…Are a bad combination.
Even Mr. Lileks, a man whose perspicacity I have come to admire over the course of the years, succumbs to the nameless fear of the Other – a dark vision of dusky hued Orientals in charge of the nation’s port facilities – shudder! Does no one remember 9/11? When Gulf Arab businessmen in three piece suits and wingtips sailed dirty-bomb laden merchant ships in the statue of liberty?
What are we coming to?
Politics as usual, I’d say. Combined with race-baiting and ethnic fear-mongering. Might as well open up a few internment camps while we’re at it. ‘Cos that whole evil-Dick-Cheney-quail-hunting thing down in Texas? No traction, man. Getting us nowhere. Not even with all of our hip references to “buckshot” being used to hunt poor colinus virginianus. And for all our flapping about “warrantless domestic spying”? Turns out that most of the American people think that if Abu Mus’b al-Zarqawi has got you on his speed dial, it’d be a good idea for NSA to listen in. Even if you’re hanging out by the Sears tower. Maybe even especially then.
But we’re selling our ports! To Arabs!
ARABS!
Well, we’re selling loading docks, anyway. The “port facilities” being sold by British-owned P&O to Dubai-based Dubai Ports World are little more than marine baggage handling terminals. I will grant our disaffected politicians the favor of not believing that they are really quaking in their Guccis over the fear of immigrant waves of southwest Asian longshoremen swarming our beaches the better to offload suitcase nukes. Because they know, they have to know (don’t they?) that security will continue to be performed by the US Coast Guard and container clearance performed by US Customs. They know, they have to know (don’t they?) that hundreds of laden ships arrive at our ports every day from last ports of call wherein highly unfriendly people move in the shadows, loading God-knows-what-but-Customs-will-find-out? Right?
No, for Senators Clinton and Schumer, here is a perfect opportunity to “move to the right” of the president on national security, their best chance to neutralize a Republican strength in the up-coming mid-term elections, seize power and hold secret meetings on managed health care. For Senator Frist, here’s a perfect opportunity to distance himself from the unpopular man at the titular head of his party (what’s that I smell cooking, Senator? Lame duck? My favorite!), while posturing himself as a brave white knight on National Security.
What are you doing in 2008, Senator? Any plans?
Nor is it useful to say that it was OK to outsource our port facilities to Brits but off the table to do so with Arabs – especially Arabs like those in Dubai, who have their own reasons to fear the jihadist winds, and have been stalwart allies in prosecuting the war on terror through, em – non-kinetic means. These guys are as good as it gets, people we can do (and have done) business with. Do we really want to tell the entire Arab world that, well: You’re worth killing to bring you your freedom, but we just can’t trust you to run our gantry cranes?
We’re better than this. We needn’t allow our callow fears and basest prejudices to be manipulated in this way. Call your senator or congressman and tell him to take a deep breath. Tell him to grow a sack, if he’s able. Then tell him to stop taking us for herded sheep, and get back to the real business of running the nation, and winning the war on terror.
No more posturing.
WSJ Op-ed here.
Update: Argghhh! is right. Somehow the frappin’ Army has better contacts on this than the naval service. Read the Coastie’s email.
Update 2: Courtesy of Patterico, Dafydd ab Hugh sheds more light on the sale and offers a fig leaf of modesty in solution to the political absurdity of Senator Clinton moving to the right of W on national security.
Well said, Lex. Unfortunately, it seems that hysteria is the new reason. As for the days where politicians believed in a well-informed and well-intentioned public, capable of using common sense to inform their opinions, they seem to be gone, and we didn’t get to say our goodbyes.
I am under the impression, based on an interview with a Florida Congressman, that the UAE has a discreet geographical area where western nations may conduct business and own assets. In addition, under UAE law, no western concern may own more than a 49% controlling interest in any asset based in the UAE. If this is the case (and I would be happy for someone to cite chapter and verse to prove this statement wrong) then why are we, as a nation, not vetoing this sale on the basis of equal trade?
