Feb 22 2006
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
All the scenario generators who think up excuses to discriminate against a critical Middle East ally are simply playing the game of “guilty until proven innocent”.
So many people after 9-11 said we should stand tall and not cower down to fear, or change who we are and what America is, because then Al Qaeda would have won.
Well, to discriminate based on race, religion and nationality (quite a feat), and to presume guilt until proven innocent means we surrendered as a people.
We surrendered to Al Qaeda and we surrendered to our fears because we are afraid that our processes, our people working in these ports, our government and our ally will all fail. We lost confidence that we can stop Al Qaeda without compromising what we are as a people.
Well, some of us have not surrendered. But most have. Fear is the mind killer. We are lashing out at shadows in our minds and insulting a people who have risked their lives to be our allies in the Middle East, and who have provided us safe passage to where we need to go to fight this war.
And we are going to throw it all away. All the great generation fought and died for – we are going to throw it away. No one has ever been able to make me feel ashamed of this country. No European (and I have debated them long into the night for many years), no little tin despot in South America, no mindless communist apartchik, no radical Imam, no misguided socialist.
It could only happen if we ourselves did something – like quit while we were ahead. We were heading towards success in the Middle East. Standing up mature peaceful democracies so they could join the modern world in art, scientific exploration and commerce. To become partners. And we had so many small countries as allies and examples to hold up to those trouble spots called Iran and Syria. Places of real concern.
But the conservative base gave out, its will to stand strong and unbowed is depleted. I guess it had to happen sooner or later, to give in to the constant fear of attack. I lived through the beltway sniper, I know how constant fear grates on the will.
The liberals are laughing because they see this as the natural result of all the saber rattling in the first place. For years they said fear motivated the right and their march to war. I guess now they can claim they were right.
I assumed the right would sooner or later overstep and get labeled wrongly. That’s how these things work. A swing to one side, compensation back the other way, and then another swing. We have been a 50-50 nation for a while and the last swing would dictate leadership for sometime.
Surprisingly, we look to be adopting the European solution to this issue, make foreigners (sometimes known as immigrants) second class citizens, unfit for certain work. Because make no mistake about it, once the precedent is set those consumed by fear will use it to push Arabs and Muslims out of certain jobs in banking, transportation, engineering, medicine, security, law enforcement, etc. Radical muslims in all these areas pose a risk. And then we will find that those who oppose such acts will need to be segregated along with their Arab-Muslim friends, just to be extra cuatious. And then Bin Laden will be able to die a happy man.
How’s that for fantasizing? Tragically, that scenario has run through mankind’s history many, many times. Europeans refined it early in the last century. Standing tall against these waves of panic has been the rare exception. And that used to be our role in the world.
So it is sad to say I cannot support a party that throws out what it means to be America every time they get spooked or surprised (which, from all the excuses I have read sums them all up). The media says ‘boo!’ and we start reacting emotionally, without thought or control.
Geez, it has even taken the fun out of blogging.
UPDATE:
I felt like I needed expand on this post a bit. First off, I am disturbed by the lashing out at an Arab company simply because it is Arab. But I am not saying all who have questions about the deal have done this. What repulsed me was the comments at sites like Lucianne, Free Republic, LGF, etc – sites I am honored to be linked from. The commentors are going much farther into the abyss than many bloggers.
But the problem and challenge remains what precedent will this set, and when will it end? Tony Snow – who is on the same side of this issue as myself, Rush, and others – has done a lot of actual investigation and reporting on this matter and gathered hard evidence of DPW’s and The UAE’s bona fides in this matter. UAE hosts US bases and provides a place for our troops to train and transition into operations. The opportunity to get us has been within their grasp for years now. Rush reminds us that UAE and DPW did not need to spend billions of dollars to send a nuke to our shores, they run the ports that ship to us – they could do it know.
So what we have is the best example of an Arab-Muslim ally we are going to see for a decade at least – and too many want to malign them and shove them away towards our enemies out fo the slightest possibility of mere chance that maybe something could happen.
So, when we are done walling off the pre-eminent example of Arab-Muslims we could trust, do we then proceed to restrict all the others who are less trustworthy or represent more risk? Are we going to ban Arab airlines and pilots? Heck, should Arabs or Muslims be allowed anywhere near an airport (they will learn our security details you know!). Will Sean Hannity and anyone else calling for this deal to be stopped promise to stop here?
