Comments on: US Ports in Arab Hands? http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html Independent. Conservative. Unruly. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:38:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: wilson http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110146 wilson Wed, 22 Feb 2006 14:33:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110146 <p>Anyone listen to Tony Snow this morning? May be another side to this?</p> Anyone listen to Tony Snow this morning? May be another side to this?

]]> By: flamethrower http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110145 flamethrower Wed, 22 Feb 2006 04:05:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110145 <p>It is very scary because of the sloppy control that people in the United Arab Emirates have over their own borders and the escape of several prisoners with al Queda connections from Yemen. They also apparently launder huge amounts of money from Afghanistan and Pakistan, much of it through their underground black market methods (hawala?) which are impossible to trace but probably are also intertwined with al Queda, Hisbollah and other terrorists. Perhaps the executives in Dubai are friendly to us, but who knows down the line how their company may be infiltrated with Islamofascists. <br /> We are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan against the terrorists and particularly al Queda, Osama bin Laden, al Zawahiri, and al Zarqawi. Moslems throughout the world are rioting concerning freedom of speech issues and calling for censorship and shari'ia laws to be enacted. It seems that in this climate, we need to have a lot more discussion and research before opening ourselves up to something this risky to our national security. As it is, only a small percentage of the containers that come in through these ports are ever inspected and could easily carry a portable nuke, and/or a chemical or biological weapon.<br /> Sometimes I just cannot understand W at all--absolutely fearless in developing the first new foreign policy strategy since HST and yet so wimpy when it comes to illegals and now this. Or am I missing something? Is this another Rope-a-Dope strategy possibly cooked up by Karl Rove;-)</p> It is very scary because of the sloppy control that people in the United Arab Emirates have over their own borders and the escape of several prisoners with al Queda connections from Yemen. They also apparently launder huge amounts of money from Afghanistan and Pakistan, much of it through their underground black market methods (hawala?) which are impossible to trace but probably are also intertwined with al Queda, Hisbollah and other terrorists. Perhaps the executives in Dubai are friendly to us, but who knows down the line how their company may be infiltrated with Islamofascists.
We are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan against the terrorists and particularly al Queda, Osama bin Laden, al Zawahiri, and al Zarqawi. Moslems throughout the world are rioting concerning freedom of speech issues and calling for censorship and shari’ia laws to be enacted. It seems that in this climate, we need to have a lot more discussion and research before opening ourselves up to something this risky to our national security. As it is, only a small percentage of the containers that come in through these ports are ever inspected and could easily carry a portable nuke, and/or a chemical or biological weapon.
Sometimes I just cannot understand W at all–absolutely fearless in developing the first new foreign policy strategy since HST and yet so wimpy when it comes to illegals and now this. Or am I missing something? Is this another Rope-a-Dope strategy possibly cooked up by Karl Rove;-)

]]> By: Warthog http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110144 Warthog Wed, 22 Feb 2006 03:16:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110144 <p>That says it all when CAIR and JImmy Carter are for this idea. What's next, put NASA out for the lowest bidder, like China or Russia?</p> That says it all when CAIR and JImmy Carter are for this idea. What’s next, put NASA out for the lowest bidder, like China or Russia?

]]> By: anniemr http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110143 anniemr Wed, 22 Feb 2006 02:03:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110143 <p>I realize that everyone is up in arms about this issue of the ports - but I too think is more to it than what it seems.</p> <p>My understanding so far of the situation is that the company would not be in charge of security of the ports (that belongs to the coast guard) nor would it control anyone coming in through the ports (that belongs to immigration) nor would it control what goes on or comes off the ship (I forget who is in charge of that). As near as I can tell, what this company would do is more of an administrative function - more a management of the administrative issues with the port.</p> <p>That being said, I will say that I am not comfortable at this time with any foreign company being involved with anything in our country that affects national security, commerce or immigration. That includes England, France, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, Canada, etc. </p> <p>I think there may be what are believed to be sound reasons this decision was made and approved, however, what seems to have been overlooked on the part of the Administration is the emotional impact this news would have on the country at large. We are all nervous and twitchy - especially about Middle Eastern countries. Fair or unfair as that may be. I think that this should have been brought up by the Administration before the it was allowed to become an incident, and explain the why's and the whats.</p> <p>But maybe we should all take a deep breath, let the facts come out before we all decide to commit hari-kari or have our heads explode.</p> <p>Thanks for reading.</p> <p>Anniemr</p> I realize that everyone is up in arms about this issue of the ports – but I too think is more to it than what it seems.

My understanding so far of the situation is that the company would not be in charge of security of the ports (that belongs to the coast guard) nor would it control anyone coming in through the ports (that belongs to immigration) nor would it control what goes on or comes off the ship (I forget who is in charge of that). As near as I can tell, what this company would do is more of an administrative function – more a management of the administrative issues with the port.

That being said, I will say that I am not comfortable at this time with any foreign company being involved with anything in our country that affects national security, commerce or immigration. That includes England, France, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, Canada, etc.

I think there may be what are believed to be sound reasons this decision was made and approved, however, what seems to have been overlooked on the part of the Administration is the emotional impact this news would have on the country at large. We are all nervous and twitchy – especially about Middle Eastern countries. Fair or unfair as that may be. I think that this should have been brought up by the Administration before the it was allowed to become an incident, and explain the why’s and the whats.

