Could The Ports Deal Get Any Worse??
So, as if this Dubai Port mess didn't look bad enough for our Prez with the 34% approval ratings. First, he claimed not to know about the deal until after it was approved, then he dug in his heels against scrapping the deal, even with so many pols on both sides of the political divide recommending as much. But this revelation is just too much:
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
The parent company of a Dubai-based firm at the center of a political storm in the US over the purchase of American ports participates in the Arab boycott against Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The firm, Dubai Ports World, is seeking control over six major US ports, including those in New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Baltimore. It is entirely owned by the Government of Dubai via a holding company called the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCZC), which consists of the Dubai Port Authority, the Dubai Customs Department and the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area.
"Yes, of course the boycott is still in place and is still enforced," Muhammad Rashid a-Din, a staff member of the Dubai Customs Department's Office for the Boycott of Israel, told the Post in a telephone interview.
"If a product contained even some components that were made in Israel, and you wanted to import it to Dubai, it would be a problem," he said.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
posted by orthomom at 12:42 AM
6 Comments:
OMG!! Are you kidding? Why hasn't this been all over the press?
Ouch. I guess that means the US will be participating in the Arab boycott of Israel, since Bush has vowed to veto any congressional resolution of disapproval and there is no way that the Republicans will override a President of their own party.
Tell me this is just a bad dream.
Wait a sec...
Put aside the fact that the Dubai corporation boycotts Israeli imports into Dubai (obviously this is bad behavior and it is legitamate to hold this fact against the deal)- notice how there is no question that they will allow Israeli imports into U.S. ports.
Do you think this supports the idea that eventually economic pressures will allow for compromises between Arabs and the West? It's my personal belief that the need for a nearby trading partner will eventually temper the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (provided markets are allowed to be free- clearly that is not yet the case, since terrorism impedes the flow of good over the Israeli-Palestinian "border"). This story is a good example of how terrorism impedes the flow of goods, but also shows the economic pressure to curb terrorism.
What else can you expect from a president who holds hands (literally and figuratively) with the Saudi Royal Family?
Actually, it's better than that:
"The three entry requirements of obtaining a visa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah) are that you are not a citizen of Israel, that your passport doesn't contain Israeli stamps, and that your passport is valid for at least 6 months before your arrival." (from http://guide.theemiratesnetwork.com/living/visa.php)
Which is to say, if you want to visit Dubai, you can't have even VISITED Israel.
Perfect people to be in charge of our ports, no?
Updates:
This made it to Sean Hannity's web site, and he lists together the JP story and an AP report that Bush has reiterated his support for Dubai Ports World. Hmmm....
http://www.hannity.com
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