Or will we end up rounding up Arab-Muslims and containing them in holding areas? Once we make an example of the best ally we have and say they are untrustworthy of being in positions of responsibility – what choice do we have but to go after the rest?
UPDATE II:
Oh yes, those who lamely point to terrorist sympathizers in the UAE and working with the Taliban are throwing rocks from glass houses. The UK has terrorist sympathizers too, including an MP named Galloway and a shoebomber. And never forget we sold weapons to Saddam Hussein. So climb down those rickety old high horses!
And as Mark In Mexico says – follow the money and realize WHY democrats are yanking chains and saying ‘Boo!’
At least CBS is resisting the tide:
Never have I seen a bogus story explode so fast and so far. I thought I was a connoisseur of demagoguery and cheap shots, but the Dubai Ports World saga proves me a piker. With a stunning kinship of cravenness, politicians of all flavors risk trampling each other as they rush to the cameras and microphones to condemn the handover of massive U.S. strategic assets to an Islamic, Arab terrorist-loving enemy.
[…] I am not as convinced of defeat as AJ Strata: Surprisingly, we look to be adopting the European solution to this issue, make foreigners (sometimes known as immigrants) second class citizens, unfit for certain work. Because make no mistake about it, once the precedent is set those consumed by fear will use it to push Arabs and Muslims out of certain jobs in banking, transportation, engineering, medicine, security, law enforcement, etc. Radical muslims in all these areas pose a risk. And then we will find that those who oppose such acts will need to be segregated along with their Arab-Muslim friends, just to be extra cuatious. And then Bin Laden will be able to die a happy man. […]
I still don’t know a lot about the details of this, but on principle I’m with you 100%. By all accounts the UAE has been a staunch ally; throwing a conniption just because they’re Arab is in direct opposition to our contention that the Iraqis are able to handle democracy, religious moderation, etc. in spite of being Arab.
I take it you’re depressed by Republican Congressional types with their fingers in their ears about the port deal? You know… the one’s finally demonstrating “unity” because it’s all about fear and national security in a mid-term election year?
Dang, AJ… don’t tell me you thought those bozos would “get it”, and resist jumping on the scare wagon! Besides my screaming about this, the lack of search and research on WMDs, the inefficiency of the UN, and Able Danger, my biggest subject was always wanting term limits for Congress. These boys and girls need to go home, get a job and a grip on reality! LOL
Thus, don’t lose your love of blogging. Without it, you won’t meet and hear kindred spirits who do live outside the beltway… like *meeeeee*! LOL And many others here you call blog friends. Besides… just because the DC elite can’t be educated, doesn’t mean the blogworld doesn’t reach Joe and Jane Citizen. And it is the rest of us who benefit from independent research outside of the MSM.
Instead, take delight watching Chris Matthews lose his lob ball bite when Tom Ridge tells him it’s much ado about nothing, and backs it up with facts. This roller coaster has gotten so fast and furious, that it will be interestings watching it coast to a stop, and opinions reversed.
I believe this deal will go thru. Congress may have to posture that they want to see the results of the security investigation so they can “protect the American people”… sigh. Like we always need the blessing of these losers.
But most of us will see it for what it was. Mass hysteria, misinformation, and how fast that windstorm can spread.
I wouldn’t lump this one incident into America is becoming European. I don’t have to go into immigrants coming to America for the American Dream, we all know it is true and this is the Land of opportunity. This issue is now the definable light that America will be remembered in History? I don’t think so.
You can’t put the Genie back in the bottle, and now we have every tinpot Dictator calling us Racists. Just F’n great. Again, the White House has to wait to defend itself instead of getting out IN FRONT OF THE STORY. This Administration is the worst in making it’s case in public. I am not talking about leaks, but in DEFENDING when it should be INFORMING.
Now Drudge has the Headline “Bush unaware of Port Deal until after it was signed”. Geez. Now that will have to be defended.
AJ, this goes beyond offending Muslims, denying them the “dream”. This Administration is not handling the issues. PR. Geez, if Bush had gotten in front of this instead of letting it fester for a week, it would be a different arguement. Racial. Feh.
Again, when it comes to Security, Let Americans run the business of our ports, Airports, rails, etc.