But maybe we should all take a deep breath, let the facts come out before we all decide to commit hari-kari or have our heads explode.

Thanks for reading.

Anniemr

]]> By: ltlme http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110142 ltlme Tue, 21 Feb 2006 23:49:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110142 <p>I was a bit shocked to hear that President Bush would veto any efforts made stop the UAE-based company. I live half an hour away from one of the six ports and I am very unsettled about this. I am aware that state officials, Republican and Democrat, are working together to see about ending the contract.</p> I was a bit shocked to hear that President Bush would veto any efforts made stop the UAE-based company. I live half an hour away from one of the six ports and I am very unsettled about this. I am aware that state officials, Republican and Democrat, are working together to see about ending the contract.

]]> By: St. Thor http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110141 St. Thor Tue, 21 Feb 2006 13:39:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110141 <p>Jimmy Carter has now signed on to the Bush port deal. That alone should cause Bush to fire everyone on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and reverse this execreble decision.</p> Jimmy Carter has now signed on to the Bush port deal. That alone should cause Bush to fire everyone on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and reverse this execreble decision.

]]> By: Russ http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110140 Russ Tue, 21 Feb 2006 13:15:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110140 <p>Michael Chertoff's assurances about this deal don't assure me in the least. Homeland Security appears to be anything but secure. With FEMA and Homeland Security involved in a CYA war, there seems to be little time left for their respective missions. The more CYA talk, the more likely that something of embarassing importance is being buried under a mound of manure. Neither Chertoff nor Brown are coming across as competent.</p> Michael Chertoff’s assurances about this deal don’t assure me in the least. Homeland Security appears to be anything but secure. With FEMA and Homeland Security involved in a CYA war, there seems to be little time left for their respective missions. The more CYA talk, the more likely that something of embarassing importance is being buried under a mound of manure. Neither Chertoff nor Brown are coming across as competent.

]]> By: Paper_Tiger http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110139 Paper_Tiger Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:39:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110139 <p>"Well, now my question is, how often does this come up and what other national security assets have been placed in the hands of a foreign government?"</p> <p>Tammy - may I point out:</p> <p>Unocal's potential sale to the China National Offshore Oil Company.<br /> IBM's sale of it's PC manufacturing division to Lenovo (Chinese National PC company).</p> <p>I don't know the status of Unocal - it may have already been sold. Granted, only the oil company is really a 'national security' risk but it just doesn't seem right when a private/public business has to try and compete againsts a state backed business. Imagine the Unocal sale if CNOOC had to compete against a Chevron backed by the US Treasury.</p> “Well, now my question is, how often does this come up and what other national security assets have been placed in the hands of a foreign government?”

Tammy – may I point out:

Unocal’s potential sale to the China National Offshore Oil Company.
IBM’s sale of it’s PC manufacturing division to Lenovo (Chinese National PC company).

I don’t know the status of Unocal – it may have already been sold. Granted, only the oil company is really a ‘national security’ risk but it just doesn’t seem right when a private/public business has to try and compete againsts a state backed business. Imagine the Unocal sale if CNOOC had to compete against a Chevron backed by the US Treasury.

]]> By: chuck e-cheez http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110138 chuck e-cheez Mon, 20 Feb 2006 23:59:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110138 <p>I think that they should test the water in Washington DC,and or,drug test those in the Bush administration.What makes them think,that we the people are going let them get away it.I never thought I would ever agree with Barbara Boxer,D-calif.,however this time,I feel that both the right and left wings are goin unite and stop this deal dead in its tracks.This is enough to wake up all of America,even Ted Kennedy might put the plug-in-the-jug for this one.Once again,the Bush adminisration won't take homeland security serious.Perhaps we need to a form group liken to the "Minite Man" movement,to override this incompetence and insanity and go do the job our selfs.This perchese of P&O and control of our ports By UAE "MUST NOT HAPPEN" at any cost!!!Well,the the control part anyway...</p> I think that they should test the water in Washington DC,and or,drug test those in the Bush administration.What makes them think,that we the people are going let them get away it.I never thought I would ever agree with Barbara Boxer,D-calif.,however this time,I feel that both the right and left wings are goin unite and stop this deal dead in its tracks.This is enough to wake up all of America,even Ted Kennedy might put the plug-in-the-jug for this one.Once again,the Bush adminisration won’t take homeland security serious.Perhaps we need to a form group liken to the “Minite Man” movement,to override this incompetence and insanity and go do the job our selfs.This perchese of P&O and control of our ports By UAE “MUST NOT HAPPEN” at any cost!!!Well,the the control part anyway…

]]> By: wisinwis http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us_ports_in_arab_hands.html#comment-110137 wisinwis Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:26:00 +0000 http://tammybruce.com/2006/02/us-ports-in-arab-hands.php#comment-110137 <p>There must be more to this than it seems. It seems as though the majority of Americans would disallow such huge risk-taking with our security. "How dare they?" What is it that we do not know? Let there be noise until answers are forthcoming.</p> There must be more to this than it seems. It seems as though the majority of Americans would disallow such huge risk-taking with our security. “How dare they?” What is it that we do not know? Let there be noise until answers are forthcoming.

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