Astounding short-sightedness alert. From AP:
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration said Friday it won't reconsider its approval for a United Arab Emirates company to take over significant operations at six U.S. ports. The former head of the Sept. 11 commission said the deal "never should have happened."Opponents, including the agency that runs New York and New Jersey ports, took their case to court, while the company, Dubai Ports World, stepped up efforts to change the minds of congressional critics.
The president's national security adviser said the White House would keep trying to persuade lawmakers — there's more time since the company offered to delay its takeover — but the administration wouldn't reconsider its approval.
I am moving to the other side of this. After reading everything I can get my hands on. I believe that his standing behind this has to do with dealing with Iran.
Of course they won't. Commerce is king!
Funding for the 9/11 attacks was chanelled through the UAE.
An official UAE aircraft was seen in the al-Qaeda compound in Afghanistan in 1999.
2 of the 19 9/11 perpetrators were from the UAE.
These tidbits are from the "9/11 Commission Report," a surprisingly readable work and one which I recommend.
Question to Dubya or anyone else supporting this deal: What's changed in the UAE that will make this deal at all sensible from the security point of view?
He'll go down in flames over this idiocy, but he'll probably get a nice speaking retainer (and maybe a free condo in Dubai) after his presidency ends.
Rewarding a 'country' (actually a money-laundering smugglers' den collection of 'emirates' /'princedoms') like the UAE, that won't even recognize our only staunch ally in the ME, Israel, tells me they are not worthy to manage anything more serious in our economy than a chain of Motel 6's or 7-11's.
These same 'emirs' (our glorious 'allies') were falconing with Osama Bin Laden in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan not too long ago (and they were only one of 3 countries on Earth who recognized this medievel terror state), they support Hamas with blood money, and consider us the way Lenin thought of the "business is god" morons in the West, circa 1920: "They are so greedy they will sell us the rope that we will hang them with."
It took us over 70 years to get our necks of that noose. (Although Putin seems to be trying to rewind the threads.)
The jihad will be softer, slower and more smile-smothered from the likes of the UAE, but Islam is about our subjugation or annihilation. And they are followers of the pedophile "prophet".
Their goal is simple: undermine the free world.
It's in the guidebook (AKA Koran).
Best to read it and then decide on the wisdom of allowing such a risk of infiltration of our port system (even if only means they get to steal a Coast Guard or port security handbook and pass it to al-qaeda operatives), since it's clear no one in our government has taken the time to crack a Qu'ran.
Reward our real allies, not the ones who can afford to buy pimping spokespeople- like Bob Dole, Bill Clinton, Madeline Albright, etc.- to help hide their real faces.
Let the UAE buy tax-free municipal bonds if they just want to help us and profit from our economy.
And the best thing that this folly has exposed: only 5% or so of the containers flooding the ports are screened.
That's about a 95% failure rate.
A paper coffee cup would be sued off the market if it leaked 95% of the time.
Shouldn't someone, after 9/11, be fired for this criminally negligent betrayal of our vital national security?
"Sen.Pete Domenici said;
much of the criticism has an anti-Arab bias. "We are at war against terrorists, not any religion or ethnicity".
But Senator Domenici; where does the ideology that drives the extremists come from?
Could it possibly be found in the tenants of a religion? Have you really looked into what drives these terrorists?
Could we see anything that references a particular religion here, say for instance the terrorist group Hamas?
Article Eight - THE SLOGAN OF THE HAMAS
Allah is its goal, the Prophet its model, the Quran its Constitution, Jihad its path and death for the case of Allah it most sublime belief.
Just like many of you here, I came out swinging against this. But, just like many others elsewhere, I decided to just step back for one second and just listen. The fact is, when this first came out, the reaction was obviously based on fear. Now, I will be the first to admit that there is nothing wrong with fear.
