Comments on: BACKLASH AGAINST THE BACKLASH

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:25:36 +0000

It’s funny, at the Iraq war’s beginning, people like me who were very much against it had to suffer the label of ‘Un-American’ and things of that sort. It was as if not wanting the same things as the Bush White House or wanting to get to those places using a different method made you anti-American and an anti-freedom idiot.
Welcome to our world.

By: parkbenn

parkbenn — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 04:34:32 +0000

let’s face it, NOWHERE has anyone just boiled it down to what it really is, we have economic issues on one side, security/soverignty issues on the other. the bush administration would sell their collective mother’s for a penny of profit, they ( big business open borders types ) will always sluff off security concerns, if there is money to be diverted to quasi-government companies. that is all there is to it. the past 6 years of bush’s attitude towards illegal immigration is proof enough of his disregard for security and soverignty of the United States. the port deal is all about putting money for a wealthy few over the security of the U.S.

By: Hard Starboard

Hard Starboard — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 11:24:27 +0000

Upon Further Review

….I am still not convinced about the efficacy of the Bush Administration’s jack-in-the-box-like ports deal with Dubai Ports World (a United Arab Emirates company [tm]).

This comes a little later than “tomorrow,” but I won’t be able to sleep (a…

By: Right Voices

Right Voices — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 02:24:58 +0000

RV Poll #6 - Do you believe the U.S. should have approved the UAE port deal?

Finally, our polls are back after a long hiatus. We took them down due to being too busy over the holidays - - then after that, we upgraded our blogging platform and the polls application that we were using wasn’t compatible and it’s taken…

By: Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » More On - What Else? - Ports

Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » More On - What Else? - Ports — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:38:16 +0000

[...] In other words, the White House’s “admission” that President Bush was unaware that Dubai Ports World, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, had purchased Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., a company based in Britain — and thereby obtained management control of the business operations of six U.S. ports — strikes us as completely unnecessary. Why should the president know? Twelve government departments and agencies, including the departments of Treasury, State, Defense and Homeland Security, had examined the deal over a three-month period and found it acceptable. Perhaps the White House should have anticipated this week’s political storm and prepared for it. But because the objections are irrational, even that complaint is questionable. On the other side of the coin, Rick Moran is upset about the tone of the deal’s supporters: I donâ€™t like waking up in the morning and discovering that Iâ€™m an â€œIslamaphobeâ€ or â€œUn-Americanâ€ for calling the Administration a bunch of rabbit heads for the way theyâ€™ve managed the unveiling of this idiocy. To tell you the truth, I resent it. It bespeaks a certain kind of intellectual laziness when the best one can do to counter an argument is to indulge in an orgy of name calling and finger pointing. Better to have the facts at oneâ€™s disposal and try and counter an opponentâ€™s argument in a logical and rational manner. Well, agreed…and for the record, I DID state (and do believe) that there is some racism involved in SOME of the opposition to the port deal. I certainly hope I never implied that that was the case for everyone’s opposition…there are principled arguments that can be made on both sides of the issue. [...]

By: MLK II

MLK II — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:02:53 +0000

For you folks who don’t like the port deal then prove these “probable conduits” exist between OBL and the Dubai Islamic Bank - enough “supposition”, “probability”, and “alleged” impropriety on behalf of the UAE. You know, on behalf of a REFORMED UAE.

So what if OBL had an account with DIB. Do you think Osama walked into DIB setup an account in person and then announced he not only wanted free checking but a debit card? The KKK, Black Panthers, Latino-based gangs and other notorious entities have patronized the American banking system. Should we close down all those banks/financial institutions for their â€œpurportedâ€ connections to domestic terrorists?

I mean, you anti-port people lump the pro-port name-callers in with the pro-port non-name-callers and then proceed to castigate all of us. But, yet youâ€™ll ignore those anti-Port people who hurl insults at George Bush. Itâ€™s flat out hypocrisy.

