not on the dubious merits of the deal itself. In the process, he'll only harm himself and his party, so "go bush" - push for this ridiculous program as hard as you can!
Originally Posted By cmpaley Well, Bush is getting opposition from the RINO's in his party. Time for the martial law declaration so he can disband the Congress and reinstitute it with people who have owe him favors.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I say put the Mob back in charge of the ports< Yep, you think Gotti would have let this happen ? <My understanding is that the jobs are currently being performed by Americans under control of a British company, and if this deal is okayed, they will be performed by Americans under control of an UAE company< that's interesting if true Douglas -- at least the jobs stay here then, makes it a little more palatable - thank for info
Originally Posted By bboisvert <<I do see bush trying to buffalo his way through this, and in the same way he's already doing, by threats and intimidation - not on the dubious merits of the deal itself>> Bush and Co. are bullies and the rest of the world know it. They take what they want and damn the torpedoes. The Republican leadership is getting smacked in the face by the WH (again) and it's about time they called the president out on anything. It's not about "global economy" or xenophobia, as the Bush apologists would have you believe. This is about big business, it's about sweetheart deals, it's about cronyism, it's about the cabal that is running our country. <<at least the jobs stay here then,>> Even if the money doesn't. The jobs may stay here, but for how long? How long before this new ownership busts the unions to cut costs? Do they care whether they reinvest in keeping our ports secure? Do you think they give a hang if 95% of all cargo doesn't get checked properly? Do you think they will invest in the latest technology (that already exists, BTW) and American know-how to secure our own ports? No, they're just there to get fat, just like any other multi-national corporation. Trouble is, this corporation isn't based in the US. The shareholders are already millionaires and billionaires and many of them are living in foreign countries. Why would they care? They are living your "American Dream" at your expense. This administration doesn't care about "Joe Lunchpail". They don't care about keeping you safe. They never have. It's an election year and the Congress knows this issue won't play well at home. I'd love to see the Republican Congress grow a pair and finally smash this one back in the White House's face. The Republican's have been saying that they stand for security, and protecting you, and blah blah blah. It's time for them to put up or shut up.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I'm truly surprised at all the Republican opposition to this. If they can believe Dubya doesn't have his head where the sun don't shine when it comes to Iraq, why do they doubt him on this port security thing??
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Political opportunism Trippy as Elephants are running scared with the mid term elections and are simply looking for cover.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Maybe their inherent xenophobia is stronger than their slavish devotion to the president, Road Trip.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "Political opportunism Trippy as Elephants are running scared with the mid term elections and are simply looking for cover." What we have, finally, are Republican office holders listening to their constituents. They've ignored them on the war and sundry other issues, but voters have let it be known this is the final straw. It isn't necessarily the deal or the details of it, because in the long run it might turn out to be acceptable. The huge, overriding complaint here is the secrecy of the entire thing and then Bush's "trust us" defense of it. In a what have you done for me lately society, Bush, if he did have that trust at one point, has squandered that asset and now appears supremely arrogant for continuing to insist on using it. All the things the left has accused him of being are now undeniable to the general populace, and the Frists and Hasterts of the world can't ignore that any longer.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe STPH--It's not duplicity of the Bush Administration per se, but the inferring and extrapolating from the Bush cloak of secrecy that has spawned a "sense" of uneasiness and distrust if not "smoking gun" deception itself. Ahhh, but I'm getting scared of what may come out of this. The "last straw," as you put it, for me, was George not knowing about the UAE buyout from the Brits. He seemed to think by going public with that fact that he would be exculpated from any onous of responsibility. I think it indicted him of a possibly far worse offense> ignorance of what is even going on in his own administration. Last night I had dypepsia trying to eat my lazy man's lobster plate when my father hammered me with a lot of anti-repub stuff. I had no come backs.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder There is no way to deny the Administration has blown it big time here. I was just in my car and decided to listen to Porky Pig's radio show (Hannity) and even HE was questioning it. I almost crashed my truck because he was repeating my exact concerns about this, namely that this deal has no transparency at all, Congress should have been a full partner and anyone who thinks the security function can be kept separate from the management and logistics functions of running a port has no clue how things are done. Hannity kept after some congressman who is fully supporting Bush with these kinds of questions and I about died. I'm going to have to shower later, I can see it now.