But, I did more and more reading. Decided to get a lot more opinions on this. And that is why I have swung to the other side. No, I won't say that I am jumping up and down about this. Those fears were inside me for a very good reason. But, I do have enough confidence in Bush to not believe he would just sell us out completely. Below, I have included a link to a post that in part helped me to change my mind. In that post in another link that should be read. At least just read them.
http://wizbangblog.com/archives/010423.php
Christine, let's say your right and this is all about iran, and we need UAE to support our strike against them. Maybe, I don't know. It would seem foolish to give them upfront the only bargaining chip that we may have, and if the situation gets very crazy, in the Arab and Muslim world after the Iranian nukes are taken out, how can we trust that they will honor their part of the bargain.
Why can't we bribe them with the usual Jizyah?
Why do they want to invest in our ports of all things, our media, our universities?
If president Bush is a master of realpolitik and not a part of the global enterprise elite, then he would not have offered something so valuable for a limited goal like use of basis for an attack on Iran.
They, the UEA arabs, sympathetic to the long term Jihad, the jihad that uses Da'wa, money and demographics to achieve what Bin laden and the Iranians want now with force, are they really that reliable that we base our plans on their loyalty?
Remember the how Turks, our great cold war allies and proto-Europeans, who screwed up our invasion of Iraq by not letting our troops enter from the north, which ended costing American lives. They did this even after we were ramming their entree into the EU against the will of the European voters.
Christine, who is using who more effectively on this one them or us.
If we were planning a strike on Iran we should not depend on allies of convenience that have a hidden agenda, Why not get closer to Israel?
You know that even if the Sunni Gulf Arabs, who would like to see Iran de-fanged, want to keep their part of the bargain, what's to say that they will be able to control the rage that will sweep the Muslim world, every part of it, even in Europe.
Who's to say that the sheiks in the UAE will be able to hold their part of the bargain, if the really want to.
Again I ask, why are giving away so much and so vital a payment when we are not sure that it will be worth it?
Why is the president destroying the Republican base and strengthening the Democrats for an uncertain result?
In-spite of Rush, Fox News, Hannity (who I have the most respect for) and now even Savage, since I hear that he received death threats and did not broadcast last night, pulling back on his earlier statements, the American people smell a rat.
Who will these powerful people knuckle under next.
Only Malkin remains true to the interests of the American people.
Will she be put under the double threat of Jihadi danger and a government to feckless of to defend freedom of speech in America.
Some Europeans elites have given it away out of fear and PC correctness and our government appears to have bargained it away out of realpolitik calculations.
means that these are dark times for the future of Western civilization and global freedom.
I see storm clouds on the horizon. We are in for a very dangerous year!
Dangerous and dark forces are at work, we should all be careful.
...but the administration wouldn't reconsider its approval...
Bush seems keen on kissing the posteriors of rich Arab muslims. I suppose this Arab ( probably muslim)owned company is the only company in the world capable of managing US ports. Certainly no American company can manage an American port. We gave that up years ago as an excercise in futility. It's far better to let Arabs, especially muslim Arabs, run US ports. They have Allah on their side and he knows best.
In the end, it is Allah who is the ultimate port manager...Bush knows this, and is doing his part to help the Sons of Allah achieve their goals.
Allah seems to like Bush a lot...It's possible that Bush is the long awaited Mahdi.
(You heard that one first on JW/DW). Mahdi is supposed to gather a vast army in Afghnistan and from there conqor the world for Islam and justice...Bush is already there with his vast army, and in some ways, he is trying to conqor the world. Dont you think thats just a little too coincidental?? Mahdi Bush...Think about the implications of that for a while.
POSTED BY A COAST GUARD VETERAN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x481615
=======================================
* The "Port Service Company" receives, manifests, loads, offloads, and transfers the containers. Normally, this is monitored for drugs -- but there are "holes." The "Port Service Company" has the "expertise" (in a "perverse kind of way") to know where the holes are.
* Second, the "Port Service Company" frequently prepares the manifest. This is the legal document ennumerating what the ship is carrying, shipper, recipient, port on loaded, port to be off loaded. This guides (or misguides) the inspection.
* Third, frequently the "Port Service Company" performs "ship chandlering" - that's the sale of consumables and low level spare parts. This is not inventoried or manifested.
