Roger RE: #30 - Bush didn't even KNOW about the deal until after it was done.

A deal that allows an Arab-owned company in Dubai to manage six major U.S. ports was scrutinized for security risks by an obscure intelligence agency that has existed for only four months, American officials said on Wednesday.

Go read the entire article here, it just keeps getting weirder.

OOps, sorry, that's what I get for trying to post while distracted. Please disregard the first sentence, I meant to only post the paragraph and link

"...don't need to worry about security." That's comforting. Now I can't wait for AG Gonzales's memorandum on the administration's interpretation of the law. That should set things straight.

Its not that Dubai is going to manage the ports,
Its that the Carlisle group went around the law to get them in with Bush complicit in the transaction
And its also part of a systematic problem that has been going on for a while now, our country, since the 1980s con sell off, has gone from a first world country to a third world country, from a debt holder nation to a debtor nation, with the whole country being sold to foreign interests

Well I guess you'll see your ass in your GOP rubberstamp court Bush?

Hahahahaha they'll rip you up in their hog tied no accountability stone. Watch the GOP eat eachother alive while we break up the whole racket...

Doug E.

Brad, you misunderstand. Bush meant we don't need to worry about the security of the VOTE!!

;)

Brad

The man is totally out of touch and living on another planet. I guess money has a way of doing that.

You know ... all those "Billions of American Tax Payers $$$$$$$$$ in Cayman Island and Bahama bank accounts.

Also-

Your traffic rank on Google just went from a steady 48,900 for the last couple of months to 44,995 in the lweek.

That's a heck of jump. Your picking up a bunch of new readers!

G.

There are 3 themes floating on the airwaves about the ports story:

1) Homeland Security--why trust the Arabs known to be consorting with the Taliban and bin Laden. Trust the War President to do what is best for America's security?

2) The Prez and his Cabinet did not question the improper or incomplete review of a contract by Necroponte's "secret" committee that is supposed to do this sorta stuff---bad form, tone deaf, not according to Hoyle. Do the 45 days of due diligence and be done with it.

3) Corporate America wants to cut an ever increasing deal with Arab "allies" to buy the good will of MiddleEastern States as a hedge against our rude behavior and oil servitude.

Rove, naturally, tries to make it a race-baiting issue of the sort any South Carolinian would recognize to distract everyone from the more serious themes.

Race is not the issue. Inciting Christian or Muslim antipathy is not the issue. It is a sideshow (of conflicted conscience) to be sure. It is a device. A weapon of mass distraction.

Thank you, Brad. I about got my head bitten off for saying yesterday what you said here.

This is a really thorny issue. Most people are basing their wrath on the thought of selling the ports to 9/11 perpetrators, when it looks like, if they were involved at all, it was out of friendship with *'s family, partnership in their business... enablers at worst... meaning we don't need to fear them unless the administration wants to gin up another terrorist attack.

Most people I've heard are screaming that our ports shouldn't belong to anyone but us, but that hasn't been the case for quite a while. Another country full of white capitalists we haven't been trained to hate has owned them up to now. We make up our minds whether it's okay to have foreign-owned ports at all, and if it is, the UAE is as trustworthy as any other... maybe more. It would take less than a day to vaporize their country.

Heckeva job, Georgie.

The photo Brad has posted looks like a chimp mugging for the camera. Bedtime for Bonzo.

> it seems to me the concerns about the Dubai ports deal from the Republican side is largely racist in nature.

For some Repubs and Dems, the reaction is racist. But I think that for many, it is more a concern about the UAE's true dedication to antiterrorism, considering their sketchy past. Other nations that probably should not be running our ports include Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Pakistan, and Iran. Three of those are not Arab nations. And two are also "our allies" in the war against terrorism, according to BushCo.

I certainly don't want to make a habit of defending Republicans, but maybe in this case, some are more guilty of clumsy language than actual racism.

If Dubai is such a trusted ally, why is it that the State Department is still warning Americans to avoid travel in that nation.

This is just another example of Bush's incompetence to deal with reality.

From what I've been hearing this company is owned by the Dubai government, not a private company. And it is that distinction which is causing much of the flack.

Like Brad I am somewhat ambiguous on the matter, but am uncomfortable with that distinction. Much that is being said on progressive talk radio plays on things such as child stealing and selling, support of the Taliban and money laundering. All things which certainly should not be rewarded.

The bottom line seems to be that here we go again with secret meetings and back room deals.

Hopefully the repubs are rising up against such tactics (finally!) rather than playing the racist card.

BTW that photo is about the best I've seen proclaiming this jerks smugness!

Maybe Dubya's right.

When you take into account the fact that the Mexican border's a seive, the Canadian border only really seems to keep the elderly from buying cheap drugs and the lack of security at ports in general, maybe you might come to the conclusion that al Qaeda may not be what Bush and Pals claim.

Perhaps there is no global network of terrorists just waiting for America to stumble so it can strike. I mean, wouldn't Katrina have provided a perfect 'opportunity' for al Qaeda to make things worse?

I certainly would explain a lot if al Qaeda were a myth, (I can't recommend highly enough the BBC documentary The Power of Nightmares for exposing this myth) up to and including Bush's current statements.

9/11 was a lie, isn't about time we started treating it as such?

If Bob Dole says:" Bob Dole thinks its okay",then so do I
Bob Dole wouldn't mess up our security so that Bob Dole could make a couple of bucks

I'm Bob Dole and Bob Dole approves this message

If you think the Carlyle Group had advance knowledge of 9/11, then you might think that this is not a good idea for us.

Is it just me or does the picture of Bush remind anyone of John Stewarts Bush "Snicker" (Nyeh Nyeh Nyeh!)

Gosh....it would seem that those Democrats just can't do anything right. Haven't commented here before but...

I will go on record and say your aside about the Democrats being "opportunistic" was easily the stupidest comment I've seen all week.

And I have been almost everywhere.

Brad,

Unusually, I must beg to differ with you. The entire sale was a stock manipulation swindle, and provides perfect cover for another false flag terror attack. Chertoff is really front and center in this latest episode in the continuing story of the rape of America.