I am terribly sorry to say this however, watching embasies, flags and Christians burned in the streets; having been told repeatedly that I (we) do not pay enough respect to the Muslim world and their “sensitivities” and, being told by my own government that we must send our sons and daughters off to a Muslim land far away where they might be injured or killed, I AM UNWILLING TO ALLOW A MUSLIM COUNTRY TO CONTROL THE PORTS IN MY HOMELAND.
To be fair, back in 1996, I was also unwilling to allow a front company for the Red Chinese to control the port of Long Beach…
Lex, did you live in SoCal in 96′? Do you remember that we came a hair’s breath away from having the Chicoms buy that port? Is this situation any less severe in terms of national security or, are we so out of answers that we think that if we play nice they will like us again?
It’s a loading dock and transhipment warehouse Babs – not the whole port, as has been framed by the people trying to frighten you.
For the NY/NJ commercial piers, it’s one of six, all of which, according to NPR (and excuse me for what must have been the earth-moving experience of discovering that the president, your humble scribe and the NPR editorial staff are all on the same side of this issue), are foreign-owned, including Denmark and China.
What the president (I believe) is try to do is reward the good guys over there pour encourager les autres. Carrot, meet stick. Stick, carrot.
We simply haven’t got the will to “kill ‘em all,” (thank God!) so we’re trying to win hearts, minds. Quickest way to an Arab businessman’s heart is through his pocketbook. Now he’s not only intellectually concerned about your security, he’s personally invested in it. To the tune of billions.
There’s not much oil down Dubai way, so they prosper the old fashioned way: Banks, trade and hard work. I think we should encourage that trend, over the one that lets foreign companies and imported labor draw found wealth out of the ground, to split up among indolent princes with too much time on their hands, and too much to feel personally guilty for.
Though the “powers that be” in the UAE government may in fact be willing allies with us in the GWOT, I fear that not all of the minor players in the country and government are up to the same standard. It is documentable that the UAE served as the crossroads for the transfer of nuclear material during the AQ Kahn affair. And, if I remember correctly, money was transferred through the UAE to the 911 hijackers. Additionally, it has been said that we should not worry because all of the security measures are still being handled by the Coasties. While true, it seems to me, to be axiomatic that Dubai Ports would be involved with security measures as well. Do we want those that could potentially harm us to have access to our security procedures? For one, I don’t.
Lex,
I am aware that this deal involves discreet loading docks and trans shipment warehouses, as well as strategic scheduling of the facilities.
What I don’t see you addressing is the imbalance of trade between the Muslim world and the free world. Until someone can prove to me that western concerns are able to own more than a 49% share of an asset in the UAE, I’ll tell them to go packing. I also don’t see a recourse by you to the kibosh on having the chicoms take over the port of Long Beach in the 90′s (hey, pre 9/11!). How is this deal any different?
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE DOUBLE STANDARD BEING EMPLOYED IN THE MUSLIM WORLD AND KOW TOWED TO BY THE WESTERN WORLD.
I am completely sick of the idea that companies need to sign agreements not to trade with Israel in order to trade with the Arab world.
You know that I have a son in the Navy. You know that he is in for at least 7 years. I cannot stand the fact that we have State Dept. (Karen Hughes) and former Presidents (Billy Clinton and Carter) parading around the ME lining their pockets with speaking fees spouting inanities about religoius tolerance while our sons and daughters are dying and being maimed in the name of democracy.
I say NO. I do not want our ports controlled by a front company for an Arab nation. Tom Clancy must be burning up the keyboard right about now writing his next block buster thriller. Will Jack Ryan and John Clark save us???
There?
There’s not much oil down Dubai way,
From what I understand, the country is rich in natural gas…
Lex,
I’m with you on this one. If the UAE was such a hotbed of hate, Gerbil Alley would have gone boom awhile ago – probably with me having a Schwarma in the sandbox.
Yawn. Look at the blind run through the maze….
There are always going to be trade imbalances between poorer, developing countries, and richer, post-industrial states. The only way to bring these folks out of poverty and into a position where they can afford to buy Ford, GM and yes, BMW is by raising their lifestyles through preferential terms.
