Fuck the Fucking Shit!!!! We're Fucked Now!!!!

[Airman_Doors_USAF]

Our President has the power to compel the UAE company to sell its interest by forbidding it to do business in this country. That is essentially what the Congress is trying to do because the President approved it.

I seem to recall something of the sort happening before, but I can’t remember the specific instance. Of course, I may be wrong.

[Kalhoun]

@eponymous

The US didn’t choose Dubai Ports World - DPW made a competitive bid to purchase P & O, a British firm. P & O just so happens to conduct ports operations (NOT SECURITY) in 6 US ports.

US involvement had to do with the US committee giving the OK on the deal as it affected those assests in the US. It was done in secret (as I understand it) only on those matters as it pertained to security matters (per Chertoff from DHS) - ensuring that DPW would be in compliance with US security laws/policies and agreements the US already has with UAE/DPW (who do you think checks cargo at Dubai or any other port in the world? THere’s as much a security concern at ports of origin as ports of destination - the US has been quite vigorous in this regards).

Part of it is just the nature of the business - maritime shipping is a global business. My understanding is that there isn’t any large US company that can compete with the biggies. Economies of scale, and all that.

How would it be more difficult? DPW (or any other foreign firm) would still have to comply with US laws, regulations, and all matters pertaining to security. The people who would be working the docks would be US dockworkers. The managers would still be those from P & O - largely expats from US and UK. Those people should have already been vetted by US security people.

I agree there needs to be more transparency on the security side - maybe if DHS and the government can show the American people that it’s doing everything possible to make ports safer then it wouldn’t be a major issue. But this should be an issue regardless of whether DPW does port operations or whether some other foreign firm does it (or even if it’s an American firm).

Thanks for your response.

I still don’t understand how we can’t compete with the biggies…seeing as we’re lousy with ports, we should be a major player in this arena. That’s how it seems to me, anyway.

[lissener]

@Airman Doors

For Pete’s sake, can we just stop being afraid of the bogeyman anymore? It’s nice to know that there is something that can get bipartisan support in Congress. It’s scary to think that this is it.

:rolleyes:

We need to find a way to come to terms with terrorism. This is a positive first step. When nothing happens people will see that not all Arabs are bad guys and we can start to get over this xenophobia we’ve been having for the past 5 years.

Or, alternatively, we can continue to discriminate and get absolutely nowhere and piss off some more Arabs who don’t already hate us. I much prefer choice number 1, myself. President Bush is doing the right thing on this one.

You know, I useta would say that your lameness never ceases to amaze me. But it has. Your act is so old and stale that the amazement has just gone right out of it. Please, Doors, mix it up a bit, for old time’s sake.

[Airman_Doors_USAF]

Oh. My. God. You have got to be kidding me. Really.

It’s the right thing to do and I’m being castigated because Bush thinks it’s the right thing to do and I agree with him?

You really disappoint me, man.

Oh, and speaking of stale acts, Showgirls is one of the sorriest movies ever made and Verhoeven is about one step above Ed Wood for hack directing.

On second thought, I don’t want to bait you. Calling you a hypocrite is probably good enough.

[Revenant_Threshold]

@Airman Doors

Our President has the power to compel the UAE company to sell its interest by forbidding it to do business in this country. That is essentially what the Congress is trying to do because the President approved it.

I seem to recall something of the sort happening before, but I can’t remember the specific instance. Of course, I may be wrong.

Ah, ok. I wasn’t aware he had the power to do this. In that case, yes, Bush has done something right - good on him for not bending to pressure on this issue.

[threemae]

@Airman Doors

Or, alternatively, we can continue to discriminate and get absolutely nowhere and piss off some more Arabs who don’t already hate us. I much prefer choice number 1, myself. President Bush is doing the right thing on this one.

Exactly. That’s the crux of this whole shebang.

[Barbarian]

I wonder what people are going to think when they hear a Virginia company is teaming up with the U.A.E. to build a spaceport.

[zagloba]

@Little Plastic Ninja

Aw, c’mon. Re: evul Ay-rab men, I think the intensely sweet Persian Ba’hai boy I knew in college would be incapable of mistreating a pigeon, let alone another human being.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here, given that Persians are not Arabs and Ba’hais are not Muslim.

[dnooman]

Looks like the deal will go through, even if it takes a veto from Bush. Link

[Gala_Matrix_Fire]

@Plynck

May we expect the sequel: "Not Without My Son"?

