Ports Flap

[GeauxTo]

Lots of people feel the deal poses a threat to national security because it would place operations at six major US ports under the control of the government of the United Arab Emirates, which owns Dubai Ports World. President Bush, from Air Force One, issued a statement standing by the deal and threatening to veto any congressional move to quash the deal. What do you think?

[Rebel Mike]

This will sound a bit nativist but please don't confuse it with racism, i'd probably bitch if it were a Chinese or Indian company too.

You don't put our country's lifeline in the hands of a country that not only funnels money into Saudi Arabian pro-terrorist telethons, but produced two of the hijackers.

[cocky4ever]

I say that we need more info, and even then we would probably find out that we didnt want to give them control over any of our ports. We cant even keep corruption out of our ports when WE are in control of them. What makes us think that a company owned by a country with terrorist ties would keep corruption out. All it takes is a few terrorists to infiltrate the system and BAM!! we could be dealt a HUGE blow in lives,structure, and monetary values. The fact that this deal is going through at a time when Iran is all hardcore about their nuclear program makes me exponentially worrisome about the whole thing.

[WayzUp]

As has been the case throughout Bush's time in office, the secrecy the administration used in approving this deal is worriesome to me. It just sounds like they were trying to slip it in under the radar and are getting called on it.

The deal itself doesn't bother me all that much, it's the fact that only 30 days were used to approve it that does. And Bush's threat to use his veto power to defend it? That's what you call fuel to the fire....why's he feel so strongly about this & why's he feel the need to use his veto power as a cudgel to get it done when all the opponents of the deal are asking for is a thorough investigation of the company, its roots in UAE, debts it owes to our enemies and what their 'business plan' (for lack of a better term) is for these operations. But as is usual for Bush II's administration, answers to the public's questions will go largely unanswered as they do everything in their power to do whatever they want.

I vote NO, this whole thing reeks & all people want are a few answers in regards to who's got interest in our ports & why. I don't think that's all that unreasonable.

[OmahaBound]

seeing as how we don't control these ports now, i don't see what the big deal is. i heard on the evening news today that the Brits run the show now, and that the US Coast Guard and other police officials handle all security. the plan calls for the UAE to take control from the Brits but the Coast Guard would still handle security and all of that.

if that news report is wrong or misleading then i suppose my thoughts could change, but if it's accurate than who cares? i'd rather the ports be in our control to make more money for a US company, but if that's not happening now then I see no real change here.

[SPURED]

i dont know a whole lot about the situation but to put anyone other than our own people in control of our ports is just Stupid. why dont they put the Arab in charge of our airports while there at it. americans have a huge target on our back so i wouldnt trust anyone. thats how all the great empires in history collapsed. they either made bad deals with other countrys/empires and got screwed. or they let there gaurd down and other countrys/empires took advantage of that.

[OmahaBound]

i dont know a whole lot about the situation but to put anyone other than our own people in control of our ports is just Stupid. why dont they put the Arab in charge of our airports while there at it. americans have a huge target on our back so i wouldnt trust anyone. thats how all the great empires in history collapsed. they either made bad deals with other countrys/empires and got screwed. or they let there gaurd down and other countrys/empires took advantage of that.

other countries have airlines at most of our big airports. so just pretend that all of the airlines at atlanta airport were foreign owned....but all the security personnel and authorities protecting your safety were US military/police/etc just like it is now. dealing strictly with security and not worrying about the business decision, would that be so bad?

[Wincrimson]

Bu$h is smoking crack. I've said before that he has hit rock bottom... but I guess no low is too low for this clown.

Think about selling the keys to the nation to a country that supports terrorism? Wow. And people say that he isn't in bed with the Arabs? What a joke.

[BamaDude06]

But he is not selling the keys...These ports are controlled by a British company. The Dubai company is buying out the British company.

The media has run away with the story, but most have left out that important fact.

[GeauxTo]

Bush is really going to lose the game if he keeps supporting the UAE in this...

http://cagle.msnbc.com/working/060221/cagle00.gif (http://www.cagle.com/caglecards/main.asp?image=http://cagle.slate.msn.com/working/060221/cagle00.gif)