Thursday, February 23, 2006

Democrats Hungry for Answers in Cheney Hunting Probe

In other news, Africa is Just Hungry.

posted by BohemianLikeYOU at 2/23/2006 10:04:00 AM

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're a week behind:

Republicans Hungry for Answers in UAE Port Security Deal
In other news, Africa is Just Hungry

2/23/2006 01:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fact that the UAE Port Management Deal has turned into a scandal is so ridiculous I don't even know where to start. And it isn't just Republicans. This insanity is bipartisan!!!

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thedebate/2006/02/ports_of_dubai.html

1) It isn't a security deal. We will still be manageing the security.
"The deal cannot 'outsource major port security,' because management companies that run ports do not control security."
2) The UAE has a long history of peaceful relations with the USA and has made concessions to help ensure security.
"The United Arab Emirates is a U.S. ally that has cooperated extensively with U.S. security operations in the war on terrorism, that supplied troops to the U.S.-led coalition during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and that sends humanitarian aid to Iraq. U.S. troops move freely in and out of Dubai on their way to Iraq now."
3) Would we be making the same stink if this were the philipines, or Argentina, or Britain, or France, etc... they have all produced a terrorist or two here and there. Even the good ole USA has had a few home grown terrorists crop up. Is the whole nation responsible? It isn't like we are asking Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, or even Saudi Arabia to manage the port.
"Britain, as events of the last year have illustrated, is no less likely to harbor radical Islamic terrorists than Dubai."
"they skipped past the inconvenient fact that the seller, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, is a British concern."
4) "One worry being cited is that this Arab company would be in a position to reach sensitive parts of our ports. But Dubai Ports World has nothing to gain -- and a lot to lose -- by allowing anything bad to happen on its watch.
The United States is Dubai's third-largest trading partner, and DPW already operates some of the busiest terminals in the world, including three in Hong Kong, four in China, and more in Europe, South America and Australia. DPW also acquired CSX World -- that's the international arm of the company Americans know best for operating freight trains -- just over a year ago."
5) "But what if some terrorist sneaks radioactive material onto a cargo ship headed toward America? Newsflash: That can happen now. It is the job of the Coast Guard and the customs service to ensure shipments are inspected."
6) "Sounds like knee-jerk xenophobia to me, and you can bet that's how it sounds in the Middle East, too. And, frankly, it's not fair. One can't assume that a country poses a security risk just because it has "Arab" in its name."

I will stop there because there are plenty more reasons. There are reaons to be skeptical too. However, I think we need a devil's advocate, so to speak, here because it is obvious that people are just reacting based on fear, prejudice, or political motivation instead of actually thinking this thing through.

2/23/2006 07:04:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From Howard Kurtz:

Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum, who thinks the issue is overblown, is nonetheless enjoying the spectacle:

"Given the Republican Party's five-year effort to caricature liberals as panty-waisted Osama lovers for doing nothing more than holding positions startlingly similar to Bush's on the Dubai port deal, we would need to be veritable saints not to get a frisson of pleasure from holding their feet to the fire over this. It's time for the modern GOP to get a taste of its own dog food."

Amen!

2/24/2006 09:53:00 AM  
Blogger Conservative Soup said...

Amen! I like it.

2/26/2006 09:41:00 AM  

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