We don’t complain much when the rest of the world bankrolls our deficity spending – to the tune of trillions – by off-shore investment in American bonds (debt).
With nearly full employment, low inflation and encouraging growth numbers, it’s hard to claim that we’re somehow getting fleeced by developing nations, is my view. And sometimes you give ground tactically to make strategic gains.
Lex, everthing you say makes sense, as usual. And as promised, I am trying to control my personal hysteria and fear, really I am. But I can’t help the nagging voice deep inside me that says this will be bad for the U.S., bad indeed.
I hear what you are saying, I truly do. And I WANT to believe it all, it would be so much easier. I struggle with the very rational argument you indicate, while trying to balance my fears and concerns. And I can’t this time find the balance and take comfort in the fact that Dubai is a small place and staunch ally.
It just feels wrong.
quite a tempest in this oh-so-mundane teacup…
has no one ever heard of things like “holding companies”??
where was all the outrage at foreign flagged supertankers (a veritable floating WMD if ya ask me!) driving right into these same ports??
kerfuffle, indeed!
Kris,
I feel like you are supporting me in this. I have never disagreed with Lex before but, here is where the waters part. Until someone can tell me the difference between having the chicoms take over the Long Beach port and the UAE take over the shipping supervision of 5 major ports in the U.S., I will continue to think this deal stinks…
And Lex, as far as thinking Dubai is a “developing country”, maybe you should read more blogs from Dubai… The UAE are one of the richest countries on the face of the earth per capita. They treat their foreign workers like sh*t and, are a Muslim nation. The only reason the U.S. was allowed to place military intstallations on their soil is that they were afraid of being invaded!
It seems to me that they got the better partof the deal. Their citizens are not dying in the name of democracy… ours are! Untill they are willing to negotiate equal trade arrangements with our country, I say let them pound sand.
Golly. I always thought that friends could disagree without there being a sense that anyone was taking sides. I believe in healthy debate and by and large I try to do so on the basis of facts and reason.
Other folks can look at the same facts, apply different cognitive lenses and using their own reason, arrive at different interpretations. It’s not wrong to do so, it’s kind of what makes life interesting.
I don’t need to read blogs from Dubai, I’ve been there numerous times. Some folks are relatively well off, others much less so. If you’re going to plant a garden, first you go to the place where the seeds might bloom. Once you’ve done that, you move your stakes out, and plant new seeds. Where the seeds won’t grow, you get two choices: Fertilizer or insecticide.
Dubai is much more fertilzer territory than it is insecticide territory. In my view.
I’m still listening to this argument. The Coasties link is interesting but the contracting rules for award (written by Congress)have me concerned.
Undecided. Tell me more.
your- “…Might as well open up a few internment camps while we?
I’m still listening to this argument. The Coasties link is interesting but the contracting rules for award (written by Congress)have me concerned.
Undecided. Tell me more.
your- “…Might as well open up a few internment camps while we’re at it.”
Could we round up Hollywood and SF? Just for the duration you see.
B2
“I don?
“I don’t need to read blogs from Dubai, I’ve been there numerous times. Some folks are relatively well off, others much less so.”
Are the ones “much less so” the foreign nationals that are horribly exploited that you speak of?
“Dubai is much more fertilzer territory than it is insecticide territory. In my view.”
You are certainly welcome to your view… however, so am I. And, I have a son that is signed up for at least 7 years in the United States Navy.
I watch what is going on in the world with an eagle eye (some might say that I spend way too much time reading thoughts posted on the internet). However, there are a few things that make this deal stink. And, I would like very much for the congress of the United States to look into this transaction. No one has comne forward to deride my statement that American companies cannot invest more than 49% in an asset in Dubai…
You, Lex, still haven’t addressed the potential sale of the Long Beach facility to the Chicoms in 96′… Did you think along the same lines then? Are you willing to draw an analogy to the current situation now? I find your “developing Nation” defense to be specious… What say you?