Yeah Philip, I agree, Lets not continue bashing the party that's not in power, nor has any power, as this will go under the proverbial rug with everything else because the Republicans control all branches of government now

Right Dredd ?

This is everything about $$$. Everything the Bush administration does, gets their cronies American taxpayer $$$.

Every single deal Bush makes, gets obscene taxpayer $$$ for someone he knows. I don't even have to research it, it will come out that there are Bush connections in this firm.

The only difference, is we find out about it in days instead of years, as his presidency goes forward. This adminstration is the worst, most corrupt administration in history...even true conservatives hate him. They do genuinely hate him.

True conservatives are for smaller, less powerful federal government and executive branch. True conservatives are unrelentless in their believe, Bush be damned. They put their country before their party.

Let's forget the race card silliness. I agree with Ken in Comment 11 for the most part. The point is in the post 9/11 world we must manage our own security. True, these ports were managed by a British company, but Britain has been the 51st state for a long time now (as much as they hate to admit it). Remember how ABC news was able to smuggle de-natured uranium from Istanbul to New York harbor without detection? It's time we took such a threat with the upmost seriousness. And we need to guard our own ports.

"Who better to manage a seaport than people who live in the desert?" --Jay Leno

With a lot of coastline and more of our ships there than at any other foreign country.

I agree that this is primarily about money but it has so many "policy" implications, as well.

Sec. of Treasury Snow was CEO of the predecessor company and may have stock options that are going to pay off in megabucks.

Labor-types are concerned that this deal will end up in union busting and importing aliens as cheap labor for longshore work.

#9 said: "...we don't need to fear [UAE] unless the administration wants to gin up another terrorist attack"
#19 said: "[the sale] is a perfect cover for another false flag terrorist attack"

You are both spot on. It's good to have your friends in convenient places if you need to import or export something illegal or dangerous. This UAE company will be a convenient scapegoat for the next "inside job" terror attack. Bush's poll numbers are so bad that I'm very concerned that another attack is being planned right now.

This "new" lack of concern about security by Bush is the first honest thing he's said in years. If you are the guy setting the arson fires are you afraid the arsonist is going to burn your house? It's why there has been so little effort made to do the things that truly would make this country more secure. Propaganda is cheap (well, it used to be) and the dollars for it go to your friends. Just keep spewing out that message: "Be afraid, be very afraid," and people will ignore the march of totalitarianism.

And, finally, the continuation of the secretive actions of this administration tells us they have something to hide. Every government contract requires access to the documents necessary to do an audit - but not this contract. Under this contract the UAE can keep the relevant documents outside the country and outside of American subpoena power.

If ever a contract needed to be carefully vetted, this one does.

Now I need to find out if there is a private company running the Port of Portland, and if so, who owns it.

For me the issue comes down to, "What happens if something goes wrong?"

Dubai might be an ally right now. We might trust their leaders and they might trust us. But things change in the world; what happens if a group like the Taliban takes over in the U.A.E.? How do we kick a company out once they have a legal foothold?

This problem arises from globalization and privatization. We outsource a domestic need overseas (to a British company) which then makes a self-interested deal and sells out to a Dubai company. That could affect us in different circumstances. Who is to say the U.S. Postal Service won't be sold next, say to Sweden...which then makes a deal and sells out to China? And all this can happen without the president or the Secretary of Defense even knowing about it!

If other countries can act in their own self-interest, so can we. This deal should be blocked, and I'm sure it will be. Congress isn't going to like the idea of Bush sending Condi Rice over there to promise the Dubai sheiks that nothing will go wrong; sheer arrogance again, as if Bush thinks his veto couldn't possibly be overridden.

RLM... and he's probably right. Listened to as much as I could take of the senate briefing on this deal over at C-SPAN, and the sale is going to go through. The UAE won't facilitate terror unless * asks them to again, and after he's gone, if he's ever gone, they won't mess with the next administration either, because their whole country can be evaporated by us in a heartbeat. We just have to take our lumps for letting these guys get away with it for as long as we let them get away with it.
:(

I've always felt, as many do, that GWB isn't really president, but a prop that's set-up, supported, and controlled by the Carlisle/Halliburton/Big Oil interests, and this issue is merely another example.

They didn't even bother to brief him first. I doubt it's the only time it's happened, or will happen.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
**'Expose Tom Feeney'**
"SUPPORT CLINT CURTIS!"
__www.clintcurtis.com__
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thank you, Bob. Whenever I say * did something, it's just shorthand for the plutocrats who are actually running the show. He truly isn't smart enough to do any of this stuff. If it were only mere incompetence, instead of willful negligence, behind the multifarious failures, there would have been a much better chance of fixing them.

Well, I'm not sure it's going through. When I hear a conservative Republican like Sue Myrick of North Carolina say, "Not just no...hell, no" I have to wonder. Frist and Hastert are against it, McCain and Warner are cautiously in favor. Meehan from Massachusetts is an expert on border security, and he excoriated the administration on TV over the deal.

As of this morning the deal is being "held up." Even Karl Rove is hedging his language..."Well, the British haven't approved it yet." My guess is that it will be renegotiated on terms Congress will accept, probably giving the Coast Guard more control and guaranteeing periodic reviews by a Congressional committee. The absolute last thing Bush wants is for his first and only veto as president to be overturned.

The debate has been framed by the republicans, and the frame as usual is distorted and crooked.

Sovereign nations should never, in peace time or in war time, allow foreign governments to exercise jurisdiction of any kind on their home ports.

Nor to exercise jurisdiction over airports, cities, or any other national entity.

It is a policy matter.

The debate over whether or not security is a serious matter is a tainted debate, because it does not address the issue free of distortions.

Again, no nation, whether friend or foe, whether in war or in peace time, should exercise jurisdiction over America's seaports or airports.

It is unnatural and we certainly do not need those types of complications when we can't yet inspect all of what goes thru them ourselves.

The focus needs to be on making the seaports secure by Americans and for Americans.

The debate has been framed by the republicans, and the frame as usual is distorted and crooked.

Sovereign nations should never, in peace time or in war time, allow foreign governments to exercise jurisdiction of any kind on their home ports.