Brilliant!!!

[Patty_O_Furniture]

Lou Dobbs must have a hard-on right about now.

I know, I know… you all really needed that mental image.

[Beware_of_Doug]

@Patty O'Furniture

Lou Dobbs must have a hard-on right about now.

Of course he does. He’s sitting about 2 feet away from Christine Romans.

[threemae]

@Beware of Doug

Of course he does. He’s sitting about 2 feet away from Christine Romans.

Yikes, that’s scarry.

He probably isn’t persuing a lot of options then…

[Guinastasia]

@catsix

It is, however, true that women cannot always guarantee that the progressive and egalitarian attitude displayed by middle eastern Muslim men while in the US and Canada is that which will be displayed once back in the middle east. This is particularly true, the State Department advises, in Saudi Arabia. (Note that I’m saying nothing about the UAE or the ports deal)

The State Department cautions women in the US who plan to marry Saudi nationals while living in the US that their lives can (and often do) drastically change once the husband and wife relocate back to Saudi Arabia.

I also found this posting, which claims to have been originally posted on the State Department website.

So there is some basis other than a Lifetime TV movie for the idea that things often change when the Muslim man gets his western wife home to the middle east.

Oh, I’m sure it happens. I just find Evil Captor’s assumptions that ALL Muslim men do this pretty sickening.

[psychonaut]

@Not a Well Woman

I wasn’t posting for any other reason than to vent my feelings of anger about what I sincerely think is a bad idea regardless of what Exactly I think is Exactly going to happen.

Then what exactly are your criteria for determining when an idea is “bad”, if not what is “going to happen” as a result of it? Do you decide whether ideas are good or bad by flipping a coin or something?

If I am paranoid, why can’t you say it in a way that isn’t assholey and accuses me of taking drugs? Why do I have to be on drugs to get upset about the indignities that I feel are done to the American people every day?
I will send you a list if you need me to.

Yes, please do send a list of why you have to be on drugs.

[outside_artist]

Thank you so much for your intelligent and helpful comments regarding my original posting of the previous evening. I found your insight and understanding most effective, and your rational assumptions regarding myself fascinating and life-changing. In the future, be assured that I intend to consult all of you when I have an issue with which I need similar assistance.

Sincerely. NAWW

[Waverly]

@Not a Well Woman

Thank you so much for your intelligent and helpful comments regarding my original posting of the previous evening. I found your insight and understanding most effective, and your rational assumptions regarding myself fascinating and life-changing. In the future, be assured that I intend to consult all of you when I have an issue with which I need similar assistance.

Sincerely. NAWW

Not even a “Fuck you fucking fuckers!!!”? What a let down.

[lissener]

@Airman Doors

On second thought, I don’t want to bait you.

Since when have you been shy about baiting? You’re a master.

[duffer]

@lissener

You know, I useta would say that your lameness never ceases to amaze me. But it has. Your act is so old and stale that the amazement has just gone right out of it. Please, Doors, mix it up a bit, for old time’s sake.

Huh, another insult with no content. At least you never let us down.

To repeat a point from an earlier post in this thread, the UAE is running out of oil fast. That’s the main resource for the country’s income. They need to start looking at other ways to stay economicaly viable. (i.e. not being annexed by Saudi Arabia).

International trade is the best option. Given the assumption they aren’t hell-bent on destroying themselves. Granted, they aren’t anywhere near social freedoms the West holds dear, but in cases like this you have to look for the lesser of the evils to reach out to.

The UAE needs to become ecomonicaly independant of oil sales, and international trade is one of the best ways to go about it. Should they run 6 large US ports, they’re make a huge step towards that goal. The money they will generate would make it extremely disadventageous to support in any way acts that would harm the ports.

Also, as has been shown, they won’t be in charge of security. We still have plenty of agencies that will monitor the traffic and the people coming onto American shores.

What we should be concerned about, as I’ve said, are the Americans that will be working at the ports. I was thinking along the lines of American terrorists that are able to get work at the ports that would aid an attack from a renegade foreign group. But with all the furor over trying to identify those in the US, I have to trust they don’t exist. :rolleyes:

[lissener]

@Airman Doors

Oh, and speaking of stale acts, Showgirls is one of the sorriest movies ever made and Verhoeven is about one step above Ed Wood for hack directing.

Oh, and speaking of stale acts indeed. Did you really think the above made you seem *less *lame? That’s frickin hilarious.

You forgot to say, “Nice hair.”