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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Has President Bush gone insane? The only thing he has going for him is the undeserved reputation for fighting terrorism. Sure, he ignored a memo saying, "Bin Laden Determined To Attack The United States." Sure, he has bungled Iraq and presides over a feckless homeland security department. Still, Americans thought his administration was tough on terror because Bush threatened to "smoke em' out" and Cheney shoots his friends on hunting trips. This makes the stupider amongst us say, "wow, Bush is a bad ass."
So, it is perplexing that the President is squandering his only political advantage by threatening to veto any legislation blocking a deal for a state-owned company in Dubai to take over the management of port terminals in New York, Miami, Baltimore and other major American cities. His own party thinks the idea is nuts, still Bush is so stubborn, he is vowing to take them on. This is a politically reckless battle he will lose.
This crisis revives old suspicions that the Bush family has used the Saudis and and other Arab Emirates to enrich themselves at the expense of America - even our national security. It will be interesting to see how Bush is compensated by Dubai after he leaves office. It is clear that his ties to this country are so strong, he is even willing to squander his reputation as a hawk on security.
10 Comments:
The Bush fmily is just downright corrupt. They are in the pocket of the Arab elites.
He's such a money whore, now that he doesnt have to worry about getting re-elected he can do whatever he wants; and the saps who voted for him (along with the rest of us) will pay the price. His inability to compromise or ever back down is part of his psychopathology--once again i recommend reading the book Bush on the Couch. It's a frightening eye-opener. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
2/22/2006 12:16 PM
All the evidence is clear about this administration. I am shocked the man is still in office, the corruption and blatant disregard for the law runs deep. I live in a Bush supported state, Texas, you know the state where Cheney shot someone while hunting. You can not approach the subject of Bush's hi jinx, without ensuring your concealed handgun is in tact. Absurdity at its finest.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/22/2006 12:33 PM
This is just liberal slander. New York Times and Google News are liberal whores.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/22/2006 12:33 PM
The New York Times happens to be the best paper in the country. I know a few people like you who say the same derogatory things about it, and none of them have ever read it. I bet you haven't either. But I could be wrong. If you actually go ahead and consistently the paper, you'll discover it is hardly far left. It is a GREAT paper, and the education it provides is terrific. And all for a buck!
posted by Anonymous, at
2/22/2006 12:49 PM
Simpleton facts is more like it!!
posted by Anonymous, at
2/22/2006 2:30 PM
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Call me crazy and cynical ... and after five going on six years of this administration you'll be able to follow me on this ... this has a similiar flavor and tint as the whole SCOTUS appointment of Harriet Miers.
I suspect that this latest port brouhaha is *Not to be taken seriously but a well planned Rovian maneuver*.
I suspect in the end this has been a finely crafted *insta-scandal* to divert our attention (and more importantly the media) away from the litany of crimes and despotic behavior of this administration and more importantly to assist the GOP candidates seeking re-election this cycle by providing them with a much needed *distancing issue* with the WH - whose polling numbers are now hovering in the 30s across the board.
I can't for one minute believe that this WH is willing to allow this President's one and only veto in office to be in favor of turning over US ports to the UAE. Com'on? Really?
What really makes me laugh is that, a whole war was started with the pretext of "deffending freedom", and sudenly this???
Why the creation of Homeland Security and the idiotic document called "Patrot's Act"? Why then bother to call ourselves "stronghold of freedom" if we sale our ports to the richest one? Why the blod of al young men and women who died in combat so far, and the millions of taxes WE are expending in prisions were violations of human rights are more the norm than the exception?
I remember that on 9-11 we all were outraged by whathappened, whitout distinction of who was a liberal or a conservative... we all, American born or nationalized were together, strong and united... what happened? How were we so blind as a society to elect a goverment that go against every single principle of country, Land and God?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/22/2006 6:06 PM
Wayne,
You've said before here that we may have to take on Iran some day to prevent them from using nuclear weapons. There appear to be signs that the ability to use a certain air base in Dubai, directly below Iran in the Persian Gulf, may be critical to those plans should they ever (hopefully NEVER) need to be used. This could be a quid pro quo.
However, to those of you who are against those who would deny GLBT people, as a group, the right to adopt...
How do you feel about discrimating against Arabic peoples, as a group, the right to own U.S. port facilities?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/23/2006 9:33 AM
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Anon:
I believe most Americans, myself included, found it abit unnerving that most of America's major port operations have been outsourced to foreign companies. I was taken aback that a British or as our ever brillant POTUS stated "Great British" - company previously held these contracts. In my honest opinion there are some things that should never be outsourced and the day-to-day management and control of US port operations is certainly one of them. It is neither rascist nor unAmerican to demand that certain vital organs of trade and security be kept exclusively under American control.
I think the uproar over this issue should be no surprise and I do not believe most Americans are in the mood to hear that while we are fighting the so-called *war on terror* we are also going to outsource our Port management to an Arab nation. It is news that is not going to go down easy. Right-wing neocons have been the first to charge racism - but I find this canard laughable. Somethings are simply non-starters from the git-go ... or should be ... whether we are engaged in a so-called *war on terror* or not.
I respectfully disagree with President Carter and those that would allow this vital function to be outsourced to any group other than an American based company.