* Fourth, merchant mariners' documents. It is fairly easy to enter a country on "Merchant Mariner's Documents" (functions like a mini-passport). No visa requirements if you stay within some distance of the port. This is popular with drug dealers - and could be a route for terrorists. In many countries a "Port Service Company" can issue "documents" (note - these are not Master, Mate, Pilot, Engineer, Radio Officer licenses or "Competency Documents") which are good enough to get you off of the ship while it's in port.
Historically - in my active duty days - we were looking for drug smugglers. But these techniques could work with terrorists and dirty bombs.
And Dubai is "A" cross roads of the world.
Even IF this has something to do with Iran, NO DEAL. Not our ports. "We'll take your dagger in the gut if you let us crush your buddy." Just how many daggers do we have to take? Are there others that we have yet to find out about? Is the tip poisoned? Hyperbole? Yes, to make a point. Find some other payback that doesn't directly involve compromising our national security.
Christine-
Allah himself could appear and highly recommend this port deal to me, and I'd reply:
It still stinks.
Bush may have held the line a little better against [unnamed, but we all know they are Islamic] "terrorists" than any of the quisling dolts on the other side of the aisle, but here he is just pandering to a group or 'emirs' that are intent on just sucking our fiscal blood for their own long-term agenda: Islam. (It is the guiding principle behind everything they do. Reinforced 5 times a day. Forever.)
I ask you:
Is it a "noble" religion?
Then pedophile warlords can create noble religions, eh?
Is it a "peaceful" religion?
Then why are they at war everywhere?
Threatening the lives of anyone who exposes the bizarrities of the "prophet"'s life, his cruelties, murders, deceptions and strategic deceit.
That's why I say: let the UAE 'princes' run the national franchise for re-filling Slurpie machines in convenience stores, but not any aspect of our already-too-porous ports.
"War is deceit".- the motto of their putative "prophet".
When Muslims (including the UAE leaders) renounce these root terroristic tenets of the Koranic "faith", then I'll trust them farther than I can now throw a cargo container with my bare hands.
I don't care if this ill-thought-out mess makes Bush "look bad" or Democratic pimps for power "look good".
I care more about not having any serious area our economy compromised into the hands of potential infil-traitors who, while they DO worship the almighty dollar, also worship the "God" of "destroy the infidels" even more.
Let them recognize Israel, for starters.
And give us the GPS co-ordinates for their old hunting buddy Osama Bin Laden.
Putrescent meat-like this deal- is still poisonous no matter how much eau doze conservatives your pour over it.
It's the Jihad, stupid! needs to be quilted on a pillow for Bush's head to rest on.
He still doesn't get it.
Our enemies do.
"Why is the president destroying the Republican base and strengthening the Democrats for an uncertain result?"
Ever since Bush Senior and Bush Junior became Clinton's new Dad and Brother............I knew something would happen to turn the voters away from the Republicans. What they are doing is swinging a few Republicans into the Independent Party. The interesting thing is to see if anyone runs in a Third Party (remember Ross Perot). Now that could help a Democrat win the Presidential Election.
Like Michael Savage always state......we have an Oligarchy here in America.
Being realistic, I can assume that during the 1930s and 1940s, there were plenty of wonderful Germans and Japanese their respective lands. In fact, I can just about guarentee it. Still, would I want one of those wonderful people running our ports during that period of time?
As for the good senator, Pete, if you're swimming in a shark tank, the chances are that the dorsal fin doesn't belong to a porpoise. Being PC, I don't want to stygmatize anybody with a dorsal fin, of course, but until I get out of that tank, I'm going to assume that everytime I see one heading toward me, it has an awful lot of sharp teeth.
Ah, but what if you had a third party with a platform that appealed to the majority of voters? Could/would it knock both Dems and Repubs out of the ballpark and actually give the voter what it wanted? True representation in Washingon. "It's a dream I have.." Why not a third party win?
"Those fears were inside me for a very good reason. But, I do have enough confidence in Bush to not believe he would just sell us out completely"
Posted by Christine
You mean like he did on the border situation?
