Buh-Bye, Dubai
DP World has decided to give up the ghost on the fight to win a coveted contract to operate 6 major US ports and turn it over to a US entity.
It SHOULD have been and always should be a US entity operating and guarding our ports and borders.
This is another major blow to Bush, who was dying to finally use his veto power in defiance towards almost an entire Congress and Senate who were stirred into an unbelievable uproar over the controversial deal. The majority of Republicans finally remembered what common sense felt like as they defiantly parted ways with Bush and his insistence to not only give operations to another country, but an Arab country.
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What could we do to regain our former greatness?
1. Dump Bush.
2. Pull out of Iraq gradually. Murtha is right, much as we don't want to admit it. Don't stop military action against Bin Laden. Justice must be served.
3. Bring troops home to SECURE OUR COUNTRY AND OUR BORDERS.
4. Create an ID system for border crossers (perhaps the only thing I agree with Bush on)to let crossers work legally and safely and to identify them and possible terrorists.
5. Become a leading world vanguard on cutting edge green technology to wean us off the oil teet and create a new economical industry boon.
6. Stop protecting US "interests" abroad....our interests are here at home.
7. RENEW ORLEANS. What a disgrace to see that city in the condition it is.
Agree? Disagree? You tell me.
It SHOULD have been and always should be a US entity operating and guarding our ports and borders.
This is another major blow to Bush, who was dying to finally use his veto power in defiance towards almost an entire Congress and Senate who were stirred into an unbelievable uproar over the controversial deal. The majority of Republicans finally remembered what common sense felt like as they defiantly parted ways with Bush and his insistence to not only give operations to another country, but an Arab country.
______________________________________________________________________________________
What could we do to regain our former greatness?
1. Dump Bush.
2. Pull out of Iraq gradually. Murtha is right, much as we don't want to admit it. Don't stop military action against Bin Laden. Justice must be served.
3. Bring troops home to SECURE OUR COUNTRY AND OUR BORDERS.
4. Create an ID system for border crossers (perhaps the only thing I agree with Bush on)to let crossers work legally and safely and to identify them and possible terrorists.
5. Become a leading world vanguard on cutting edge green technology to wean us off the oil teet and create a new economical industry boon.
6. Stop protecting US "interests" abroad....our interests are here at home.
7. RENEW ORLEANS. What a disgrace to see that city in the condition it is.
Agree? Disagree? You tell me.
posted by Bostonbootgirl at 8:57 AM
7 Comments:
Or,
It could be said that it's a shame that we, in all the hysteria, have alienated the most moderate, western friendly county in the middle east.
The UAE, whose capital city is Dubai, is a progressive, liberal country which is quickly expanding into a resort-themed investors paradise. It is home to the worlds only 7 star hotel, the richest horse race, freedom for women, etc. We have insulted them by calling them harborers and financers of terrorists. The truth is that they have everything to lose by terrorism.
That said, it is still ideologically diffucult to embrace the idea of any foreign entity to control our ports. Perhaps this whole debacle could have been handled better?
Resort theme my ass. Where's the Mouse?? I bet it's nothing like the Alladin movie. Bah! How does one play golf in robes?
If Congress was so keen to prevent terrorism, control of US ports should have always been in US hands. So it's all well and good when it's the Poms running the show, but suddenly a Bad Idea when it's Arabs? WTF? Are there no terrorists in the UK, then? By getting all worked up over this Dubai deal, Congress (Republicans and Democrats alike) pandered to the lowest common demoninator is stereotypes and racism because it's an election year. You can't brag about how the US is a Wonderful Place where everyone is equal and discrimination on the basis of religion (as in this case) is not tolerated, and then spit in the face of it. That'll do our rep all kinds of good overseas, won't it?
As for Iraq... what a quagmire of our own making. How do we get out of it? Beats the shit outta me. Damned if we do and damned if we don't. I agree that troops should be brought home before any more of them are killed, but to secure US borders from whom? Terrorists? Grunts and Jarheads aren't much good at that, as it's not what they are trained for.
I totally agree with the rest of it, though. New Orleans is a worldwide disgrace, not just a national one.
Moose what in heck is a Pom? I know it'll dawn on me but right now all I can visualize are pomegranites and pomeranians.
I wonder, if the shoe was on the other foot, if the rest of world would blink an eye if the UAE reacted the same if one of their leaders wanted the US to operate their ports, especially if someone from our country went over there and flew a passenger jet into the Jumeirah.
Is it racism, or just good observation skills? Maybe some other time, under some other administration that is intent on righting our wrongs.
Bush knew the uproar it would cause, yet was going to bulldoze it through anyway come hell or highwater. So Dubai dropped out and now we all look like racist jerks. The question never should have been brought up.
As for borders, yes, terrorists. And illegal immigrants. And the rest of the country. Why can't the military be trained? Our Coast Guard is the absolute best, right there it shows it can be done. We are sadly deficient in protecting or just plain watching our borders and the military is preoccupied with a mistake of a war which is depleting our resources and weakening security at home. When bad things do happen we are ill prepared. New Orleans is a good example.
