The Dubai Ports deal SHOULD go through...
There seems to be several facts that point to the possibility that the Company had preferential treatment within the governmental department that oversaw the approval of the sale. The Treasury Secretary, John Snow's past association with CSX a U.S. company that sold it's holdings to Dubai Ports as well as the ex-executive of Dubai Ports World who the government nominated to run the Transportation and Maritime arm are two facts that illustrate a possible conflict of interest.
President Bush's reaction to the out cry and attempt to defend the sale stating that it would hurt our middle eastern relationships doesn't ring true. The Middle Eastern royal families are not the hearts and minds we should be trying to win over in that area and they are not on the side of the insurgents in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. The future of the royal families’ existence is not secure when you consider the power, organization and shear numbers of their opposition. Recall what happened to the Shah of Iran and many of his assets. The eventual pressure for them to bend to the will of the radical fundamentalist to insure the families’ survival is a pending threat.
The unfortunate fact that we are dependent on Dubai for some of our most important miltary bases is a powerful force that we have to consider.
We would be seen by the arab world as hypocrites if we didn't allow the sale to go forward. Free markets are free markets, after all. Just as in a true democracy the duly elected should not be deposed by outside governments. The ports were run by a foreign entity until now, why should it matter that they continue to be held by foreign interests? Today many foreign companies hold extensive assets in our country. The Chinese have a growing economic presence that takes away our leverage in controlling our own economy. This is a security issue that we have no control over.
It would be wrong for our government to stop the deal.
The pathetic reality is that within the U.S. there isn’t a strong company capable of owning the rights to operate the ports. The sale weakens our national security but this is a reality that we can’t control in an open, capitalistic market.
The fact remains that our government, in spite of their efforts, can’t truly protect us from terrorism of any kind. The McVeighs and Bin Ladens of the world have the upper hand by the nature of their tactics and the weakness of our defenses. On the one hand our government creates fear in our minds to maintain their position of power and on the other they fail to protect us regardless of the billions spent on homeland security.
Go to this link for more information about this issue: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/02222006 Scroll down to the brodcast:
Dubious About Dubai
Jean-François Seznec, adjunct professor of political economy of the Persian Gulf at Columbia University, andDr. Christopher Davidson, researcher specialising in the political economy and security of the Arabian Gulf, and author, The United Arab Emirates: A Study in Survival on the political and economic culture of the United Arab Emirates » Jean-François Seznec bio » Christopher Davidson's Website » CIA World Factbook entry on United Arab Emirates
You can down load the MP3 and listen to the entire show. It's worth your time.
President Bush's reaction to the out cry and attempt to defend the sale stating that it would hurt our middle eastern relationships doesn't ring true. The Middle Eastern royal families are not the hearts and minds we should be trying to win over in that area and they are not on the side of the insurgents in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. The future of the royal families’ existence is not secure when you consider the power, organization and shear numbers of their opposition. Recall what happened to the Shah of Iran and many of his assets. The eventual pressure for them to bend to the will of the radical fundamentalist to insure the families’ survival is a pending threat.
The unfortunate fact that we are dependent on Dubai for some of our most important miltary bases is a powerful force that we have to consider.
We would be seen by the arab world as hypocrites if we didn't allow the sale to go forward. Free markets are free markets, after all. Just as in a true democracy the duly elected should not be deposed by outside governments. The ports were run by a foreign entity until now, why should it matter that they continue to be held by foreign interests? Today many foreign companies hold extensive assets in our country. The Chinese have a growing economic presence that takes away our leverage in controlling our own economy. This is a security issue that we have no control over.
It would be wrong for our government to stop the deal.
The pathetic reality is that within the U.S. there isn’t a strong company capable of owning the rights to operate the ports. The sale weakens our national security but this is a reality that we can’t control in an open, capitalistic market.
The fact remains that our government, in spite of their efforts, can’t truly protect us from terrorism of any kind. The McVeighs and Bin Ladens of the world have the upper hand by the nature of their tactics and the weakness of our defenses. On the one hand our government creates fear in our minds to maintain their position of power and on the other they fail to protect us regardless of the billions spent on homeland security.
Go to this link for more information about this issue: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/02222006 Scroll down to the brodcast:
Dubious About Dubai
Jean-François Seznec, adjunct professor of political economy of the Persian Gulf at Columbia University, andDr. Christopher Davidson, researcher specialising in the political economy and security of the Arabian Gulf, and author, The United Arab Emirates: A Study in Survival on the political and economic culture of the United Arab Emirates » Jean-François Seznec bio » Christopher Davidson's Website » CIA World Factbook entry on United Arab Emirates
You can down load the MP3 and listen to the entire show. It's worth your time.
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