The GOP periodically tries to get a hold of me to hit me up for mo' money-- the thanks I get for kicking them a few bucks in '04. Every time I answer that "Restricted Number" on my cell phone, it's them, so now I just let it ring. (Doesn't bother me-- I just groove to my Sanford & Son ringtone.)
Haven't had a call in the past week (they were trying pretty hard earlier in the month), now that I'm tempted to pick up and tell them: No port deal, or no money. And I'll vote Kinky Friedman for Texas governor while I'm at it.
The language of money is one they'll understand. I hope my fellow GOP'ers will do the same.
zhu97:
You are preaching to an Independent who will vote for a third party. I never wanted to belong to either PARTY..........something about having PARTY on the end of their names. Always reminded me of the communist PARTY....something you had to belong to in order to have special privileges to shop in the BIG BOX STORES.
Always put a bad taste in my mouth.........
zhu and rumoret
The only reson I voted for Bush twice is that I disliked him the least. I would love to have more choices.
What wimps. Bye the way, where's Grannyweatherwax?
Christine writes:
"I am moving to the other side of this. After reading everything I can get my hands on. I believe that his standing behind this has to do with dealing with Iran."
Christine, you are a good person; that's way you wrote that. How do I know? Because you want to believe the best in people. This is so illogical on the surface, there must be a deeper reason. Iran? Maybe. Perhaps we will use them for intel, a based to strike at those fortified bases.
I'll admit it's plausible, but I highly doubt Dubai will not allow our planes or troops or ships to embark for Iran. No way. They can't afford it. They don't believe in the mission. They are scared of the whiplash effect vis-a-vis the Iranian community/Shia activist within Dubai to 'take matters into their own hands, her suicide belts.'
Could W be bribing Dubai for such help? This is another question. He claims he just found out about it. Given his brother's and father's connections to the UAE, I find that impossible to believe. Had it been a Swiss or Liberian company, then I would have believed this denial of knowledge.
This is what it appears to be, not some secret Dubai helping the West routine. Why that would be quite a transformation in just seven years for the royal family! From Falcoln hunting buddies of UBL, to the W's favorite ally! No, their hunting partner in Khandahar, their blistering denunciations against Israel, their hatred of us by the salt-and-pepper 'non-royal' populace(remember the bucket loads of travel warnings), no we will not forget this. It will be exposed if their are hearings.
I must confess. I'm a bit tired of, "We better go along with this deal, or the Dubai folks will get viscious, the moderates will be burned." These are our ports, not Ben and Jerry's. If Dubai Ports buys out Ben and Jerry's, I might switch ice cream brands, but is our security in peril.(Not so long as we moniter the radiation levels in Vermont--why is my chunky monkey ice cream glowing in the dark). No the simple truth is this: Dubai of UAE, Saudi of Saudi Arabia needs us desperatly. Not the people, but the royals. The live in fear of their own population. They are not popular. They are hated, corrupt and allies of expediance and greed.
zhu97, rumoret, Shinoliite-
As a Libertarian, I've watched my votes flutter into oblivion over and over for years, and would clearly prefer a serious 3rd party to cast my ballot for. Preferably with someone who wasn't an in-and-out-and-in-again crank like Perot or a good small-time consumer advocate but total geopolitical fool like Nader.
Something with a name like "The American Resistance Party" might be able to call up a reasonable political organization to form a third force in opposition to Republican Frick and Democrat Frack (both spending us into penury).
The boys in office, and those looking to get back in, are either like Yasir Clinton and Atta Gore, pimping for their own future security under the 'emirs'/rulers (once America falls, as Clinton predicted several years ago), or are just Kamal Dole and Abu Bush, Sr. merrily greasing the skids for the Restored Caliphate as a way to stay in the seats of power they or their offspring've gotten their claws into.
I wish Tom Tancredo and Curt Weldon would split off and run as a 3rd option.
They're pissed, they're articulate and they know who the enemies are, both at home and abroad. And their own party has taken a swerve into goofyville, leaving them isolated.
The time is coming when a WMD will create a third party.
It would be better if one arose to prevent such a disaster, first.