I don’t know that we’re not comparing apples to lawnmowers, when you contrast Long Beach to pier facilities here and there.
Do you know how much of the port was on offer? Was it loading docks, or everything? I don’t.
China is a politically unified country with interests and philosophy of government often directly inimicable to our own. Strategic partner? Sometimes. Strategic competitor? Pretty much always. Where do we compete with the UAE? When, after 9/11, have they every failed to do the right thing by us?
We are at war with Islamist Terror, not Islam.
Do I worry what might happen if the US and the PRC grind up against each other some day? Sure – the risks of miscalculation are enormous, and if we don’t manage it carefully, everyone is going to get their hair mussed. Do I lose the same amount of sleep worrying about the government of the UAE? Not nearly.
We’ll be afraid of our own shadows, keep this up. It’s unbecoming in a great nation.
Babs
You Go Girl! I’m also a “military mom” and I’m with you. This deal makes me, to say the least, VERY uneasy.
Kris probably best exemplifies the angst surrounding the issue.
Babs – I agree with you, to a point. I can see very clearly all the things that Lex is saying, and I don’t necessarily disagree with him – he presents an extremely rational opinion and it’s hard to refute it, especially from someone who has spent signifcant time in Dubai in his work.
To quote our humble scribe “…apply different cognitive lenses and using their own reason,…” that’s what I’m doing here. Lex, dear man, I’m not taking sides by any means. But you, as usual, so eloquently put into words where I’m coming from – my own experiences and views.
Babs – the daughter of one of my dearest friends was murdered on 9/11/01 on Flight 11 – Heather Lee Smith. My perspective on this issue – and many like it – is seen thru the lens of grief, loss and a sense of righteous indignation and supreme anger. It certainly doesn’t give me a very objective thought process, to be sure.
So I’m not sure I can honestly say I disagree wiht Lex – but I can say that I am struggling with making sense of this thru my own “cognitive lens”.
Babs, just heard on MSNBC that we are negotiating with the UAE to establish a free trade zone. Maybe there we will be able to own more than 49% of a UAE asset.
Does anyone other than me think that Congressional hearings on this sale will be more of a Political Circus than a vetting of the salient issues? Jes curious.
Goes to show…
Everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects. The main thing is not to be willfully ignorant, nez pah?
National security is not simply a matter of systems or numbers, even though one’s training may militate in that direction… pun only semi-intended. Oswald worked alone, but that does not mean the country would have been better off with Cuban nationals running the Florida Coast Guard. Almost everyone knows that we must work /horse trade/negotiate with the Arab world, but not everywhere and not about everything. Given the shocking neglect of border security our politico’s objection to the UAE deal smells like an ancient herring in the August sun. But that does per force make it a good deal, either: Arab societies, per se, are rife with anti-Western violence, demonstrably given to long-term plotting of a religious nature, systemically prone to double-dealing, and prone to a pathological hatred of Jews unseen since Kristalnacht. In the banking world lenders insist on higher interest rates for questionable loans. It is not wrong to set the bar high – even quite high – to protect our national security. The benefits must balance the risks… no matter how many friends our government employees may have acquired in a certain part of the world. And no one has yet put forward the case that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Sorry, can’t leave this alone…..
Cost analysis
1.Foreign Corporation sells to Foreign Corporation.
2.Foreign Corporation of the first part balks at suggested improvements to Port(lights,increased security),Foreign Corporation of the second part agrees to said improvements.
3.Foreign Corporation of the second part (DPW if you are confused) currently holds similar contracts with U.S. Ports (Houston most pertinent to my viewpoint).
4.USCG and DHS still held accountable for Port security by law.
5.UAE participation in the GWOT is critically important.
Summation……..if your gut reaction is “If Carter is for it, then it is wrong”, then maybe you should try thinking deeper than 1/2″ on the subject.If agreeing with Hillary Clinton makes you ill, then maybe you should stick to reading the classified ads–you may find a good deal on a slightly-used Pinto.
Blind Blake…
If you are an iPod user, you will love this download site. I see…