Nor to exercise jurisdiction over airports, cities, or any other national entity.

It is a policy matter.

The debate over whether or not security is a serious matter is a tainted debate, because it does not address the issue free of distortions.

Again, no nation, whether friend or foe, whether in war or in peace time, should exercise jurisdiction over America's seaports or airports.

It is unnatural and we certainly do not need those types of complications when we can't yet inspect all of what goes thru them ourselves.

The focus needs to be on making the seaports secure by Americans and for Americans.

Sorry 'bout the double post ...

This is a State-owned company. I have a problem with any other nation owning control of our ports! This is comparing apples to oranges. We'd all freak, right now if a Russian state-owned business was in control of our ports, don't tell me we wouldn't. I hope Chile tries to buy up some port controlling company and watch Georgie blow a vein.

MY FELLER AMURKANS
People Don't Need to Worry About Security

I have started readn real good newspapers and I find out all th news now. I found out about this in the MSM and I feel real secure about Brownie doin a good job.

So do not worry, I get up early and God and I go over the newspapers and find out stuff and keep you safe. Trust me.

Jack Frost #14 hit the nail on the head. Its about time Americans start using their heads instead of hiding them in the sand. There has never been a bigger hoax than 9/11, yet too many people continue to refuse to look at this event with basic common sense. W. Bush has proven himself the biggest liar ever to occupy the Oval Office! There is no question about this, yet people continue to foolishly believe his as yet unproven 9/11 alibi, about how he, the mighty U.S. military, and domestic security establishment, were allegedly surprised by a motley crew of "suicide terrorists" flying jet-liners no less!

If 9/11 was a genuine terrorists attack, why did Mr. Bush even though forewarned, do absolutely nothing before, or during the attacks? After the attacks, why did he chose to attack the Constitutional liberties of American citizens, illegally spy on us, and engage in military aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq, two nations who were actually cooperating with the U.S. on terrorism and other issues? What exactly does destroying our Constitutional liberties have to do with fighting alleged terrorists anyway? After all its not like terrorism is something which first appeared in 2001! It should be quite simple for any American to understand the following:

When a President or a Congress, works to destroy the Constitution of the U.S., that President or Congress, is clearly engaging in treason. There is no reason not even terrorism, which has always existed, to justify such transgressions.

The more one looks at 9/11 with common sense and objectivity, all evidence shows it to be a completely staged attack, for the sole purpose of destroying the Constitution by hoodwinking Americans into needless wars and a perpetual state of emergency. There were no "Alquaeda terrorists" involved in 9/11, there was only the U.S. government conducting a devastating psyop on U.S. soil.

All Americans should realize that respect for the Constitution is the only thing that protected us from outright tryanny. If our leaders no longer respect the Constitution, we no longer have protection from tyranny. 9/11 was an act of tyranny, not terrorism! Bush right now, has enough power to declare himself "President for life". Since he just recently declared himself "above the law"; we shouldn't be at all surprised if he and our corrupt congress, pop this surprise on us in the near future! Rather than worrying about Arabs (who had nothing to do with 9/11 by the way), running our ports, we need to be worried about an erstwhile tyrant in the whitehouse.

It was reported that Jimmy Carter said despite what it looks like, the Dubai ports deal was ok in his book--he cited that the global economy is different now.
I TEND to trust what Jimmy says...
If Jimmy is correct in his assessment of the situation----it makes the fact that the legislative branch FINALLY grew a spine over this non-issue, pretty ironical.
They've been impotent in regard to ALL the rest of the outrageous crap that has come down the pike from Bush/Cheney!
NOW, when it isn't important, they get fiesty.
Puhleese.

Carter is wrong on this issue to the extent that he advocates foreign government jurisdiction, control, or influence on the flow of vessels, traffic, or goods in American ports, whether those ports be airports or seaports.

Best
Picture
Of
Chimpy
EVER!

"I've always felt, as many do, that GWB isn't really president, but a prop that's set-up, supported, and controlled by the Carlisle/Halliburton/Big Oil interests, and this issue is merely another example."

Dead Eye Dick couldn't have hit the target any better!!

Chimpy the Sock Monkey has always been a prop for CheneyBurton's Neocon Death Cult - nothing more than their laminated pass to the front gates of (nearly) unlimited power.....and after they've squeezed as much money as possible into their coffers, after it's all turned to shit, Chimpy will be their patsy.

He's still the idiot frat-boy buying all the keggers, all the pizza, all the weed and thinking: "gee whiz, I'm a POPULAR GUY! People Love ME!!"

Here's a handy argument I've been using lately to help people get over the obstacle between them and 9/11 skepticism:

At this point it's pretty inescapable that the Iraq war was based on a torrent of lies. At the very least, the lack of WMD and the Downing Street Memos pretty much prove this. This illegal war, so far, has taken the lives of nearly 2,300 American soldiers.

How difficult is it then to consider that the same men who launched the Iraq war would sacrifice nearly 3,000 Americans to achieve the political climate that would allow those lies to be believed?

Not difficult at all, in my estmation.

So, Karl Rove is arguing we should let the Brits decide if America's national security should be put in the hands of the Dubaerites?

Woo hoo!

BRING IT ON
I WILL VETO YOUR ASS

I talked to God and I talked to The Donald and I talked to The Dick.

They said they got my back covered. If any congress member or anybody else tries botherin me with laws and stuff, I say "you can run but you can't hide".

The Dick told me he has a lot of information on everbody and he will use all that spy info he got from NSA to purteck me and all Americans who ugree with us godfearin righteous fellers.

Quite interesting indeed, people.

This Dubai Ports issue is one of those rare left wing - right wing alliances issues.

The right wing activism webpage I frequent and work with, The American Family Association also had me write a website form-type letter to the President, asking him to reverse this horrid decision.

Here is their beef:

Quote

The United Arab Emirates government is generally pro-U.S., but the September 11 hijackers traveled easily through the country, and Al Qaeda-linked groups have used its banking system.

End Quote

Personally, my problem with the UAE is that it has had a meeting with Osama himself. How can we trust our ports to people that are friendly with UBL????