"(Not so long as we moniter the radiation levels in Vermont--why is my chunky monkey ice cream glowing in the dark)."
Thanks for the laugh.......
"I wish Tom Tancredo and Curt Weldon would split off and run as a 3rd option.
They're pissed, they're articulate and they know who the enemies are, both at home and abroad. And their own party has taken a swerve into goofyville, leaving them isolated."
Now that EXCITES me..........I would definately vote for those two. They definately represent my personal feelings. I have been boiling on this illegal thing since 1980 and ABLE DANGER definately needs more MASSIVE EXPOSURE!
I wouldn't give a dime to the GOP. Now if Mr. Tancredo is the nominee with Trent Lott as the running mate, my purse strings would open. Tancredo is the future of the GOP along with the Junior Senator from Virginia--Allen. I also like the non-McCain Senator from Arizona. These three could win national elections. I would like Rudy as head of the FBI. Hugh Fitzgerald as our 'Senior Advisor to the President' perhaps Hugh could then embark on a 'talking tour' of the middle east(under armed guard, of course). No, this would be the polar opposite of Mrs. Huges goes to Amman. Let's see, Robert Spencer as Sec. of State. How about Michele Malkin as amb to the UN. Bolton would be the one holdover . . . I'd move him to Amb. to Saudi Arabia. Let that red faced hero tell them how it is and how it will be. Invite Hirsi Ali to the first State of the Union. The congress will give her a standing ovation. Hows that for an administration?
If port change over is not defeated by Congress, it will be seen as a major victory for Islam in oppressing the people of America.
The war with Islam is inevitable.
Prepare be armed be ready.
The Texican.
Freedom. The only choice at any cost.
And the best thing that this folly has exposed: only 5% or so of the containers flooding the ports are screened. That's about a 95% failure rate.
Now, let's see what you're talking about, profitsbeard.
3,000,000 cargo containers divided by 2,000 inspectors results in the average inspector needing to inspect 1,500 containers per year, somewhat less than 1 container per hour.
President George Bush said that individually screening millions of containers is impossible. So did Ridge. Most important, so did our all-knowing superstar Tim Russert.
Do the arithmetic. It is impossible for a multi-trillion dollar economy to afford and deploy 2,000 dudes wagging sensors in their hands once every hour-and-a-half or so. It just can't be done.
Now, I am a low-born who studied at a mere major research university in the Amnerican Midwest. So I must admit that I don't have that Ivy League credential here. But, am I missing something?
Can one of you geniuses from Penn or Harvard please work your calculator for me and explain to me why inspecting every goddammed cargo container is "impossible?"
Christine -
Sorry, my dear, but you were right the first time: The enemy does not get a seat at our table.
No muslims; no mosques; no Ports.
Ka-Ching! This deal is going through, they'll just have to let a few more people in on the action.
As of now , the U.S. people are against this deal with the UAE. And that is the true leader of the country, the kingdom of the people shoud be shouting loud and clear, as they are.
Is out Rep in the white house listening?
Shinoliite,
Thanks for the mention of Kinky Friedman. I am going to vote for him also. He has a lot of support in the hill country. I sure see a lot of cars with Kinky Friedman for governor bumper stickers these days.
Tancredo and Weldon...that would be great!!We would close the borders, and finish the war on terrorism.For those reasons I think they would be attacked viciously as "biggots",and "racists" by republicrats and democins alike.These attacks would come out of fear from the republicans and democrats that they could actually loose a presidential election.They know that Tancredo and Weldon would have tremendous support from the public because all we are looking for at this point is someone who will actually do what he says he will do,and take our best interests into account when doing so.Those two would be my choice...but it will never happen.
Alarmed Pig Farmer said
Exactly. Are the inspectors supposed to have some sort of magical x-ray vision like Superman to see what is inside the containers? This isn't some Buck Rogers sci-fi movie. Let's be realistic here. The containers cannot be inspected, and the ports must be run by Arab companies. There is no other way. With this Administration.
1. The ports were already managed by a foreign country:
a. That doesn’t make it right – they should be managed by American companies especially in a time of war.