Libya is our “friend” now, would we give them authority to run our biggest Airports? No? Racist! We do not “discriminate” where foriegners invest their money in America. We don’t even do “Racial Profiling” at Airports (tho we should!). We allow anybody who follows the rules to come to our Country and if they want to stay, we give them the means to do so, WITHOUT any bias to where they come from.
This is not an issue of America losing face. This is an issue of America protecting America.
If this turns into another capitulation to the “feelings” of the Muslim world, it is another step towards Dhimmitude. It is happening in Europe. Don’t even think it is not. And with continued CRAP like this, it will surely happen here.
Rant over, but still pissed.
Borders, Language, Culture. Simple rules to keep America strong.
BurbankErnie…
Maybe you ought to know a little about the country where the company in question is based. Note in particular its general religious tolerance. The UAE has also been a strong ally in the war on terrorism.
It does not enhance American protection when strong allies are insulted.
Burbank
Still don’t get it, eh? P&O is not selling “security” to DP World. They are selling leases for port operations. Two different animals.
Even your bud, Savage, was starting to see the light yesterday afternoon.
I obviously have not made my point (which means nada except to me) clear enough. I recommend visting Michelle Malkin’s site and reading her thorough post, which includes both side if the issue.
I side with her. The reasons are listed.
Regarding the Country, I am sure it is a wonderful place. I do not have to be sold on how they have religous freedoms. I have looked at both sides and this is lose – lose. Americans will not accept this.
Bush didn’t know. Rummy didn’t know. Senators posturing. Arab Nations snorting. MSM misleading.
A little late to start the campaigning when the issue was a lost cause to begin with.
As I have stated since the beginning, The Admin. should have been ahead of the issue. It is a bit late now.
Lileks fisking is eloquently spot on. Why could I have not been born with talent? Woe is me…..
Yeah, ’cause it’s not like the UAE royals have ever been invited guests of Osama bin Laden or anything. Oh wait…
http://anomolous.eponym.com/blog/_archives/2006/2/22/1777898.html
You have made a lot of good points, AJ.
Arab countries have to invest their petro-dollars somewhere.
At that intelligence conference, everyone was against the UAE having the port business.
They were suggesting our government is under the influence of the wealthy Arabs.
I don’t see what harm could come from Bush making his case.
AJ: Thanks for the great thoughts, facts, and analysis on this subject (and others too like Able Danger!). I agree that the deal should go through and with it we will have even a better ally in the war on terror. How can we say we want to establish democracy in the middle east then don’t want to do business with any them.
I agree with you that this is way overblown and people are running scared. Remember the phrase from WWII; “All we have to fear is fear itself”. I think this is what is getting to most people. They don’t try to understand the facts (operation of ports not security, leasing not buying, etc.) and so they are fearful of the unknown. The MSM make statements like they are facts, when they are just misleading the American people. Others come to interesting conclusions. Sean Hannity today was talking about how the UAE banking system supported some terrorists. Based on that conclusion, guess we are not to do business with any country that has a bank that unknowingly dealt with terrorists. That would include England and a number of others.
From your blogs, we here get the facts and can better make a decision. I always look forward to your blogs. So please, keep up the good work!!
Congress Should Talk to the Experts…
My biggest fear in the current brouhaha over DP World buying P&O Terminals isn’t the government of the UAE.
My biggest fear is the U.S. Congress….
Well, we have to look a little deeper to really comprehend the rot that is modern Republicanism.
This Republican administration is in the middle of a two-year push to ink a corporate-backed “free” trade accord with the UAE. At the end of 2004, in fact, it was Bush Trade Representative Robert Zoellick who proudly boasted of his trip to the UAE to begin negotiating the trade accord. Rejecting this port security deal might have set back that trade pact. Accepting the port security deal – regardless of the security consequences – likely greases the wheels for the pact.
That’s probably why instead of backing off the deal, Dubya – supposedly Mr. Tough on National Secuirty – took the extraordinary step of threatening to use the first veto of his entire presidency to protect the UAE’s interests. Because he knows protecting those interetsts – regardless of the security implications for America – is integral to the “free” trade agenda all of his corporate supporters are demanding.
We’ve seen this before. Just last year, Congress approved a U.S. taxpayer-funded loan by the Bush administration to a British company to help build nuclear technology in Communist China. Despite major security concerns raised – and a legislative effort to block the loan – Congress’s “free traders” (many of whom talk so tough on security) made sure the loan went through so as to preserve the U.S.-China free trade relationship that is allowing lawmakers’ corporate campaign contributors export so many U.S. jobs.