That last time the right and the left were on the same side was the Supreme Court decision of eminent domain. It was interesting in that case, both sides were blaming the other for the Court's decision!

However, unlike that situation, this time, both the left wing blog I like (here) and the right wing webpage where I hang out, The American Family Association are NOT blaming each other! They both are ACTUALLY working together!

WHAT A CONCEPT!!!

As if you all couldn't tell, my political bent is for all warring factions (the left, the right, the moderates, the Democrats, the Republicans, Greens, Libs, etc.) to stop the fighting and work together for a common goal.

And the common goal that SHOULD be at hand right now for all to work together to resolve is to GET OSAMA BIN ROTTEN, MULLAH MOHAMMED OMAR, AND ALL OF THE SENIOR AL-QAIDA AND TALIBAN LEADERS!

Tragically, we seem to have lost our way in this endeavor (since December 2001).

Sorry again.

I must amend my words above. The two sides are not working together here. I meant liberals and conservatives in Congress and the blogosphere in general.

I did not mean to imply that Brad had allied himself with Rev. Wildmon at AFA.

My apologies.

Hmmmmm....I know Dubai has said they are going to 'step aside' temporarily while we 'silly Americans' has it out....
....
but I just read this on RawStory:

"UAE terminal takeover extends to 21 ports

By PAMELA HESS
UPI Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (UPI) --- A United Arab Emirates government-owned company is poised to take over port terminal operations in 21 American ports, far more than the six widely reported....

....P&O is the parent company of P&O Ports North America, which leases terminals for the import and export and loading and unloading and security of cargo in 21 ports, 11 on the East Coast, ranging from Portland, Maine to Miami, Florida, and 10 on the Gulf Coast, from Gulfport, Miss., to Corpus Christi, Texas, according to the company's Web site...."

http://www.upi.com/Secur...ID=20060223-051657-4981r

Our government, in addition to being the Picture of Dorian Gray, is also the teenager from whom the parent never ever gets the whole story. And apologies to teenagers everywhere whose intelligence far surpasses that of the chimp-in-chief.

Re that last...that should have read 'HASH it out'... )

A prominent Democrat should stand up and give the following short (sound bite) speech:

Mr. President:

Consider this your PRESIDENTIAL BRIEFING for Friday, February 24, 2006.

It is titled "Enemies of the United States are determined to strike U.S. Ports!"

It is NOT historic --- it is an absolute fact. The United States has enemies around the world and they are determined to attack America. They will look for weaknesses in our defenses and exploit them.

OUR PORTS ARE NOT FULLY PROTECTED!

It would be the act of a Madman to allow a company that is run by somebody who has golfed with Osama bin Laden to be in charge of major U.S. Ports.

Mr. President, I hope you will actually READ and understand THIS Presidential Briefing, since you ignored the last one that read: "Osama bin Laden determined to attack in U.S." This time, you better get it right --- America's security is on the line, and you seem to be prepared to sell it out to friends of your family for nothing more than money.

---

That's all they have to say.

Charlie L
Portland, OR
CLL2001@gmail.com

P.S. I know that most of the enemies we have are SINCE we invaded Iraq and that 9/11 was probably an inside job, but this speech is geared to the "fly over states" who still believe in the "Republicans Strong / Democrats Wimps" myth.

Best thing for "the fly-over states" is to be shown how 9/11 could not plausibly have been anything other than an inside job. Best thing for all fifty states is to emulate Patrick Henry: Want to know the truth and know it now.

Agent 99 (#50):

I disagree about 9/11 and the fly-over/red staters.

This may be cynical, but I don't believe that the truth about 9/11 can EVER come out. The stakes are too high.

Think about it. I'm a fairly peaceful and reasonable person myself, but if it were ever proven that the Republicans in power were involved directly in 9/11 (which I will probably go to my grave believing) then I would give anybody with a "W" sticker on their SUV a fair 24 hours to quietly peel it off.

Anybody who was willing to continue to support the Republican Party after knowledge of their complicity in 9/11 was known and proven would be open to the Reginald Denny treatment in my book.

What that amounts to is civil war between those who would continue to support Republicans in the face of proof of their pure evil and those who want a return to our representative democratic government.

I believe that there will be blood in the streets.

Given those stakes, I think this is one secret (of the thousands) that the neo-cons and their corporate media shills will do ANYTHING (and I mean, literally, ANYTHING --- even unleash a bird flu virus that kills millions of Americans) to avoid having it be known and accepted by the masses.

This secret would equate the neo-cons and the Republicans who have supported them with the Nazi's, the Pol Pots, and the most vile of history's most evil people. They would be DESTROYED politically and endangered physically. The signature list of the PNAC would be an instant "hit list" for vigilante street justice.

No, I don't think we can expect to get the 9/11 story out there. We should settle for their lesser crimes of graft, cronyism, stupidity, and corruption.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Charlie's right.

Even the JFK assisination plot's true documents have been placed in a time vault marked "Future Eyes Only."

The neocons would prefer to begin Armageddon than to admit to complicity.

However, every time I think about this possibility, I see X-Files reruns in my head.

Charlie and Blue: Having to deny the truth to avoid a bloodbath just enables the bad guys, makes the world worse. Americans want our government to keep providing us ways to keep the pretense of freedom without facing the responsibilities of freedom. Hundreds of thousands of people have died horribly "over there" because of it.

It's flat out insane to ignore facts and the laws of physics to uphold something that, while it may seem to let one continue to think well of oneself, is the direct cause of so much death and destruction, not to mention the looting of our treasury. If Republicans have to find a new party, too bad. We can't have AMERICA if we won't face the truth. Freedom can't function without it.

I don't want a bloodbath either, but it's better we duke it out here than keep slaughtering for the fortunes of the few "there". The entirety of neocon power is based on our will to deceive ourselves like this, our greed for self-regard at the expense of every other consideration in life. It's why so many are jobless and homeless and hungry in our country, too. Whoever can still make a buck and eat and sleep in shelter will avoid conflict to keep it. That is PRECISELY what allowed Nazis to run Germany.

