Some FACTS on Ports "Firestorm"

[NoMercy]

The ports issue is a fantastic political oportunity for us Democrats, comedians and talk-show hosts. However, how about some facts:

Fact: Dubai Ports World operation is likely the most technologically sophisticated and security oriented in the world. This has resulted in heavy investment in port terminal technology and in good acquisitions.

Fact: The two other Maritime conglomerates in a position to bail out the Brittish Peninsula and Oriental are: Hutchison backed by the Hong Kong government, and PSA backed by the Singapore government. Remember, U.S. companies don’t make the kind to massive 50 year investment plans required in this low-profit business (and sadly, neither does the U.S. government). The only other entity qualified to effectively acquire P&O would be the Danish conglomerate Maersk, BUT their terminal operator subsidiary, APM Terminals, does not compare with the others.

Fact: the current situation of U.S. port security under the Bush regime is abysmal to say the least. Managers of U.S. ports were roundly criticized by recent federal reports as grossly under-funding their security mandates. Investment by DPW and the spotlight brought to bear on port security can only help.


Of course, there is always the option of a couple hundred $billion Bush regime takeover of the entire U.S. ports system. Would that be more secure.

Look, the ports deal is not about security, except for the purpose of comedy and
political manuevering by everyone up for election. It is really about MONEY -- Dubai has it, the Brits and Americans want it.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. FACT: the port deal may have absolutely no effect on port security

FACT: it is, however, an opportunity to reveal the Bush admin's hypocrisy when it comes to accepting totalitarian and/or terror-supporting countries - one of the prime motivations for the Iraq invasion.

[TomInTib]

3. That is the issue. Luckily the red herring (security) has caused..

the feral knee-jerk reaction of the Idiot Base to keep this thing at eye level.

Blowback.

[BlueEyedSon]

6. FACT: if you reformulate all of Bushco's behavior in terms of GREED

there are no contradictions.

[CJCRANE]

2. Isn't the problem cronyism, corruption and secrecy? nt

[slor]

4. Fact: Even the "most technologically sophisticated...

and security oriented" systems means nothing if one of your workers changes his allegiances to, say, a terrorist group.

Fact: Regardless of what happens, bush is still dangerous to the country.

[jimshoes]

5. How can there be any oversight

if no records are going to be kept on US soil. Are we ready to trust the UAE that they'll keep us safe? I'm not willing to bet on it.

[joefree1]

7. More facts

Dubai Ports World differs from most foreign operators because of its state ownership. But if its takeover of P&O goes through, it would have to comply with the same security procedures in its U.S. facilities that other operators do.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/21/AR2006022101924.html

This cuts no ice with the takeover's opponents, who point out that Iran transported uranium through the Emirates, that two of the September 11 hijackers were from the country and that money to fund al-Qaeda suicide bombers has passed through Emirates banks.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/02/26/ccpno26.xml&menuId=242&sSheet=/money/2006/02/26/ixcity.html

It ain't black and white. We're not talking about a secular democratic government owned company running our ports.

[NoMercy]

8. Other buyout options are also mainly Government controlled.

If one of the Chinese groups bought out P&O, then "the Chinese" would have an
effective monopoly on U.S. terminal operation.

Is that type of monopoly advisable?

[RazzleDazzle]

14. We ought to be running our own ports, period.

The "fact" that we're NOT at the moment is hardly a good reason to extend the favor to a country which has been very closely associated with terrorism. That's not even a logically sound argument.

Nice try, tho.

[joefree1]

9. And more again

From a conservative web site:

Furthermore, prior to 9/11, the UAE recognized the Taliban as the legitimate governmental authority in Afghanistan, and the port of Dubai was the headquarters of rogue Pakistani scientist A. Q. Khan’s black-market nuclear supply network before it was broken up in 2004.

The UAE claims it had no knowledge of the operations of the Khan network in Dubai prior to its exposure to the world, and it is fair to add that it has taken steps over the past few years to clean up its banking system so that Al-Qaeda and similar terrorist groups can no longer manipulate it for their own gain. It has also been helpful in gathering anti-terror intelligence in the region, and rounding up high-level Al-Qaeda operatives, which is something that the Bush administration appreciates, as do I. Still, to this day the UAE has failed to support Israel's right to exist, and questions concerning its ability to prevent the infiltration of its DPW components by radical Islamic groups still abound.
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/12633.html

So worry over a Dubai Government takeover of our ports may not be as xenophobic as the corporatist would have us believe.

[NoMercy]

16. The U.S. Covertly supported both the Taliban and Bin Laden -- in the past

pre-9/11.

[kentuck]

10. From what Joe Biden said this morning, it does affect security...

Who will have access to the computers in Dubai? Who will create and have access to the manifests? Who will provide security when the ships are first loaded? With only 5% inspected, what are the the odds that something could be slipped into either of the ports? 20-1 if my math is correct.

