They're sellin' our ports, maw!Follow

I'm curious on the takes of the various factions here about this issue.

All I hear from the left is "I can't believe they would sell our ports to shady countries!"

All I hear from the right is "I can't believe they would think that our president would jeopordize the securty of this country!"



I mean, The Ports are really just a bunch of waterside buisness parks are they not? Why would the government have any real say in waht the companies that run out of there do with their buisnesses.

on the other hand.. our boy Bush has openly declared that he will do his first veto ever of anyone trying to stop it from happening... Now I know that America stands to gain like 9 Billion dollars from this deal, so we can see where his motivations lie..

however, should we be concerned about this for security reasons? These are our most historic and strategic ports. I kinda see a problem with port security butting heads with the people running the companies.. but i am not aware of how jurisdictions lie with foreign comapnies working out of American ports..

Another thing I'm hearing is complaints that the ports should have gone to American companies, which s an argument that i find totally irrelevant, since buisness is buisness, and money has no boundaries. The big question is; is there a price on security?

As long as the Coast Gaurd and regular port security, customs, etc are still in charge of security and have the authority to do their job, I fail to see the problem. It's not like we're giving them the land and declaring it land under their authority, similar to an embassy.

Yes, while it would seem that the UAE government is our ally, that is so say nothing of the comanies working within that countries borders..

for instance, reading this 2 year old Forbes article made me think http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2004/0412/086.html





Colombia is an important ally in the war against drugs, Mexico is an important ally against illegal immigration. But much of our illegal drug supply and immigrant population come from Colombia and Mexico, y'know?

That Dubai company is going for more than just those six ports. They're also going for P&O ports, the shipping company that now operates in those six ports. (A 6.3 billion USD deal)

It's an economic move, just the same as the Chinese companies that control operations several European ports.




True, but if this deal doesn't make it, that might also affect the offer on P&O ports by that Dubai company. I doubt that the UAE government is going to be pleased with that. Might make them rethink their position.


As for security, ports operators don't really have that much of a say in it. At this moment, there are American customs officers operating in most ports of departure around the world checking the exports to the US. Most of those ports had to invest in extra security measures, like scanners (mobile and other) and restrictions on who can access the quays, radioactivity detectors should be installed in port of Antwerp soon on every container terminal I believe. But as Jawbox said, it is physically impossible to check every single container.

9 billion doesn't make a gigantic impact in our national budget; can't imagine such a sum would force a policy showdown.

I haven't read deep enough into the issue, but I can't figure out what the administration is up to. It's one thing if Bush & Co are actively pursuing a Republican agenda -- at least that, one can understand. It's another when the executive in power takes a stand against both parties to do something that neither group seems to want.

Arguably that's the way politics ought to happen (the parties be damned, we will lead this country as we must), but I'm too grounded in reality to believe this is the case. Nobody in DC works on principle.

I become uneasy when I can't figure out the intentions of our leaders.

Off the cuff, I'd guess that it's already nearing the 2nd quarter of 2006 and a capitulation to Congress now would pretty much mark the beginning of Bush's lame duck period. Something Bush wants to put off for as long as possible.

Condaleeza Rice has a *****.

It is bigger than yours.

i woundered how long it was going to take the Asylum to post a thread on this threat.

im a repub, and have been for a very long time. i voted for GW for his first and second term, i am now drastically regretting my last vote for him.

on this action alone. im sorry, but there is no good viable reason to sell our ports to any country least of all countries that are KNWON to support and harbor terrorists.

im more then slightly pissed about this, and today GW has said he will VETO any legal action to stop the sale.

i really hope several of the states and cities that controll and own the ports now will revoke their lease to the feds before the sale is finnalized to block the sale that way.

QUESTION: Are you confident that any problems with security — from what you know, are you confident that any problems with security would not be greater with a UAE company running this than an American company?

RUMSFELD: I am reluctant to make judgments based on the minimal amount of information I have because I just heard about this over the weekend.

UPDATE: Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense, is a member of Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States. As such, he was one of the people who, according to the Treasury Department, unanimously approved the sale on February 13. How could do that when he didn’t even find out about the sale until last weekend?


http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/21/rumsfeld-not-consulted/


That man is such a liar. I still get an erection of the video where he was on a news show doing an interview and he said "I have never said Imminent Threat in relationship to Iraq ever in any form!" then the host of the show brought up 4-6 quotes of Rumsfeld where he says "Iraq is an imminent threat.

F'uck that "you're with us or you're against us" attitude that leads people to blind devotion and the vilification of war protesters.


also, f'uck the new swear filter.




Edited, Wed Feb 22 15:21:09 2006 by trickybeck

Terrorists: Hey Bush boy, let's make another deal.

Bush: M'kay

Terrorists: You arrange a place for us to enter, and kill some Americans. In turn, you get more excuse to raise hell in our countries while getting another "9/11 fever" boost in support you could use to follow through the destruction of your country's civil rights and democracy, securing your place as dictator of your new military police state.

Bush: And ya'll get to die for your Alla and get your 70-some odd virgins. It's a win/win situation! I'll veto anyone who tries to stop it, it'll be great!

Having anyone else in 2008 seems too good to be true. I can imagine:

"We regret to inform the American people, that presidential elections will be withheld this term until the war on terror is over. We have to stay the course!"

*BOOM*

See what happens when you don't obey?

*BOOM*

Dissent and the terrorists will get you. Resist our rule and our Diebold bank machines rob you of your money. You have no choice, this is the new America!

yes, this buisnesses moving in are actually owned by the government of that country.


Also, our mayor (and I'm sure plenty others) are whole-heartedly trying to fight this, although methinks in vain.


Really I don;t see it as a "racial" issue. I don't know the full history of the relationship between this Dubai and the US. BAsed on everything I know.. it's most likey some greedy officials over there just trying to make a buck and improving their US relations by entering into this "deal" (even though it was sold by a British Co.)

Only problem is.... how much of waht goes on through that company is regulated as well as they should be? We seem to be putting alot of faith in these people...

They will have increased knowledge of any lacking security situation in these ports... and I'm SURE the people that they hire are not going to be put under as much scrutiny as they should be... I'm talking mega-background checks..

another matter is, ALREADY the regulation on the Port of Baltimore alone is pretty damn ******... All I hear about from there is smuggling operations and drug shipments and corrupt workers....
and I've personally dealt with the "Port Authority" cops... They're idiots, plain and simple. I'm sorry, but I just don't trust them to keep me secure as it is.... now this latest thing just seems like the icing on the tombstone.


we'll see... i just don;t want anymore morning commute incidents... as i drive a stones-throw from the Port everyday.

Bush can do whatever the **** he wants at this point, he is the most hated man in america anyway.