Agent 99:

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that WE should practice self-censorship the way the media did in the 70's, 80's, and 90's under the threat of being labeled "liberal" (which was never true to begin with --- they were liberal reports due to their good educations but practiced very balanced reporting by-and-large).

I'm just saying we should spend ALL our time and energy or believe that the propogation of the truth about 9/11 will be our salvation and put all our eggs in THAT basket.

YES, work for truth in ALL the places, but expect the best results from exposing the truths that RESONATE with the people you are trying to convert and which are NOT being protected with murder and destruction.

I am prepared for the conflict! I say to the neo-cons and Republcian apologists and pathetically blind liberals who refuse to see the truth of the evil of these Republicans and believe they can be "reasonsed" with or that they will play by any rules other than their own (includes almost every Democratic U.S. Senator and most Democratic members of Congress)...

bring it on!!!

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Hates Hypocrisy

'''''The William Jefferson Clinton Scholars Program''''

The William Jefferson Clinton Scholars Program at the American University in Dubai seeks to further the goals of the Clinton Presidential Foundation by strengthening the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence through its work in racial, ethnic and religious reconciliation. In partnership with AUD, the program gives US-based students the opportunity to expand their educational and cultural horizons by studying in the Arab world.

Clinton Scholars will receive:

A full waiver of tuition for one term (renewable).
Housing at the American University in Dubai

Hates Hypocrisy

http://www.uaeinteract.c.../default.asp?ID=11#18766

Clinton sees Dubai as a role model for development
posted on 29/11/2005

Former US President Bill Clinton praised Dubai's achievements and the leadership of General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister.
"Dubai is a role model of what could be achieved despite the other negative developments in the region," Clinton told delegates at the Leaders in Dubai conference through a live webcast from Sri Lanka.

"Look at Dubai, which has achieved enormous growth in such a short period of time. Less than 6 per cent of Dubai's income comes from oil. It's no longer an oil economy. "Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad and fellow leaders like Mohammad Al Gergawi at the Young Arab Leaders (YAL) have done a remarkable job in building Dubai, which to me is a role model for development for others." Clinton shared one incident on how the emirate merged Western and modern Islamic principles that appealed to him.

"When I went to Dubai for the first time, I was taken to a technology facility where I hooked up to a bank kiosk and found that one can use a conventional banking service, while at the same time opt for an Islamic Sharia compliant service, which I thought was wonderful," he said. "This is a very good example how cultures and values could be merged and offered to the rest. I was amazed and I have a lot of admiration for Sheikh Mohammad for what he's doing in Dubai.

He said Dubai's leaders and members of YAL can share their ideas and lend their expertise to other developing economies and show them the way how to change the lives of the people for the better. "I think much can be done by just telling others about your own achievements," he said. "They can share their experience and ideas with others and help them develop their economies as Dubai has done.

"YAL can leverage their experience to enlighten others." "Look at Dubai, which has achieved enormous growth in such a short period of time. Less than 6 per cent of Dubai's income comes from oil. It's no longer an oil economy." (The Gulf News)

I think Bush came out with such strong language for the deal (at someone's urging of course) only in order to cover up the fact that he knew nothing about it in advance --- so that now it sounds like a moot point...and is ignored altogether. Is it a moot point?

Charlie L #51
What is the Reginald Denny treatment?
Reginald Denny as in 'Madam Satan' & 'Mr. Blandings builds his Dream House' ?
:)

Those Republicans and neo-con apologists who try to place all blame on Clinton and/or force progressives to defend him and his policies should look elsewhere. Clinton supported NAFTA and Telecommunications "Reforms" that were no better than either Bush's.

As somebody much more astute than I once said:

"Clinton was the best Republican President we've ever had."

Charlie L
Portland, OR
CLL2001@gmail.com

Charles said

"It would be the act of a Madman to allow a company that is run by somebody who has golfed with Osama bin Laden to be in charge of major U.S. Ports."

He golfed with Clinton also, so with you I'd have to agree.

I wonder what length clubs the 7 foot Osama uses between kidney dialysis when he plays golf?

Reginald Denny was a white, middle-class working man truck driver who was dragged from his truck and beaten to near-death during the L.A. Riots for nothing much more than being white and in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn’t' have a "Rodney King was Guilty" bumper sticker on his truck or a "I contribute to the L.A.P.D. badge on his dash."

Republicans who would continue to support their party over their country (that is, who would continue to support or apologize for the Republicans after the truth about 9/11 came out) would at least be somewhat culpable in their own demise, even if the vigilante justice to be meted out to them would be abhorrent and wrong.

As I have said in the past, the guillotine would be way too humane for the likes of the neo-cons and the Republicans who have carried their water.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Charlie:
Wow! Thanks for the info

HCOCDR(#56):

Get over it. Everything Clinton did was "pre 9/11" and doesn't matter any more.

It's a whole new world now, right?

Clinton could have given money to Osama bin Laden the way Bush Senior did, or even told Saddam that it was OK to gas the Kurds (like Cheney did) and that would be totally OK, right?

Clinton is HISTORY! He means NOTHING!

What matters now is the slow march towards modern fascism that the neo-con/PNAC cabal is taking us on.

The future will NOT be just more of the past.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Americans are just going to have to get used to living wherever their jobs are, searching for and securing their livelihoods in places far-flung, or settle for bartending and pizza delivery. Clinton is hard at work raising the least fortunate on earth, and preparing the most fortunate on earth for a global economy that is UNAVOIDABLE now. The only way the plutocrats can keep their obscene fortunes is to move their capital to wherever on the planet it can grow the most. There are no racial distinctions in this, hcocdr. Your racist conservatism has done zip to forestall a radical metamorphosis in our economy. Most of you will be just as jobless and homeless as the "lazy bums" you have been voting to starve all these years.

and the ones that get the government handouts will prosper.....

oh,sorry I forgot Clinton was black you can not talk about him here without being called a racist

Someone does not agree with you call them names. Thats a libs number one rule.