2. Second, it was strictly a management deal. They would not be owning the ports, or handling the security.
a. That makes it even worse because they are actually in control of the day to day operations!
3. Third, the UAE has been a pretty good ally of ours. They've got a few black marks -- for one, they were one of the few nations to give official recognition to the Taliban
a. Okay so recognition of an enemy sworn to our destruction is a minor flaw – just look at their UN voting record! In the few years UAE has voted against the US most of the time -- this is an ally??
4. Fourth, it appears that no US company was interested in taking over the port management. It's a far better example of "foreigners doing the work Americans don't want to" than the illegal-alien argument
a. We use this same screwy logic to displace American workers from the rank and file to middle management positions
Finally, if Hillary tells me NOT to jump off a cliff -- "I'm a jumpin; cause if she's a gin it -- I gotta be fur it"
Uh, yup -- that's sound judgement alright; that rationale will surely get you places alright.
McSeamus
"Those two would be my choice...but it will never happen."
Things are happening every day that we thought never to see in our lifetimes. Why can't We The People take back our country and government? The more intelligent in Washington live in absolute terror of that idea. Elected officials were never meant to be career bureaucrats, but ordinary people, who served then went back to their lives. Democracy must have an EDUCATED POPULACE for it to work. Why do you think schools don't teach history or government anymore? Schools don't even TEACH anymore. Ask ANY teacher in a public school hellhole. We know we have been "dumbed down" as a people to make it easier for our "rulers" to wheel-'n deal-'n steal. Greed has replaced God.
Yes, I know, we live in a Republic, not a Democracy. But, we live by Democratic Principles. We have democratically elected representatives who should, but don't, represent us. The system is broken. The guidelines are still good, but everything in this country has gotten off track: Judicial system (judges with agendas other than being fair and following the Law; they rewrite the law), Criminal Justice (i.e. putting victims put on trial, etc.), Education (administrators are paid exorbitant amounts to shuffle paper and make p/c rules while teachers make a pittance comparably), Politicians (answer to special interest groups, Attorneys (don't get me started), no ethics in Science (whose willingness to combine human genes with whatever strikes their fancy at the moment is beyond comprehension) ... on and on and on. Just pull out a list of lobbyists in Washington and see who they represent. Arabs have lobbyists; amazing, since the State Department serves them so well. Even Vincente Fox has hired a lobby. Possibly We The People need a lobby. We seem to be the only group without one.
Is Usama right about us (the West)? If we are honest, we have to answer yes.
We need a War Department at Cabinet level. Homeland Security implies DEFENCE. We need OFFENCE, too. Someone needs to handle the propoganda/taqqiya, vet such deals as the port management sale, educate everyone about Islam, etc. Hollywood, the MSM, and this Administration won't even name the enemy. Let's have a War Department responsible for getting the information out there that we need. It can be the "bad guy" like Bolton. Take the onus from the President.
The new War Department can educate our kids on the enemy, as well as their role in a democracy/republic. Let's have classes in school that teach the truth about Islam. Counter the Islamists who are teaching their vile creed as truth in our very schools. We must stop every inroad they have made into our society. Fighting liberalism could also be a task of the War Department.
The current EPA has outlived its usefullness, so we can give its funding to our new War Department.
How many people realize that Bush's new budget cut the budget for the Military, along with Homeland Security?
The Internet is great, but MANY people don't have access; many people won't EVER get online. They are too intimidated or feel they are too old to learn new tricks. They need to be included in the information loop. A War Department network television channel can keep everyone informed on the War as well as show true stories about our Heroes on the frontlines.
Most people don't vote because they feel they won't make a difference anyway. This is an idea fomented by the very people who benefit from a low turnout. The truth is, you DO make a difference. Unfortunately, in a Democracy, EVERYONE must be involved. This is also what they don't want you to know. ("Just leave it to us. Trust us.")
Things can change for the better. If we leave them to others, we can be pretty sure they won't.
