"Bush jeopardized his strongest issue in the polls" with Ports Deal

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Bush is juggling many interests as he seeks to tamp down the controversy. On the world stage, he is keen on promoting American interests in the globalized economy. In the war on terror, he needs friends around the world, calling the UAE a "valuable ally." Domestically, with his political capital low, he needs to maintain a good working relationship with Congress in order to further his agenda. And with the American people, he cannot afford to sink any lower in job approval, lest he turn himself into a liability in the Republican battle to maintain control of Congress.

Homeland security is Bush's strongest issue in the polls, and at the beginning of the week, he had appeared to jeopardize that strength by taking the unpopular position on the ports deal.

"There's an inherent American fear that their ports are vulnerable and they are made even more so by this deal," says Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council. "Whether it's based on facts or fears is another matter, but it's real and it's bipartisan and it's visceral.... This is one of those rare moments where the Democrats are handed a wedge issue against Republicans on national security. They're not going to give the administration any leeway."

The unfortunate fact for Bush is that, while he counts the UAE as a loyal friend in the war on terror, two of the 9/11 hijackers came from there. The 9/11 Commission report states that "the vast majority of the money funding the Sept. 11 attacks flowed through the UAE."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0224/p01s03-uspo.html

[Kolesar]

1. Nothing to worry about!

The US federal agencies in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, which vetted the sale of the management of six US ports - in New York, Newark, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Miami - had concluded that Dubai Ports World (which is owned by the government of Dubai, one of the UAE emirates) would have no bearing on security at the ports. Security is handled by the US Coast Guard and Customs Service. It has been revealed that the Dubai company agreed to special provisions aimed at ensuring US security

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. "special provisions..."

...including not leaking classified info to bin Laden or anyone else who asks for it?

Sorry, I don't buy a word of this.

[Tempest]

3. Is that supposed to make us feel better?

Especially considering that only 5% of cargo coming into U.S. ports are inspected?

The UAE company still hasn't explained how the truck used to assassinate the Lebanese prime minister got from the port in UAE the company operated to Lebanon.

[Uncle Joe]

4. What if we got in to a tiff with the U.A.E. in the future,

what is to prevent them from just shutting it down, they refuse to pay their workers?

[Kolesar]

16. Admins provided me with a dandy "sarcasm" icon & I didn't use it

oops

[Cronus Protagonist]

17. Why Do You Hate Emerica?

[Mz Pip]

5. For 4 1/2 years

we have been given the excuss that "911 changed everything" It was used as a justification for going into Iraq. It was used as a justification for the Patriot Act and for wiretapping without a warrant. People bought into it. Now the administration says that this is the way we've handled these transactions for the past 30 years and we don't have to worry aboaut National Security.

We'll I guess the American people really bo8ught into the "9/11 changed everything" mam\ntra because most people seem to think that maybe this whole issue needs to be handled differently now.

9/11 changed everything except BushCo's business dealings.

Sorry if we're a bit confused on this. :sarcasm:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[indie_voter]

6. Hoist with his own petard!! Sweet. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

7. yep

[yellowcanine]

9. He reaps what he sows. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

KARMA!

[Jade Fox]

8. Four plus years of demonizing all Arabs/Muslims...

has now come around to kick George Bush in the ass.

Typically, he was too stupid to anticipate it. He actually seems to expect Americans to differentiate between Arabs who are our friends (or more accurately, his friends) and those other Bad Terra-ists.

[Roland99]

10. But...but...but...the Pentagon says opposing it means terrorists win!!

:puke:

[montana500]

11. geeze

"There's an inherent American fear that their ports are vulnerable and they are made even more so by this deal," says Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council. "Whether it's based on facts or fears is another matter, but it's real and it's bipartisan and it's visceral"


Just say it without the qualifier. This "thoughtful liberal act" is not good in an election year.

[PBass]

12. The GOP are totally incompetent when it comes to homeland security.

Lets recap quickly, shall we?
911 was on Dumbya's watch. "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Within the United States" briefing results in two more weeks of Bush summer vacation. ZERO staff meetings on terrorism before 911 (Cheney's fault).

Massive intelligence screwup or was it just blatant lying, to urge America into invading Iraq? You make the call. Pre-emptive war, a national disgrace.

Bin Laden still on the loose.

Anthrax attacker still on the loose.

Multiple false alarms with Terror Alerts (code orange)

Iraq occupation is blundered, costing billions extra in tax dollars, more unnecessary US troop casualties, and prolonging Iraqi misery. Iraq drifting dangerously close to all out civil war. 1.2 Billion tax dollars per week, with no plan or exit strategy, even after 3 years.

Torture okayed by White House, a national disgrace.

Hurrican Katrina destroys a major American city, while Team Bush is on vacation yet again. Cronies in place are clueless, causing billions indamage and one thousand-plus deaths.

Illegal domestic spying okayed by White House.

Selling control of strategic resources (ports) to a country that supports Terrorism.

(I'm sure I am forgetting some important events). These idiots are totally incompetent when it comes to security. They are good at campaigning, but terrible at governing.

[montana500]

15. absolutely.

Very well said. And we don't need democrats giving qualifiers to stories that hurt them and help us.

[Neil Lisst]

13. A Mission Accomplished Weiner roast

Then we will stuff the cooked weiners down the front of our flight suits and run around yelling MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

[win_in_06]

14. Bush is not running for anything ever again.