re: The UAE Port Deal

OK I've been holding back posting on this but here goes some facts:

1. The United Arab Emirates bought US jet fighters from President Clinton. Did any one object? And this was pre-9/11 when the UAE recognized the Taliban as the legitimate govt. of Afghanistan. Shall we ask for them back now cause you know they're "a terrorist haven" as the left would have you believe?

2. The UAE donated $100 million to Katrina relief. I guess we have to give that back right? It's obviously tainted. You know how powerful 'those people' are. Who knows how it's contaminated.

3. The US Govt is NOT selling anything to the UAE. The British company that owned the port terminals beforehand are selling them to the UAE. We either give approval or disapproval or voice or concerns over the sale since its on our soil. They are not buying "ports" but a few terminals in these ports.

4. Does anyone think we'd allow this sale if we certain that security and all safety concerns would stay in place? Does anyone think we'd simply turn a blind eye to security under UAE ownership. If anything MORE eyes would be on them than when the British company owned them.

5. The UAE would not be responsible for hiring or firing employees. That belongs to the US unions who work there. The UAE would simply be writing the checks for the costs of the terminals and reaping any profit from the use of them. The same as the British company did.

6. The UAE does not have to spend upwards of $8 Billion - BILLION - on buying these terminals to conduct terrorist activities. It can be done right now for FREE. Security in these ports is so lax as it is that anyone can smuggle stuff in or out with little or no problem.

7. Almost ALL smuggling or contraband captures within shipping containers in US ports are from TIPS. Not investigative work or diligent, strict control of the ports. Someone phones in and says "you'd better have a look at this shipment". How sad is that? That pathetic fact comes from an ex-US Port security consultant firm rep I saw interviewed on CNN.

8. The UAE provided the US Military with precise intelligence and bombing coordinates for our initial attacks against the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks. They spied on the Taliban for us to provide with that intel. They also spied and gave us intel on Bin Laden training camp locations for us as well.

The Liberal left for 4 years has been spouting that our biggest terrorist enemy wasn't Saddam. Some have even said it wasn't the Taliban. That we have "made our enemies" by invading Iraq and Afghanistan, or even Liberal darling Michael Moore who claimed there was no terrorist threat and that it's all been exaggerated by the Right to stoke up fear in the American people. Now all of a sudden, they hear of this deal and VIOLA! we have a terrorist threat. Well thanks for joining the rest of us who have been screaming this pre and post 9/11. And the Left picks the UAE of all countries. Who have been one of our staunchest allies in the fight against terrorism in that region.

Granted, I am a little concerned that the President wasn't kept a bit more informed of this deal in it's earlier stages. President Bush, in my opinion, delegates to much to subordinates and lets them do things without his approval. President Reagan NEVER let any of his people take actions that he did not know about and approve/disapprove of. Unless it was a covert action and meant to keep him out of the loop and from responsibility - ala "Iran/Contra". Bush is a family guy who takes great pride in his relationship with friends and coworkers. The only problem with that is that things can have a tendency to run away from you. When you have too many people making decisions below you, because you don't demand to be kept informed about everything done under your administration, things like this Port deal can go on until it blows up in your face.

Trust is a wonderful thing to have in the people around you but you must also exert some kind of control on that trust. You can have faith that the people you appoint will do right by you, but you should NEVER go uninformed about the things going on around you. Especially if you're the one who ultimately falls under the sword if it goes awry.