If that not it what part of my post was racist. Your the folks blogging here that hate Arabs. I spent a week in UAE during my tour in Iraq. All Arab States should strive to be like them and Jordan. They both have kings but are moving forward with democracy

Yep. Halliburton and Carlyle are doing really well on their governmental handouts. Couldn't agree more.

Let's go back to the 90's after the attacks on the American Embassies in Africa which killed thousands and intelligence determined this was Bin Laden's work. When intelligence discovered Bin Laden in Afghanistan the order was to bomb the residence where he had been observed. Fortunately, (or unfortunately) a UAE plane was spotted near the residence and members of the royal family were visiting him (probably for a hunt as was their habit) so the strike was called off. Now this was after Bin Laden had declared his war on the US and started the terrorist attacks so, I'm not sure if they suddenly decided that maybe backing Bin Laden might cause problems with their good friends in America...after all a shiek from the UAE had donnated a million dollars to Bush I library so they seem to be playing both or all sides of the street.

HEY......YO.......WHATS' UP?....
Didnt anyone notice JOAN #47?????????
At Rawstory, there is a UPI story.
It states that the deal includes 21 Ports. Ten on the East Coast and eleven in the Gulf, from Gulfport, Miss to Corpus Christi, Tex.
WHY isn't this on the MSM??? Is only the six being held up? Anyone know?
THANKS JOAN #47

I'm sorry, Joan and dolphin. It doesn't matter to me if it's six or all. I don't think we'll actually be any less or any more secure no matter who owns our ports. I'm pretty sure it's too late to do anything to shore up the average American's security or prosperity. Within a couple decades, most of the plutocrats will live here, and most of the proles will live elsewhere, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. The Americans of the future will be the rich from everywhere, and most of the not rich Americans won't live here anymore. They'll be either gone to where they can support themselves or dead. We won't necessarily even get to be the servants here at home. Imported servants, er, guest workers, work harder and cost less.

Oh MY GOSH! This is an emergency..
I found out the REAL scandal with the port sell off deal at citizen.com!

Whether a private company is foreign or domestic (yes, Bush IS favoring his family's Arab friends), the bigger issue is what sets their priorities: ensuring our security or making a profit?

Public citizen says if we do not act now, not only will even more of our nation's infrastructure & essential services be privatized, but this unsafe situation will get locked in place through several backwards "trade" agreements.

Bush is getting public relations points for backpedaling on the threat to use his veto in defense of the UAE port deal.

However, right now the Bush Administration is also negotiating a General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) & a Free Trade Agreement with the UAE that, if completed, would handcuff our elected officials from protecting us against this outrageous sell off of our basic infrastructure. (That's what privatization is all about.)

The multinational corporations that have written the Administration's trade policies (thanks to those dirtbags Bush/Cheney!) are WORKING FEVERISHLY to use the GATS, one of 17 agreements enforced by the WTO, to lock in rules that would forbid our Congress, governors, & state legislators from changing the rules for ports managed by private companies!

Sign the petition to stop it:

http://action.org/campaign.jsp?campaign KEY=2713

NO!
I made an error---it's citizen.org.

Sorry.

I'm trying to think of one petition I've signed in the last six years that has any impact whatsoever....

"This deal wouldn't go forward if we were concerned about the security for the United States of America." President Bush

I agree

In the last election Mr Bush warned us he didn't give a hoot about securing our ports. Now he wants to give control to a country that supported the terrorists before 9-11:

From www.debates.org

KERRY: Jim, let me tell you exactly what I'll do. And there are a long list of thing. First of all, what kind of mixed message does it send when you have $500 million going over to Iraq to put police officers in the streets of Iraq, and the president is cutting the COPS program in America?

What kind of message does it send to be sending money to open firehouses in Iraq, but we're shutting firehouses who are the first- responders here in America.

The president hasn't put one nickel, not one nickel into the effort to fix some of our tunnels and bridges and most exposed subway systems. That's why they had to close down the subway in New York when the Republican Convention was there. We hadn't done the work that ought to be done.

The president --- 95 percent of the containers that come into the ports, right here in Florida, are not inspected. Civilians get onto aircraft, and their luggage is X-rayed, but the cargo hold is not X- rayed.

Does that make you feel safer in America?

This president thought it was more important to give the wealthiest people in America a tax cut rather than invest in homeland security. Those aren't my values. I believe in protecting America first.

And long before President Bush and I get a tax cut --- and that's who gets it --- long before we do, I'm going to invest in homeland security and I'm going to make sure we're not cutting COPS programs in America and we're fully staffed in our firehouses and that we protect the nuclear and chemical plants.
The president also unfortunately gave in to the chemical industry, which didn't want to do some of the things necessary to strengthen our chemical plant exposure.

And there's an enormous undone job to protect the loose nuclear materials in the world that are able to get to terrorists. That's a whole other subject, but I see we still have a little bit more time.

Let me just quickly say, at the current pace, the president will not secure the loose material in the Soviet Union --- former Soviet Union for 13 years. I'm going to do it in four years. And we're going to keep it out of the hands of terrorists.

LEHRER: Ninety-second response, Mr. President.

BUSH: I don't think we want to get to how he's going to pay for all these promises. It's like a huge tax gap. Anyway, that's for another debate.

This is funny:

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

Peter Gadiel who lost a son on 9/11 said, "It‘s simply beyond belief that the president would tolerate this kind of insanity."

The Bush administration considers the U.A.E. an ally in the war on terror, but the 9/11 Commission found that some of the money for the terror attacks went through banks located in the Arab Emirates and two of the hijackers were, for what it‘s worth, from the U.A.E.
MSNBC.com

I say thats worth a lot! 83% of the people visiting MSNBC.com question of the day agree.

The outcry over the UAE ports deal shows how brainwashed and easily manipulated mainstream Americans are. Having been totally bamboozled by the official 9/11 story, many cling to the mistaken belief that Arabs actually had something to do with 9/11! All evidence pointing to "Al-qaeda" involvement so far offered by the government, has been consistently proven to be false, by the facts of the case. In short, the official 9/11 story blaming the attacks on Arabs is flat out, one heck of a humungous lie! America has far more to fear from the current administration, than they do from Arabs running our ports! Any American who doesn't understand at this late date, that 9/11 was a U.S. government psyop, specifically designed to trick us into world war and tyranny, may very well be an unknowing victim of covert media brainwashing.