[NoMercy]

11. NeoCon attack Like attack on Chavez -- 90% propaganda

Guys the NeoCons are using Bush incompetence and hypocricy to try to save their
butts and reposition. They have tried to undermine Chavez with similar propaganda

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x523400

[kentuck]

12. Here is a satelite photo of largest port in Dubai...

http://www.dpa.co.ae/port_virtual_tour/JA/ja-level-1.htm

click on or near middle to get closer view...

[RazzleDazzle]

13. Mighty nice of you to come here to lobby us - more facts for ya

Before everyone gets all soothed and consoled by your "facts," here are some other facts. This first one is especially outstanding:

The Dubai Ports World Deal - Through a Coast Guard Veteran's Eyes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x481615

Homeland Security Protested Ports Deal
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060226/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/ports_security

The Assertion The Dubai Co. Would Not Be In Charge Of Security Is FALSE!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x498780

Who the hell cares what YOU think?
(good early compilation with links)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x474465

Village Voice: Ports: All 'Bout a Dealer Named Bout
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2128568
Link: http://villagevoice.com/news/0609,ridgeway,72294,2.html
and: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0609,ridgeway,72286,2.html

OMIGAWD!! Dubai: "Visit the USA: Streamlined Visa Processing"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x497794
Link: http://uae.usembassy.gov/visit_the_usa.html

Obscure US intelligence agency assessed ports deal (NEGROPONTE INVOLVED)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x496497
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2476019
Link: http://www.commoncause.org/ProtectNetNeutrality
and: http://go.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNew

Kristen Breitweiser:Coming to a Port Near You-where Dubya stands for Dubai
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2476915
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-breitweiser/coming-to-a-port-near-you_b_16218.html


Sen Levin: Bush Admin Ignoring the Law On Port Deal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x501703
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_go_co/ports_security

US Relationship with UAE seems shrouded in secrecy....some facts:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x501707
Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002823048&zsection_id=2002107549&slug=portsemirates23&date=20060223

US Called Off Air Strike on Osama Because UAE Royals Were Visiting Him
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x488962
Link: http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/25osama.htm

DEO - Bush and his UAE Pals (Dobbs)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x494300
Link: http://www.canofun.com/cof/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=17073

Slavery of baby boys in the United Arab Emirates
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x495756
Link: http://www.iabolish.org/slavery_today/country_reports/ae.html

Bush to Kerry "I'll NEVER Hand Over America's Security to Foreign Leaders"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x490641
Link: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/06/se.01.html
via: http://www.digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_02_19_digbysblog_archive.html#114062718127636312

"We will make no distinction between the terrorists ..." (some facts about UAE)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2475354
Link: http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/17/ports-uae

WTF! Tampa Approves Port Deal To UAE
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x490661
Link: http://www.local6.com/news/7327461/detail.html

Daily Record: N.J. will sue to stop Arab company's port takeover
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2124240
Link: http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060222/NEWS01/602220325/1005

The UAE Has been providing U.S. Port Security since March 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x491375
Link: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/archives/2005_press_releases/0032005/03282005.xml

By law Dubya had to know about the port deal, Exon-Florio statute says so
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2475129
Link: http://www.treasury.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/

STOP. Rewind. Go back to 9/11, re-examine. We have lost our way.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=490064&mesg_id=490064

Time Machine 2004: UAE royals, bin Laden's saviours
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x490213
Link: http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/25osama.htm

UAE and BCCI
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x490176
Link: http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/searchResults.jsp?searchtext=%22abu+dhabi%22&events=on&entities=on&articles=on&topics=on&timelines=on&projects=on&titles=on&descriptions=on&dosearch=on&search=+Go+

The fact that your enemy agrees with you does not always mean that you're wrong. (Plaid Adder)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x485038

July, 2001, UAE: Osama Bin Laden stays at hospital in Dubai, UAE
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x485845
Link: http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/RIC111B.html

There's something odd about the recent deaths in the UAE ruling family!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x487452

NY Daily News: Did John Snow smooth the port deal for his former company?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x489293
Link: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/393579p-333744c.html

The UAE - Halliburton connection/"Trading With The Enemy"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x489315
Link: http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2004/0412/086_2.html

The Dirty Little Secret Behind the UAE Port Security Flap (David Sirota)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x484387
Link: http://www.davidsirota.com/2006/02/dirty-little-secret-behind-uae-port.html

SCANDAL: Bush nominated PORT DEAL exec as Maritime Admin in January
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x484495
Link: http://www.dpiterminals.com/fullnews.asp?NewsID=39

Caferty, CNN - Over 3000 emails on Port deals - WOW!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x483743#483750

Hedz up: Lou Dobbs to discuss "interesting relationships" on port
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x483755

Port deal = Airport security outsourced to the Saudi's!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x482425

BREAKING: Rumsfeld & Pace Not Consulted On Transfer Of Port Ops To UAE
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x482089
Link: http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/21/rumsfeld-not-consulted/

[kentuck]

15. I think one would be very naive to think that CFIUS has the interests...

of our nation at heart, when they say there are no security risks involved in this transaction. It's about "national security". Here, go play with this grenade. It's safe so long as you don't pull the pin.