The unthinkable is bearing down on us. The rules will be changing anyway. We need to be ready to step up to the plate when the weak currently in power capitulate. We will make it through this. And like the Black Death, which the muslims help to spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages that eventually brought about the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment, who but history will decide if what is coming won't be an end, but a New Renaissance to an even Greater Age?
biorabbi-
I want you for press secretary! (Or the Carl Rove cloak and dagger guy! Good choices!)
"The truth is, you DO make a difference. Unfortunately, in a Democracy, EVERYONE must be involved. This is also what they don't want you to know. ("Just leave it to us. Trust us.")
That's fine -- you go out and do the voting, while the big guys fund both sides.
While you are writting nutty letters to your Congressman or woman (that will only be seen by the staffers most of the time); guess who is going to be on the golf course with them?
Is that a Democracy or a Republic?
And when your representative no longer is in office, guess who they are going to by employed by?
Consider: just who do you think Henry Kissenger works for these days? (Hint: what "reliable ally in the war against terror" has Mecca and Medina -- if you said New Jersey, guess again!)
Bush has proven himself to be a closet Muslim. How could he sell our ports to those scum-sucking terrorists if he was not a Muslim? Face it--the war on terror is just a big ploy to take all the money that hard working Americans give to Uncle Sam and send it to Bin Laden! The war in Iraq is just Mohammed Bush's way of sending our money to Saudia Arabia and Dubai to fund more terrorism! Our soldiers over there are not fighting for America--they're fighting for the Emirs and the house of Sa'ud. And Clinton's a closet Muslim too--Israel had Mohammed Atta (one of the 9/11 hijackers) in prison, and Clinton convinced them to let him go, and then he came over here and personally thanked Clinton by flying a plane into the towers. Jimmy Carter's a Muslim too--so are everyone in the news media--Fox News, by the way, is now partially owned by a Islamic interests over-seas. I'm sure the others are too, but if they aren't, they are still owned by closet Muslims right here in the U.S. There's no hope for America with all these closet Muslims running it.
Alarmed Pig Farmer-
A slam-dunk!
& special_guest-
LOL!
If Fed-Ex or UPS or DHL can track tens (or hundreds) of millions of deliveries every year, and do it minute by minute, every day, week in and week out, I guess we can't expect anything like that to be done with cargo containers for two tremendously important reasons:
A) No one ever asked them to.
And:
B) They never thought of it themselves.
The reason:
Good, old everyday petty (don't call them) 'smugglers', import duty avoiders, invoice fudgers, run-of-the-mill (damaged in transit) 'thieves', tax cheats and all those who have to bribe people en route -to get better (faked) assessments on weight, (falsely)labelled contents and the (inflated) valuation of merchandise being shipped- would object.
Through registered lobbyists, of course.
Who wouldn't say it was for these aspects of the global 'dealings', of course, but to "facilitate free trade" and "reduce encumbering regulations" or the other familiar smokescreen lingo used to add lipstick to this pirate pig.
(And to keep from getting caught.)
It'll be interesting to see the Congressional hearings into this, and where they lead.
And nice to see a cover slip off the 'sausage making' inherent in these fast-track, sleazy (Don't pay any attention to that man behind the curtain!), damn-the-details types of arrangments for a change.
Let the real Games begin!
witness
I am advocating working within the system that we have while we still have one. There is much that can be done.
What are you advocating again?
Someone was asking on another thread what a person could do besides posting on a blog.
Get active.
Rumoret has certain knowledge of ports as an ex-US Coast Guardsman. I was a merchant seaman for a while way back in the 60s. I remember that US ports then were much more open, that is, much less controlled, had much less security supervision, than European ports or Israeli ports. For instance, Rotterdam back then had a perimeter fence surrounding a huge area with guards. The ports of Haifa and Ashdod have fences, gates, and guards. The US ports have been wide open, although that might have changed.
The ports deal smells like a polluted river that runs into the sea through a port area.
"What are you advocating again?"
Well, uh, I see the captain of the ship, the firstmate, and the helmsman in the life boats and rowing away.
The rest of the officer's crew are in life jackets and boarding the few remaining life boats that are already being lowered.
I suppose I should think about donning my swimming trunks, no?