tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9042316.post114073018151581273..comments2023-10-22T06:13:53.002-07:00Comments on Sea2Sea.blogspot.com: Hillary still hell bent on "pausing" UAE port dealAliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811768631985140312noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9042316.post-1140884828439357842006-02-25T08:27:00.000-08:002006-02-25T08:27:00.000-08:00OMG! What a mind slip! I did NOT mean that wuss, ...OMG! What a mind slip! <BR/><BR/><B>I did NOT mean that wuss, Wesley Clark above. I meant Tommy Franks!</B><BR/><BR/>That'll teach me to type before coffee.... LOL<BR/><BR/>MataMataHarleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10201059375849537682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9042316.post-1140883818302373182006-02-25T08:10:00.000-08:002006-02-25T08:10:00.000-08:00And those who dwell in the past will never know th...And those who dwell in the past will never know the joys and progress of the future, TrekMed, my friend. <BR/><BR/>We will never forget. Or at least I will not. But there is no reason we cannot move forward and improve relations, yet still remain vigilant simultaneously. <BR/><BR/>And BTW, P&O/DP World would not be the *only* foreign port ops in the 21 affected ports (there's really more than 6, but the 6 are the biggest...). Thus the idea that the UAE company would "control" the ports is mistaken. They would control only those terminals they acquire thru the deal. Still American employees and Longshoremen. Still US CG and DHS for security. And container security at the ports of origin remain ever on the improvement.... with the UAE's help, BTW. They were the first port ops to provide radiation inspection machinery, complying with the initiative, for their largest hub of shipping.<BR/><BR/>Did you hear Wesley Clark on Tony Snow, and how the UAE not only broke ties with the UAE following 911, but gave Clark intel to help in the campaign? They are a valuable asset, and we need those desperately. As a central banking megolith, they have opportunity to hear much about the movement of terrorist money. And they've already proven they will stop the flow, tighten regulations, freeze assets, and share the intel.<BR/><BR/>We have friends AND enemies in every nation in the world. In every country... including ours... are those who will perpetuate the hate thru training schools, madrases and jihad recruitment. But not everyone in the can be held responsible for those. Especially in a nation where the gov't entity has demonstrated cooperation. The UAE is not Palestine's Hamas. They are not the strident Iranian leadership. They are <B>exactly</B> the model of an Arab nation we seek... one who is embracing our commonality in finance and trade, even if not in idealogy, and stand with us against the radical element in Islam. No... they aren't perfect yet, but they are on the road to becoming a western icon in the middle of the region. We should be cheering them on in every way.<BR/><BR/>The question burns in my mind... exactly what does the UAE have to do in order for Americans to open their minds?MataHarleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10201059375849537682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9042316.post-1140841172937213712006-02-24T20:19:00.000-08:002006-02-24T20:19:00.000-08:00Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it,...Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, Mata! :(<BR/><BR/>We deal with the Saudis because we need their oil, while they teach their children in the madrasas that Jews make bread from Arab blood and Christians ought to be killed!<BR/><BR/>I have no doubt the UAE are playing both sides of the fence. Giving them control of the 6 biggest ports in the country is suicidal!TheBitterAmericanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00011945492708974995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9042316.post-1140799817758023172006-02-24T08:50:00.000-08:002006-02-24T08:50:00.000-08:00Oh TrekMed... you're alive! Would like to point o...Oh TrekMed... you're alive! <BR/><BR/>Would like to point out that you are suffering from the same problem as Carl Levin.... a pre 911 mindset. True they didn't have a good history then. However post 911 is a different story. <BR/><BR/>And it boggles me a nation that always loves the loser who finally made the cut, pulling himself up by the bootstraps, can't seem to judge the UAE on their actions now and not then.<BR/><BR/>The UAE has been instrumental in cracking down on money flows, tightening up banking regulations. They've helped unravel much of the terrorist network in their territory. Even Libya's concession of their WMD program can be traced back to the UAE. They are, in short, an increasingly valuable asset in the intelligence and PR world.<BR/><BR/>The "gov't" of the UAE is embracing the western economics and business attitude, trying to improve their own nation and conditions. Isn't that what we preach to the Middle East? Come into the benefits of capitalism and freedom?<BR/><BR/>Make no mistake, the Islamic world will never "love" us. We will *never* win their hearts and minds. <BR/><BR/>But, with business ties, there will be common, vested interest in making sure our ports, our economy and prosperity - and yes, our lives - are guarded, safe a prosperous. They will, in short, have more reason to see us alive and safe... not dead. That may be the best we can do for co-existance.MataHarleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10201059375849537682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9042316.post-1140747871793575182006-02-23T18:24:00.000-08:002006-02-23T18:24:00.000-08:00Before you go much further, read page 138 (I think...Before you go much further, read page 138 (I think) of the 9/11 report. Damning evidence that the UAE dimed us out to bin Laden when we had the chance to take him out.TheBitterAmericanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00011945492708974995noreply@blogger.com