There is no better proof that this Republican-dominated government takes its orders from corporate interests than these kinds of moves. That’s what this UAE deal is all about – the mixture of the Republican goal of privatizing all government services (even post 9/11 port security!) with the political Establishment’s desire to make sure “free” trade orthodoxy supersedes everything.
This is where the culture of corruption meets national security policy – and, more specifically, where the unbridled corruption of on-the-take politicians are weakening America’s security.
Here we have a major U.S. security scandal with the same country we are simultaneously negotiating a free trade pact with, and no one in Washington is saying a thing.
They are talking tough about national security – but almost no one is talking about what may have fueled this Republican administration’s decision to push forward with this deal: the desire to move forward:
Big Money’s “free” trade agenda.
Talk about a politcal party that would sell its mother for a buck!
This issue has really made me see which bloggers I can relate to most, and I must say AJ, it looks like you might be the blogger on my blogroll that I agree with most on various issues.
Immediately when I heard about this story, I didn’t jump to conclusions, I researched more about Dubai Ports, researched about the history, researched about who was conducting security, and I ended up where you are.
I haven’t had time to bang out a post on this issue, but I’m not sure I could add much more to the discussion than what I have read here.
Let’s kick these political opportunists out of office!
Republicans as Wiley Coyote, Dems as Road Runner UAE Deal!…
The right side of the blogsphere learned the wrong lesson with their victory over the President’s nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. They do not run the country.
What this looks like to me is the Democrats using Karl Rove tactics a ……
One of the biggest problems of dealing with “free lance” terrorism is
we don’t have their address.
Well, in the case of the UAE
We know their address
It is the address of U S Airbases
It is the address of the Mideast Port most used by U S Warships
It is one of our own addresses
We will never have to invade the UAE
WE OCCUPY THE UAE!
That’s why the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearings
will be very interesting tomorrow.
Hope that CSPAN CAN FIND A CAMERA as they were short
for the Able Danger Hearing last week.
Wonder if Hillary will risk having Zogby even more angry with
her by showing up?
Will be interesting to note who attends and who is elsewhere –
short notice is great excuse.
See opportunity for someone to top Kennedy, Schummmmy,
and Biden at the Alito hearing.
Buck up AJ – the Dems got lured into hearings and Warner was
on Fox and CNN touting the value of the UAE to our basing
in the Mideast.
The real strategy of the Dems is to screw up GW’s threat to
Iran. Think about that and hope we can watch the hearing live
tomorrow.
Of Ports and Whines…
Normally pro-Bush journalists and bloggers have joined the fray as well, creating strange political bedfellows in the process. When conservative stalwarts such as Hugh Hewitt and Michelle Malkin agree with liberal New York Senators Chuck Schumer and …..
Ports, Ports, Ports……
…my kingdom for a horse (I haven’t had a winner in weeks). If you’re wondering what the hell I’m talking about, so am I…let’s see, where was I? Oh, yeah, ports!
It’s all about the ports, now, isn’t it?…
The UAE port deal: I support it…
The more this UAE port management story is being reported, examined, and discussed in the MSM, as well as on opinion pages and in the blogosphere, the more I find myself believing that the issue has bas been overhyped unecessarily. Even with saying …
It isn’t the Bush administration carrying the ‘rot’, it’s those in Congress who are carrying water for such as the Longshoremans Union in return for the big bucks campaign contributions. That union probably is afraid of the Dubai company’s squeaky clean operations, it’s habit of streamlining and increasing efficiency wherever it operates.
And there’s been considerable, nasty rot among conservative commentators who appear to be resenting that this president turned out not to be a dumb bunny dependent on their guidance after all, and it hurts…..so, like the liberal ‘elitists’ they’re out to trash him.
Bush has been solid on national security, no company that threatens that would get his okay. And it’s actually very important to remember that not all Muslims are terrorists or terrorist supporters. Duh.
Damned if we do and damned if we don’t? — Updated: Move me to the Pro column…
Color me more confused as time goes on. Has White House bungling and Democratic misdirection created a major kerfuffle where there’s no need for one? From the New York Sun: On the Waterfront Somehow, it doesn’t add up. Senators Menendez,…