A test of Democracy in the US

[A'AbarachAmadan]

Breaking news says Dubai to give up management stake in US ports. I guess that defuses everything. They will sell it to another company (probably based out of Iran).

I am truely disgusted by my fellow Amercians right now. First, I'm surprised Bush supported this company at all; I didn't realize he was so liberal. I thought he would want them all run by US companies for 'security' reasons.

Why is it inconceivable that terrorists based in the Middle East might be able to infiltrate a Middle East based shipping firm that controls terminals in major US ports, and arrange for weapons or operatives to be smuggled there in containers?

My question would be why do you think they are any more likely than any other company to be infiltrated. Do you know how people in the UAE feel abuot the terrorists?!

Furthermore, I'm disgusted that people who are anti-Iraq war, anti-Guantanamo Prison, and anti-Patriot Act are now being xenophobic toward an Arabic company! Are we now lumping all Arabs and Muslims as potential terrorists?!?! This attitude is what led to things such as the Japanese internment camps. America is taking a step backwards in tollerance when we decide that an Arabic company must be a terrorist threat. So much for targetting the real terrorists. bin Laden won today and the attitudes of many in the Middle East toward Americans was confirmed.

 

[GenMarshall]

If the Emperor veto's this, the senate will overturn his veto.

 

[Danghis Khan]

Furthermore, I'm disgusted that people who are anti-Iraq war, anti-Guantanamo Prison, and anti-Patriot Act are now being xenophobic toward an Arabic company! Are we now lumping all Arabs and Muslims as potential terrorists?!?! This attitude is what led to things such as the Japanese internment camps. America is taking a step backwards in tollerance when we decide that an Arabic company must be a terrorist threat. So much for targetting the real terrorists. bin Laden won today and the attitudes of many in the Middle East toward Americans was confirmed.

Since when has this "war" ever been about targeting the real terrorists. All pretense for that was abandoned about 3 years ago.

 

[amadeus]

If the Emperor veto's this, the senate will overturn his veto.

That's what you're going to get for every time you call him "Emperor."

 

[MobBoss]

I am truely disgusted by my fellow Amercians right now. First, I'm surprised Bush supported this company at all; I didn't realize he was so liberal. I thought he would want them all run by US companies for 'security' reasons.

A great many ports in the United States have been managed by foreign companies for years. However, this fact largely goes unnoticed by the general populace.

All this boils down to is the fine line of how far are we going to discriminate Muslim countries based upon our fears.

Furthermore, I'm disgusted that people who are anti-Iraq war, anti-Guantanamo Prison, and anti-Patriot Act are now being xenophobic toward an Arabic company! Are we now lumping all Arabs and Muslims as potential terrorists?!?! This attitude is what led to things such as the Japanese internment camps. America is taking a step backwards in tollerance when we decide that an Arabic company must be a terrorist threat. So much for targetting the real terrorists. bin Laden won today and the attitudes of many in the Middle East toward Americans was confirmed.

Agreed. There will be some point in time when we need to reward those Muslim/Arab nations that do help in the war on terror as opposed to being fearful of them. We missed an opportunity here to do that.

 

[bhsup]

I now fully expect Congress to turn their attention to Long Beach and any other ports that Clinton turned over to the People's Liberation Army of Communist China. Yeah, that's right, the PLA runs ports in America. How can that not freak out people more than Dubai running one?

 

[GenMarshall]

That's what you're going to get for every time you call him "Emperor."

Well, he is certanly an Emperor in my view . Sometimes I wonder if the CFC community has lost touch of it's anti-Bush ways.

 

[Elrohir]

Whether backing off the deal is right or wrong doesn't really matter at this point. The cause has been taken up by politicians and people on both sides, and this issue is one of political suicide for Bush. He would do best to admit he was misinformed, and allow Congress to do what they will.

Unfortunately, say what you will about Bush, but he's a stubborn guy. I'm afraid that he will stick to his guns, even though it will be disastrous. (Remember the Harriet Miers thing? That only was resolved because she quit, not because he withdrew) If he vetoes, and I think there is a could chance he will, then I believe there are easily enough votes to override his veto.

This would have a crippling affect on his administration. To finally use his first veto, six years into office, then have it smacked down by both Republicans and Democrats - he'd be largely powerless with Congress for the rest of his administration. Quite frankly, the best we can hope for at this point is that he (Or his evil advisor, Karl Rove) will realize this, and he'll change his mind to deal with political reality as it is, not as he wishes it to be.

 

[Fox Mccloud]

Well, he is certanly an Emperor in my view . Sometimes I wonder if the CFC community has lost touch of it's anti-Bush ways.

Maybe it is becoming more open-minded and less bigoted towards Bush? However, you don't seem to be changing.

 

[Kosez]

USA has made two crucial mistakes lately, one preventing Chinese company to buy US based oil company and second is this issue with ports.
You have to remember, USA is world's greatest promoter of free trade/market. It looks and sounds very hipocritic that USA is enforcing free trade/market abroad whilst not allowing it at home.

Bad for economy, very bad.

Good bye mr. Friedman & Chicago boys.

 

[CaptainF]

I now fully expect Congress to turn their attention to Long Beach and any other ports that Clinton turned over to the People's Liberation Army of Communist China. Yeah, that's right, the PLA runs ports in America. How can that not freak out people more than Dubai running one?

Is this that whole arms deal scandal that erupted in the mid 90's?

 

[bhsup]

No. A Chinese company wholly owned by the PLA of the PRC now runs ports in America. I would much rather have a company from the U.A.E., but that's just me.

 

[CaptainF]

No. A Chinese company wholly owned by the PLA of the PRC now runs ports in America. I would much rather have a company from the U.A.E., but that's just me.

Would that company be NORINCO?

 

[bhsup]

I thought it was COSCO, but hey my memory may be off.

 

[pboily]

You can't be meaning this...

 

[BasketCase]

If the Emperor veto's this, the senate will overturn his veto.

What Rmsharpe said. I'm in.

 

[bhsup]

You can't be meaning this...

No, not COSTO. COSCO, sans the T.

 

[CaptainF]

No, not COSTO. COSCO, sans the T.

well, it says in the wiki link that it is owned by the PRC government, not the army.

The wiki article on the PLA says that in the 90's they started a business empire, but this was largely halted soon afterwards because of corruption amongst the PLA brass.

 

[Chaos_BF1942]

You can't be meaning this...

He wasn't talking about Costco. But COSCO. No "T"

That is the company that owns the ports

 

[amadeus]

You can't be meaning this...

No, the China Ocean Shipping Company. It's a real corporation, owned by the PRC. It's the ninth largest container shipping company in terms of volume. It's also listed on the Hang Seng Commercial/Industrial Index.