Bush screws up again...or does he?
If you are confused about this whole mess with this company from the United Arab Emirates taking control of major ports in the United States, join the club. I feel like I should stick with my motto of "breaking it down for the common man" so here is the short version.
This company, Dubai Ports World from the UAE, bought another company, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company from Britain. POSNCo had been running the ports of Miami, Philadelphia, New York, etc. and with the buyout Dubai Ports World will take over. People are having fits because this company is Arab, was one of the few countries to recognize the Taliban in Afghanistan, and will now be running several of our major ports. Bush has said that this deal is safe, has been approved by the right people, and will continue even if he has to use the veto.
Here comes the shocker: I think he's right. An editorial in today's LA Times points out that Dubai Ports World will only be handling the logistics of the port and that security will still be controlled by the US Coast Guard, port police, etc. Also, most of the employees will stay in place. The article also points out that 80% of LA's ports are already operated by foreign companies (although it does not say if any are based in Arab countries). So it seems that this is not nearly as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be.
However, it helps create a bigger deal when Bush uses one of his old strategies to convince people that the deal is OK: "Trust me". Problem? A lot of people don't trust him. Why not point out the details of this deal to the people so they can see how this is not a big deal? In any case, there are a lot of Senators, including Hillary "I have to stick my nose into every damn thing so people thing I am legit" Clinton, that are going nuts over this. Why? So they can say that they are strong on national security.
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ask yourself this question. Would you be okay with China owning our port security contracts? Would the Bush Administration? I think that its appropriate and responsible to say that we don't want the business of those in the world that don't share our values of freedom. Particularly countries that still cut peoples heads off and make women cover thier faces.
tell amanda that I emailed my professor that Beowulf joke and she told it to the class. Big Hit.
Is it really fair to create a different set of rules for this company because of where they live? Again, its the same people working in the dock, but just a different set of millionaires (or more likely billionaires) getting the profit. There wasn't this much stink when China tried to buy Unocal. I mean, there was enough to stop the deal, but they are a country that we are at serious odds with.
Having women cover their faces is part of their culture. I know in the US that is considered a violation of women's rights, but maybe not there. We may not like it, but we don't create their rules. The government of Dubai does not cut peoples' heads off, but if they did, how much worse is that than gassing people, giving them lethal injections, electrocuting them, or hanging them (which some states still do)?
Oh, and there is this. Guess who operates the Port of Los Angeles? China Shipping.
ok....Bush Lover.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0217062contract1.html
possible DBOTW nominee
Oh, and by the way, the Beowulf joke was mine. Well, I heard it on NPR, but I will take credit anyway. I would not have laughed at the joke, however, if Amanda had not explained to me during her time teaching what Beowulf was about. I didn't pay attention during British Lit in high school.
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