Thursday, February 23, 2006

Is Bush Stupid?

Let me preface by saying that I really like President Bush. I voted for him twice and respect him for being a man of principle even when a majority of people disagree with him. Unfortunately, this one of the times which I agree with the majority who have concerns over the recent transaction to turn operation of several of our ports over to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Last week, under a secret agreement with the administration, the company called Dubai Ports World purchased the rights to operate the ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia for $6.8 billion. Previously, the ports were run by the London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. which is a publicly traded company. Dubai Ports is solely controlled by the UAE government. Thus, this transaction essentially turns over control of our major ports along the east coast to an Arab country.

The Department of Homeland Security has made repeated statements in the past on the need to improve security among our ports. So why are we simply handing the keys to one our most vulnerable access points to a potential enemy? There are stories coming out daily regarding the UAE's ties to terrorism including Osama Bin Laden. Now I have no idea how serious these accusations are but it doesn't take much of a leap to assume that they could be true. Arab countries have a long history of at least giving aid and comfort to terrorist regimes if not outright supporting them.

When Congress found out about this deal, many politicians from both sides of the aisle became alarmed. But what was Bush's response? Instead of determining that he made a mistake and backing away from the agreement, he has dug in and decided to hold his ground. He has even gone on the attack against those who oppose the deal as being anti-Arab. Well yes Mr. President I am anti-Arab in the sense that I don't trust Arab countries with our national security and I have a difficult time understanding why you would trust them. What has the UAE done in the past to earn our trust?

And while this is a policy error, it is an even larger public relations and political debacle. Bush's one strong point is protecting our homeland from terrorism. People might not like him personally or agree with his domestic agenda but they do trust him when it comes to the war on terror. Now all of the sudden that trust has been shattered by a deal that doesn't appear to benefit anyone other the UAE. Bush gets nothing out of this deal accept ceding the high ground on security issues to people like Hilary Clinton. This is exactly the opportunity she needed to flank Bush from the right and finally make herself look like a moderate.

I hope that Bush's ego or at least his advisors finally come to their senses and see this as the losing proposition that it truly is. It took several weeks for him to abandon Harriet Miers but eventually he saw the writing on the wall and we ended up with a very good judge in Alito. Maybe he can salvage this situation as well but by the looks of it, Bush is looking to fight a battle he cannot and should not win.

4 comments:

Derek said...

NO.................../..YES
STUPID METER

DAKOTARANGER said...

I'm not sold on this deal but some of the things that I am hearing about the this has relieved some of my fears. I think that we need some more answers before any new deal is struck.

This deal only involves six of eighty ports. We don't have any American companies that do this. Then factor in we don't control the ports that load the ships.

What the Whitehouse should have done is called a press conference after this deal was done and explained everything that has come out now.

I think we should postpone the deal, but I'm not sure we should totally scrap out of hand. There are things that we should be concerned with. The idea that one of the people in UAE could do Senator Leahey is one of the major things I am concerned of.

Jon said...

I'm not sure I agree, Jeff. I struggle with national security issues. Can you guarantee for me that some other company running those 6 ports would keep out treachery? Plugging 6 holes in the bursting dam is better than doing nothing I guess, but I'm not sure these ports will be any less secure than all the other ports and parts of our borders.

Our nation is not a castle, a fortress, a vault, bank safe, or other locked up location. Reasonable border security is necessary for safety, but it comes at a cost. We must always weigh our security efforts against the loss of our freedoms and friends.

Our current port security is only minimal anyway and not likely to improve much no matter who owns or operates a port. UAE has agreed to full access by US authorities to do whatever oversight we want to. Security at these ports would probably be tighter than any other ports, just because everyone will now be skeptical. If Bush says UAE has been an ally in the war on terror, I can accept that. There are security risks at every port and all around our nation.

I only trust Muslims to follow Islam. But, I can't say that I trust all American port agents not to sell us out to a terrorist either.

Bottom line for me on the larger issue of national security is that our United States cannot protect ourselves from all harm. It is prudent to give due diligence to security, but we're sacrificing freedoms for security and at some point we need to stop. We've given up so many of the freedoms that our forefathers fought and died for. The Almighty God is the only one who can truly protect these United States. We can't expect His blessings due to our nation's iniquities, though we should pray for His grace and mercy to protect us.

For those reasons, I believe restoring the right to life and giving clear legal protection for all pre-born people would probably do more for our nation's security than the Patriot Act, the new Minutemen, and totally U.S. owned/operated ports would combined.

It wouldn't matter if a high tech security wall surrounded every inch of our borders. It wouldn't matter if we had a million border patrol agents. It wouldn't matter if we searched every plane, train, auto, and ship entering our nation. Without God's protection, we have none. I don't know where to draw the line on reasonable efforts to secure our nation. I'm sure God does.

God, please grant our leaders wisdom in this matter and please protect our nation from both foreign and domestic terrorists. Though we don't deserve your favor, I ask for these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord.

David Drury said...

Bush should just stare into the camera, wag his finger, and say, "I... did not... have... port relations with that... country....... the A-Rab Emerites."

Then it'll all go away.

NO..................../.YES
STUPID METER