The effectiveness of media bourne mass brainwashing in America is clearly shown in how G.W. Bush has been transformed from a real-life military desserter to a "War President"! the fact that G.W. Bush is even seen as a "protector" by so many, while his actual track record in protecting us is the worst in U.S. history, is more evidence that our thoughts may not be our own! Here is a guy who as the current sitting President, must be held responsible for both the worst attack in U.S. history(9/11), as well as the worst natural disaster in U.S. history (Katrina), yet he's somehow seen as someone who'll "protect us"? You'd have to be brainwashed to believe such nonsense!

The same goes for 9/11. So far, we've never been given any independently verifiable proof that the government's official story is true. All of the known and suppressed facts of 9/11 however show the official story clearly to be a lie. Yet Americans basically block out these vital facts, and believe the official 9/11 story anyway! Contemporary Americans exhibit classic symptoms of a brainwashed population. The most glaring symptom is a zombie-like adherence to "official stories" no matter how absurd, and a complete blocking out of any facts that contradict the "official story". The administration is now able to lie with complete impunity, because they know the public is largely unable, or unwilling, to venture beyond the La La land of mainstream thinking. The last thing most mainstream Americans want is to wake up!

Thank you, Monti Cristo. I was struck dumb by 75 through 78, and so I'm very glad for your input.

Bush's little brother is the president of some bank in Washington, & that bank got the biggest fine in US history when it was found guilty of laundering terrorist money!
Yes.
Probably was some kind of sweetheart deal to stay out of jail.
You didn't hear THAT on the corporate, fake news.

Monti Cristo

Whatever your belief about what happened on 9/11, the middle east isn't the friendliest region to the U.S. these days. Anyhoo, the issue that the media addresses about 25% of the time, is the state-ownership of the port company. Security and geo-politics aside, that is the issue. Having a foreign government entity having any stake in our infrastructure is a bad idea in my opinion, no matter what country or political tensions that may exist. This economic imperialism goes both ways, and KBR should give up its stake in Iraqi infrastructure and let them handle their resources the way they see fit.

BVAC,

The facts of 9/11 are available to all who can handle them. I've merely given an assessment of 9/11 based upon the facts of the case as opposed to the widely believed, but fraudulent official story. "Belief" has no part in any of this. The middle east is not friendly simply because the U.S. has deliberately caused it to be so. By doing the right things the U.S. could just as easily cause the middle east to be friendly again.

While foreign involvement in our infrastructure is certainly not desirable, what most Americans are missing is the even greater threat of foreign control of our entire government! As a nation we therefore don't have the luxury of paying more attention to lesser problems like the port deal, while completely denying the far greater threat of traitors and moles operating from high government positions. We have suffered greatly as a nation from corruption and infiltration of our government. 9/11 is just one example of national tragedy directly attributable to traitors, moles, and corruption, in our own government. The same can be said of the disasterous course our nation has taken since 9/11. Due to mainstream America's inability or unwillingness to deal with the problem of treason and foreign control in Washington, we now teeter on the brink of military and economic ruin. At the end of the day, it matters less who runs our ports, than who runs our government!

The wake up call! This is well-founded fearmongering , so do your part to wake up the sleeping giant. Wake up the American people to the real issues before it is too late. See Öþêñ ¥ðµr MïñЧ È¥ê blog & spread his video like Wild Fire! This issue must not be ignored! Follow the below link, and please take action!

http://openyourmindseye....2/bush-is-terrorist.html

I think this is one of Rove's master plans (as was the Harriet Myers nomination).

Bush's poll numbers are down. Repug candidates have to look tough against the WH right now. So the Busheviks found a cause that the candidates could make a lot of noise about this year. It was all part of the plan.

While all of that noise is going on, not much is being noticed in the line of Diebold machines (except Bradblog), or the Fitzgerald investigation, or the corruption.

So the repugs will draw this "fight" out until after the elections (after they've "stolen" another one) and then everyone will sit back and say "Okay, Dubai, you can have the ports because we're watching you now."

In other words, from all of this noise --- nothing will be done. Just like the 911 commission. Just like the Katrina hearings. Just like 1000 other things that the repugs keep saying they "fixed". It's all just a set up to look good for the voters.

So after the votes are rigged and more seats are stolen in congress, we will hear Dobbs and Matthews saying, "Well, the American people liked the toughness of the republican candidates and voted for the security of the nation one more time."

Meanwhile, we'll all be screwed one more time.

HCOCDR #56

A classic case of hypocrisy is the regime complaining about the Supreme Court merely referring, in a non-binding manner, to laws of foreign nations, our neighbors, but that same regime wanting to give jurisdiction over American ports (6-21 ports) to foreign nations.

Another case is the regime talking about being open, and at the same time withholding damning emails that show the Vice President lied to federal investigators just like Libby did (link here).

That hypocrisy does not work well in the federal courts anymore (link here).

You hard headed folk have lost the battle and have damaged America severely. Thanks for nothing.

Monti Cristo

My point is that letting foreign government owned business to run U.S. ports is completely independent from anything that happened on 9/11. Foreign ownership is not a good idea whether its in 2/26/2006, 9/10/2001, or 4/4/1776. You're right, the middle east is not friendly because of our actions, and ending economic imperialism is one step in reversing that.

In an ideological battle such as the one we face in our government today, the way to win is by fighting bad with good. Exposing the borderline treason is simply not enough - creating the leadership to reverse the decades-long trend by providing a positive alternative is key.

Here's a little song to sing while thinking about the complete insanity of our government. (To the tune of Camptown Racetrack.) Arab Terrorist sing this song ---Dubai, Dubai. Arab Terroists all day long---oh Dubai Day! Gwine to ship all night, gwine to ship all day----Blow your ports to smithereens, oh Dubai Day!!

