Second, congress’ blaming President Bush for their ineptitude to investigate a deal that has been 3 months in the making just makes me sick. We have senators on both side of the aisles as well as some prominent representatives have seem to have no problems voicing classified information to the press. Then they wonder why the President doesn’t trust them. I am beginning to think that I trust the UAE to keep our secrets than I trust our congress. Some of the spillages of information border on treason but are disguise in political debate as first amendment rights.

Third, if the UAE and such other foreign entities managing our ports is such a sore spot, we better kick the ChiComs out of our ports as well. They have made no bones about the desire to destroy the US economically and will be more than willing to challenge us on the matter oc Hong Kong.

Having been to the ports in Dubai to meet “ship that doesnt exist” and having to go through the security employed there even though I was American military at the time, gives me some degree of confidence that we don’t have much more to worry about than if the British company still manage the port. Recall that there is a rather large contingent of anti-democracy muslims living in Britain and can easily gain employment in such companies.

Just food for thought.

Mordi

Chillin: ALADDIN’S RANT and DRUMWASTER’S RANTS and SQUIGGLER and STRATA-SPHERE and VODKAPUNDIT and YOU BIG MOUTH YOU…

Rescind Mr. President. Faith is a misplaced emotion in the long war on terror, and the assurance that U.S. ports will be secure when they are managed by a firm owned by a government in one of the most volatile parts of the world, is worthless.

So far, President Bush isn’t backing down on the Dubai port deal, despite the political firestorm it has stirred up for him …

But, warns Spook 86, it’s not that simple:

Let’s beging with the basing rights issue. U.S. military forces–particularly Air Force units–have been using airfields in the UAE since the start of Operation Desert Shield back in 1990. Bases in the UAE are viewed as particularly important for potential military operations against Iran, given their proximity to disputed islands the Persian Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz. Flying from bases in the UAE, U.S. fighter-bombers would have only a short hop to targets in Iran, allowing them to maintain constant pressue on Tehran’s military forces and political leadership. The presence of large numbers of tactical aircraft in the UAE would also make it easier to keep the strait open, and reduce Iran’s ability to restrict the flow of oil to the global market. If the White House cancels the port deal, Dubai may end its basing agreement, and greatly complicate our military strategy in the region.

I see this as a backdoor way to prevent Bush from dealing with
Iran – something the Dems could run on.

I will never forget Clintonista Nancy Soderberg on the Daily Show the
night after the first “purple fingers” in Iraq, she said “Well, we still
have Iran and North Korea.”

And finally – the biggest leap that was made in this Port brohau
is
The Dems admitted we do have to fear terrorism

And they are will to be racists to protect us.

Can’t wait for Pelosi to slip up and use that “politics of fear” charge
against Bush.

I hear you buddy. The mob-think is in full swing and the marginal useful idiots are in full voice. And if Bin Laden is laughing as I think he is…

Well, then it will be ugly. And all because we emoted when we should have thought.

Im sorry AJ but how long do you think it would take to load 400-700 lbs of explosives and then be able to hide it from port authorities for such a convenient time, when one of our ships rolled in for refueling?

Did they use cranes along these ports to load such a heavy load?

Was it done by hand? how would hand loading explosives, go easily unnoticed?

Yeh there is alot we dont know, yet to dismiss the obvious isnt my style either. Granted 2 men carried this out, but to say it was just two men and a boat of explosives and givin the weight involved, it is not that simple to carry out completely unnoticed and un-checked. This concerns me AJ. If it happened in Yemen under DUBAI i dont need another example of DUBAI failures in OUR ports..

Im saying the effort involved to expload this samll boat on the USS Cole was orchestarted and planned out, to atleast within 2 hours of arrival and coordinated with a man in the UAE. Im not saying there is a direct connection between jihadists and DUBAI, i am saying it concerns me that the possibility exists and the USS Cole attack elevates that concern.

Smiling? OBL is @#$%^& rolling on the floor in laughter. My only questions are: 1) Just exactly what kind of contracts did Halliburton get in exchange; and 2) if a dirty bomb is detonated in the United States, will we execute Bush and Cheney for treason?

I have struggled very hard for the last five years to believe that the Shrub has a higher IQ than his dog but have now concluded that he really is the moron liberals say he is.

The Yemeni attack was a small private boat manned by two people.

The Ayden port was a regular refuling stop for American warships.

All the attackers had to do is wait for an American ship to enter the port, then drive out to greet them.

So, no inside info is required and no one to tip off the authorities. Once the boat was loaded and ready the chatter began that something was going to happen. All they neede was the target.

Nice try though. Now, we can play speculation games all day long, but someone needs to prove to me we did not gain some serious intel and security opportunities in the ports which ship to the US. All speculation being equal. Bush is pushing this for a reason, and he knows more than you and I do.

The attack on the USS Cole was carried out by two Yemeni’s holding Saudi nationality. Sources said that the operation’s main planner, an Arab living in the UAE called Mohammed Omer, was giving his orders to the group members in Aden by phone, and by a code with one of the suspects called Gamal Al-Badwi, a Yemeni national.
Americans made a mistake when they entered the port with such a large size and greatly valuable destroyer without guarding or notifying the Yemeni side to provide such protection.

Now considering your position on this AJ and the facts you presented about port operations and their primary activities. I can only conclude somehow these Yemeni’s jihadist’s had inside information and the estimated time of arrival of the USS cole and were prepared to execute their deadly blast. Wich means somehow the port operations may have leaked such crucial timeframe, in order for them to be ready and have their small boat in the waters wich is part of the port operations and procedures; the attackers’ boat was mistaken for a harbour craft assisting with the mooring (To be secured with lines or anchors). There was no co-ordinated effort to track the movement of small boats in the harbour, wich in fact falls on the port operations and that was the DUBAI responsibility, alerting security to such odd and unidentified activity is also port operations responsibility.

I have a problem with DUBAI not because they are an Arab group. I have a problem because they have proven to me un worthy of such contracts because the USS Cole was attacked under their watch. Wich to me sends a signal of suc an alarming magnitude it shouldnt go unnoticed. Also AJ please look into what i have posted and mabe you can show me how come i shouldnt be concerned about port operations and our security in vital harbours accross our sea shores.