Sensitive information and management plans pertaining to Port operations will be in the hands of those on a need to know basis. There are thousands of Arab men and women who currently perform on DoD, CIVIL, Treasury, U.S, Mint and/or other Government vehicles, some requiring a TSC-w/poly badge. Only people who have the right clearance will gain access to that classified material. I doubt Michelle Malkin ever had a SSBI or had to fill out an SF-86 so what does she know about NTK solicitation requirements. That alone destroyed the BASE of her argument.

This country, UAE, has made strides to shed their sketchy past, and this is how we reward them? Donâ€™t bash Bush because you anti-Port people became brainwashed during eight years of Clinton where there was no delegation. Bush actually makes people work, and he expects them to be accountable for their business decisions. No one ever thinks to blame Congress.

If you really wanted a conservative solution, it would be to disband CFIUS â€“ heck, why not dismantle HUD and Education while youâ€™re at it. I didnâ€™t see them mentioned anywhere in the Federalist Papers as a Govie role. So much of what Malkin bashes actually affords her the lifestyle she enjoys in southern Maryland just like me in northern Virginia: the bureaucracies in Washington. The issue isnâ€™t with Bush in this port deal; itâ€™s with bureaucratic organizations that spend their entire budget in order to be funded for their next fiscal year. Theyâ€™re all about keeping the status quo, thereby preserving their existence.

This in no way excuses national security risks. It really highlights the flawed tactics of Bush-bashing-anti-Port â€œconservativesâ€ who are seeing the trees for the forest. As much as you try to spin this story, the fact remains: you are painting, in a non-racist way, individual Arabs with one broad brush and stroke. You made your bed, donâ€™t be bitter when you have to sleep in it.

By: Macmind - Conservative Commentary and Common Sense

Macmind - Conservative Commentary and Common Sense — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:40:04 +0000

More Port “Absurdity” III

On the so-called “Port Scandal”, here are some facts:

By: The Mahablog » The Snapping Point II

The Mahablog » The Snapping Point II — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:26:15 +0000

[...] Other righties are struggling to justify the UAE deal against years of Bushie conditioning. Some columnists at FrontPage note that the UAE has close ties to Hamas. And Rich Moran of Right Wing Nut House complains, I donâ€™t like waking up in the morning and discovering that Iâ€™m an â€œIslamaphobeâ€ or â€œUn-Americanâ€ for calling the Administration a bunch of rabbit heads for the way theyâ€™ve managed the unveiling of this idiocy. To tell you the truth, I resent it. It bespeaks a certain kind of intellectual laziness when the best one can do to counter an argument is to indulge in an orgy of name calling and finger pointing. Better to have the facts at oneâ€™s disposal and try and counter an opponentâ€™s argument in a logical and rational manner. [...]

By: All Things Beautiful

All Things Beautiful — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:25:39 +0000

Dubai Ports - The Bigger Picture

I believe, that Saudi Arabia’s political situation defines that of the 7 Emirates and their present rulers on a daily basis, and as such, impacts directly on the security risk analysis of DP World’s acquisition of P

By: The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » The Damage We Have Done

The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » The Damage We Have Done — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:19:51 +0000

[...] These bloggers admit the key element in the Port debate is Arab ownership of the company. When on the other side, my side, of the debate illustrate how the rationales to stop the deal make the UK and Germany look equally as good (to show where The UAE fits in the bigger world picture of allies and foes) - we come back to Arab ownership.Â People have made it clear, if not for Arabs in the mix there would be no problem. Unfortunately, lashing out at a people because of the acts of a few who share tenuous ties to the broader group is a place I cannot go. I wrote this to Rick Moran, who I admire greatly, on his post where he lashed out at those of us who have been somewhat repulsed by the backlash against The UAE and Bush. It applies to all the people I had the pleasure to get to know in this wonderful world of blogging, but who now stand in a place alien to me. So I decided to re-post my comment (#13 at Rick’s site) for all: Rick, [...]