How about a little media confusion?
News Analysis
Big Problem, Dubai Deal or Not
By DAVID E. SANGER
Published: February 23, 2006
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 — In the political collision between the White House and Congress over the $6.8 billion deal that would give a Dubai company management of six American ports, most experts seem to agree on only one major point: The gaping holes in security at American ports have little to do with the nationality of who is running them. There are GAPING holes as everyone knows.
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"The management of these ports is the door which you walk through to get to all of these other questions," said Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, who, like Mr. Bush, used cargo ports as the backdrop for some of his speeches about the post-Sept. 11 world in 2004. "It raises a lot of questions about the lobbying, the connections and the terms of the deal — and the security problems the administration has left unaddressed."
It is also convenient for the Democrats, who are able to sound more hawkish on domestic security than President Bush. Mr. Bush finds himself burdened with the more nuanced argument that turning down this deal would send a message to the entire Arab world that it is not to be trusted, no matter how friendly individual countries may have been.
Kerry knows, but DAMN IT he's a Democrat, so throw in the partisan crap, ill-positioned.
Snip...
That is where concerns about Dubai come in. While the company in question has not been a focus of investigations, Dubai has been a way station for contraband, some of it nuclear. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani nuclear engineer, made Dubai his transshipment point for the equipment he sent to Libya and Iran because he could operate there without worrying about investigators.
Ah! AQ Khan...
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"I'm not worried about who is running the New York port," one senior inspector for the International Atomic Energy Agency said, insisting he could not be named because the agency's work is considered confidential. "I'm worried about what arrives at the New York port."
Bingo!
Article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/23/politics/23assess.html?_r=1&oref=sloginUnited Arab Emirates
Americans planning travel to United Arab Emirates should read International Adoption United Arab Emirates (UAE), International Parental Child Abduction United Arab Emirates available on the Department of State web site at
http://travel.state.gov July 21, 2005
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven independent emirates, each with its own ruler. The federal government is a constitutional republic, headed by a president and council of ministers. Islamic ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the country's customs, laws and practices. The UAE is a modern, developed country, and tourist facilities are widely available. Read the Department of State Background Notes on the United Arab Emirates at
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5444.htm for additional information.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY: Americans in the United Arab Emirates should exercise a high level of security awareness. The Department of State remains concerned about the possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with caution. In addition, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of the objects to local authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended, if at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times. U.S. Government personnel overseas have been advised to take the same precautions. In addition, U.S. Government facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services from time to time as necessary to review their security posture and ensure its adequacy.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1050.html United Arab Emirates cuts ties with Taliban
Last Updated Sat, 22 Sep 2001 19:12:28 EDT
CBC News
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - One of the three remaining countries in the world to officially recognize Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia has cut diplomatic relations with the regime.
INDEPTH: U.S. Under Attack
Hundreds of Afghans are trying to flee the country
The United Arab Emirates made the announcement Saturday, days after it said it was reviewing its relationship with the Taliban.
The state-run news agency, Emirates News Agency, said representatives from the Emirates tried to convince the Taliban to hand over the man suspected of masterminding the terrorist attacks on the United States, Osama bin Laden.
"Regrettably, the Taliban refused to respond positively to the efforts by the UAE and other countries," the agency quoted a government official as saying.
Reports say UAE officials have also ordered the Taliban to close their embassy in Abu Dhabi.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/news/?/news/2001/09/22/uae_taliban010922 There have been too many justifications for the Bush administration's actions, and they always lead to outrage.
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