I agree with your thoughts on retraining the military, but I don't think it'll happen. I do think that the National Guard should be left alone, not pilfered to go to Iraq or wherever the Administration has overextended its forces, and given the job of protecting the US. It's the National Guard, after all. And the Coast Guard is awesome and doesn't get the respect it deserves.
Absolutely any country in the UAE would freak if the US wanted to run their ports. Isn't the reason the Iraq insurgency so big is that most of them are from outside Iraq, fighting the Great Satan? My complaint is that the US claims to take the moral high ground when it's wallowing in the mud with everyone else.
The Runaway Bride is staring at me with those huge eyes and it's creeping me out. Ack!!! Make her stop....
I agree on most points, except New Orleans. I'll get to that.
As for the borders; it's a must. My ideas are definitely radical, but at this point, something needs to be done. I've said it on my blog, but I have ZERO problem with legal immigration. It's what built this country and it shouldn't be stopped. But illegals, who break the law to come here, may break the law while they are here, and once back across the border, just come and do it all over again. Sorry that Central America is in shambles. Legally come here, learn a skill/trade/etc... bring it back to your country of origin and try to make it grow. If there's corruption, fight it. The US had it's own struggle with corruption and oppresion 200 years ago and those people fought against it. It may be having it again, but anyways... Change is painful and people often get hurt. But unless you like the status quo, make a change.
US Soldiers are trained to fight wars. Can they be retrained? I suppose, but I'm not sure if that'd be the best use of them. A better idea would be to expand the INS Border Patrols and back them up when they try and send illegals back.
As for New Orleans: Tragic and disgraceful how it's been dealt with, both in the initial relief effort and with the continuing issues around it. At the same time, the US Government cannot be held solely responsible for the hell hole it became shortly after or is now. The people have a responsibility to themselves if they wish to live there again. If you don't, fine, go find a new life elsewhere and get off the dole of MY MONEY, as plenty of people have been living off the government after this happened and being a tax payer, that's my money they're living off of.
In my opinion, it shouldn't be rebuilt. Sorry, but it's what, 20-40 feet below sea level... AND THEY'RE RIGHT ON THE SEA!? I feel the same way about people who build houses on the ocean and expect the government to help them rebuild every time mother nature wipes them out. Or those who live on an active fault line or build towns on the sides of volcanoes. In a battle between you and the Earth, bet on the Earth every time and twice on Sundays.
What needs to be done is to make INS border patrol, National Guard and Coast Guard more beneficial to join. I'm not so sure US soldiers should be retrained...maybe that wasn't the best thing to allude to...but I think many of the men and women in the armed forces would join if they had the same benefits and knew they were staying home to defend it, and not in a foreign land. I like the idea of a strong defense in our own country, not a stressed out, weakened one overseas.
As for New Orleans, as someone whose been there a bunch of times and Matt has lived there for a few years, it's very hard for the rest of the US to understand exactly what they are going through. I'd say the same things G if I didn't have the perspective I do. It's hard to feel sorry for looters and welfare recipients who abuse the system. Those people aren't welcome back. But, even the good folks who work can't come back because there's nowhere to live. So they are doing exactly what you say...making a new life somewhere else. Many of those folks were working poor. The rents have shot thru the roof for the existing housing so they can't afford it. Businesses have help wanted signs everywhere...especailly restaurants...but where will these waitresses, bartenders, clerks, cooks and such live? How can they help a city where they can't even live in?
New Orleans is a lot different from some rich lawyer who gets FEMA funds after his West Palm house is crushed (again.) It's a national treasure, a museum that is a city. It's a place filled with history, art, food, music and amazing, colorful people. It's right up there with Boston, NY or SF. Venice, Italy is investing in new technology to preserve their city which is getting worse floods every year, and the Netherlands have an amazing system that makes ours look like the Flinstones. Why can't we do the same for one of the world's most loved cities?
Granted, there are more risks involved with living in dangerous areas. Most people who do so pay way higher taxes and insurance rates. But we just can't stop supporting people who get hit with mother nature. What about Joe Blow in Idaho who gets hit with a tornado, while his friend Lenny Lipschitz next door is fine? What about Orlando, which is in the middle of Florida and not on any coast, with all their blue tarps from missing roofs taken by hurricanes? Do we just move everyone to Buffalo?
I do blame the government (federal AND state) and do hold them responsbile for the mess in NOLA. Not for the people who were part of the problem, but for making empty promises to help a city they evidently don't give a crap about, and not having any true sense of urgency for rebuilding or helping the displaced people who DO want to come back and rebuild. Also, they knew in advance before Katrina hit what could happen (it has been common knowledge among the residents of NOLA for years)and they failed to act properly. Even before Bush scientists warned govt. officials about the vulnerability and nothing was done to either reinforce levees or make solid plans for evac or rescues.
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