BVAC,

We have no argument on the idea of foreign ownership of our ports. I beg to differ however in that this port deal has in fact everything to do with 9/11. Like most Americans, you appear to have no idea of how really bad things are, nor what we're up against. The treason of which I speak is far from "borderline" it is far worse than most Americans would care to imagine and has gone unchecked for decades! The port deal is only one aspect of a broad strategy pursued by several recent puppet U.S. administrations that will soon lead to the total destruction of the sovereignty of the U.S. Far from an isolated event 9/11 was an important milestone on our road to tyranny here in the U.S. Everything that has happened since 9/11, is part and parcel of a long term plot to destroy the U.S. Constitution and subjugate the American people.

To make a long story short however, our entire political establishment has been compromised by traitors and moles, the U.S. public is impaired by massive ignorance and covert mind control. If the individual mainstream American in sufficient numbers, cannot see fit to rouse him or herself from decades of ignorance and gross irresponsibility, there will be no U.S. to save! The best way to win then is by fighting ignorance with knowledge. Every American must quickly get up to speed on who our real enemies are and how mainstream politicians are selling the nation to the highest bidder. Only a truly informed public has any chance of dealing with such monumental threats.

We stand perilously close to the threshold of a new "Middle Ages" where neo-fuedalism and Orwellian oppression threatens to sweep away all of the treasured rights and liberties achieved by western peoples in the last thousand years. The west has collectively lost contact with the truth. Our sense of reality is now defined by audacious lies and mind numbing ignorance. Our enemies appear to be our friends, and our friends appear to be enemies! Disunity and strife along foolish ideological lines, must be discarded for unity as Americans against our common enemies. The hour is late, and our enemies now control the mainstream media, the whitehouse, and both mainstream political parties. Make no mistake about it, our nation is in the terminal stages of a near one hundred year slide into an Orwellian Tyranny, from which we may never recover!

America land of the free and home of the uninformed is now the-

"United States of Israel".

I wondered, years ago, why our government went after groups like David Koresh's so forcefully, burnt them out etc. They stocked a fair amount of weapons in preparation for the day that might come against 'big brother', but they were no immediate threat.
Now it all makes sense.
The government doesn't want anyone to have firepower except THEM, for when this corporate takeover of our country comes to a head & people finally take to the streets.
Big Brother is here--I mean, if you don't KNOW that Bush/Cheney are spying for their own gain & enjoyment then you're a rube that just fell off the vegetable truck.
If they were spying to protect the US, they could go through channels & get official ok a few days after wire-tapping whoever it was.
It's all very frightening, & what's worse, you don't know what to do--all the old, legitimate ways of democracy don't have any effect.

Why does the job of protecting our ports have to be "given" to ANY corporation (especially not a foreign one?)
Our own government used to do a lot of things that have been "given" to private corporations.
There are mercenaries where our own armed services used to be--there are hired "interrogators" where our own service personnel used to do it.
Our jails have been "given" to corporations.
Our voting system has been "given" to corporations.

The entire 'wrongness' of the privatization of our infrastructure is the issue.

And a definite "HELL NO!" to the UAE!
We should not allow our jobs & our interests to be "given" away to anyone. We, our government, should protect our ports.
Our government's bottom line is (or should be) to protect us at any cost--while a corporation's bottom line is only to make money. It doesn't make sense to 'privatize' anything!
Bush/Cheny like to privatize & give their cronies favors--so they can control all & make a ton of money by padding all the bills, no bid contracts,etc., while having the balls to still do a lousy job which no one can evaluate except the pigs, bush/cheney, who obviously don't care.
If anyone has the nerve to try & investigate anything, (they get even with them first ala Plamegate) & then they declare all documents related to the subject in question "classified", so no one can see them.
This is the MOST secretive government we have ever had & the shittiest, by far.
The noose tightens on America.

Why is the president going to the mat on this? Why do we *need* to sell our ports to UAE? If the UAE supported terrorism before 9-11 does that make them "Wid us or agin us"? Why can't we run our own ports?

By George, she's got it!

SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

Veterans May Face Budget Cuts in 2008
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

2 hours ago
WASHINGTON - At least tens of thousands of veterans with non-critical medical issues could suffer delayed or even denied care in coming years to enable President Bush to meet his promise of cutting the deficit in half _ if the White House is serious about its proposed budget.

After an increase for next year, the Bush budget would turn current trends on their head. Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing by leaps and bounds, White House budget documents assume a cutback in 2008 and further cuts thereafter.

In fact, the proposed cuts are so draconian that it seems to some that the White House is simply making them up to make its long-term deficit figures look better. More realistic numbers, however, would raise doubts as to whether Bush can keep his promise to wrestle the deficit under control by the time he leaves office.

President at 34% approval-Cheney at 18% approval
Poll: Bush Ratings At All-Time Low

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2006
(CBS/AP)

(CBS) The latest CBS News poll finds President Bush's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 34 percent, while pessimism about the Iraq war has risen to a new high.

Americans are also overwhelmingly opposed to the Bush-backed deal giving a Dubai-owned company operational control over six major U.S. ports. Seven in 10 Americans, including 58 percent of Republicans, say they're opposed to the agreement.

Jo # 92 asks: "Why can't we run our own ports?"

A very good question. The answer unfortunately escapes most Americans. Simply put, we can't run our own ports because we don't run our own government. All U.S. administrations for the last several decades have been essentially puppet administrations; taking orders directly from certain foreign and domestic special interests. Due to an appalling lack of political savvy, and a near complete loss of the ability to think and process information individually, the American people have allowed themselves to be taken completely out of the political equation in this country. The country is now being converted into a totalitarian dictatorship like the Soviet Union, right before our eyes, yet few seem to grasp the dire future that awaits us, if mainstream America continues it's irresponsible behavior.

Nobody listens to the public anymore because the public consists mainly of dutiful ideologues, instead of intelligent individuals. Gone are the days of intelligent political discourse in the U.S. Mainstream media talking heads have totally usurped the thought process in this country. No one thinks for themselves anymore so the country has passed into the hands of powerful special interests and their lackeys and dupes in Washington. As long as Americans continue to act as if the reality of foreign control of our political leaders doesn't exist, they will continue to be confused by the policies of the current administration, and be treated like children by those in power.

Floridiot #20