As an Ex-Republican, who voted for this evil man (IMO)in 2000, and who lives a very conservative life, please tell me why racism is the "tool" of the times?

Its bad enough I just learned China has the contract for some (if not all) the Los Angeles ports (i.e. ally, hardly), now our worthless "King" wants to open the opportunity up for another questionable country, actually from what I've heard, its the King of UAE, not a private corporation. The news is reporting that John Snow (a.k.a. Snow Job) and the head of the Dept of Transportation (name escapes me right now) are in the loop of winners.Both of course have past corporate ties to the deal. What else is new.

If we don't want criminal invaders here, its racism, if we want English spoken as our primary language its racsim.

Enough is enough. Stop the racsim charge and grow up.

Racism? Yes, Bush wants to play that card because other things are at stake for him (perhaps oil, perhaps something worse). But let's look at both sides of the racism card:

[3.151] We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve,

[5.51] O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.

[8.59] And let not those who disbelieve think that they shall come in first; surely they will not escape. [8.60] And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.

[9.5] So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

[47.4] So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates.

David T-
Why on earth are you using this forum to quote from your "good book"? If those are quotes from the Koran, then it surely is a sad commentary of your belief system.

...Susan, that's not my "good book" or what I believe. To love God with all your being, and to love your neighbor as yourself, there are no commandments greater than these. I was just showing the "other side" of the racism card that is accepted by many extremists who read that book.

If this contract is with the UAE, not with a private corporation, the king of the UAE may well be a friend of ours today but monarchies in the Middle East have been overthrown before, and to our great disadvantage. If that happens in the UAE, who will then be managing our ports? This proposed contract is with a state in which the leadership can change radically as the result of a single bullet. Think, will you? Bush wants to take care of his pals who stand to benefit from this contract, and he admits that he does not think. He referred to Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. as a "Great British" firm. Need any more evidence?

He also admits he doesn't understand: "I don't understand why it's OK for a British company to operate our ports but not a company from the Middle East when we've already determined security is not an issue."

Letting any foreign government have ownership of our ports is plain stupid.

What if we get into a diplomatic or military conflict with an interest of their's?
What if the UAE decides to make an alliance with
North Korea for all shipping contracts?

And for the record, they recognized the Taliban
as a government, and 2 of the 9/11 hijackers
were from the UAE.

This reminds me of Bush's choice of Harriet
Miers for Supreme Court.
GIVE US A GOD DAMN BREAK !

I agree with the above posters. If Bush wants to push racial acceptance, don't do it staking the safety of our entire country. It may sound racist to some, but we are racially integrated enough; when we go to the gas station we say "Hello, how are you?" when we go to Dunkin Donuts we say "Hello - how was your day?" when we go to 7-11 we say "Hello - Thanks and have a good day."

In the first place, I don't understand how our ports could have ever been controlled by foreign countries. That in and of itself seems to be a seriously lacking of judgement. The UAE has connection to two of the countries of two of the 9/11 attackers. I understand that this is all circumstantial, but it's better to be safe then sorry.

It's amazing to me to see the foolishness that comes out of the President's mouth....and then to see the American people go along with it is even worse. I pray that we find the strength to stand up and give a collective "NO!" to this UAE takeover.

I think this article overstates the racism angle, but I do think that the fact that an Arab country, one used by the 9/11 hijackers as a transit point, put some focus on the larger problem of just who is providing "security" these days in our ports. This administration has done a pitiful job of improving security since 9/11, and this is just one more example of their two-faced policy. I don't want an Arab country in control of our ports any more than I want a British company. Do we out-source the TSA to Arabs? Using your logic, why not? It would probably save a lot of money, and after all, that's all this crappy administration is all about.

I see it more as a case of prejudice than any thing else. I do not trust Bush any further than I can see him. His motives need to be questioned and researched. Nevertheless, I have NO problem with the contract going to an Arab based company and if you do (without any other prohibiting reasons), you are probably being prejudice, too.

However, I feel it is very hypocritical of the Bush administration (what else is new) to aim all of this terrorism stuff at the Middle East and then turnaround and hand them a key to the country.

Now, somebody explain to me why we tried to impeach Clinton and impeachment hasn't been discussed for our current "dictator?"

David T.-
Please accept my apology.

Its funny about all this outsourcing, globalization, insourcing era....

We've been able to put man on the moon, we have some of the brightest minds in technology, in medicine, etc...and all of a sudden, we got real stupid, real fast.

America has companies that should have the contracts to control operations at our ports. Not multi-nationals but America based and loyal companies. Those contracts should enforce strict guidelines for employment. Parents born here, employee born here, etc.... Give generational Americans the jobs.

We're not just a market, we're a country for Godsake.

Can someone explain why ANY FOREEIGN COMPANY would be managing U.S. ports? Is there ANYthing in this cuntry that's NOT for sale to the highest bidder???

I'm a longtime white anti-racism activist (in Texas & MN) and I think the charge of racism here is UNwarranted. It's one thing to racially profile Arab/Muslim people for just EXISTING. It's quite another to NOT want any foreign company--especially an Arab company-- to run our already-vulnerable ports.
Americans had NO IDEA that a BRITISH company was running our ports or we'd have been ticked off about that, too!

"Racism" my rear end. Why is racism ALWAYS used as an EXCUSE when some jerks don't get their way. Bush is wanting to do this ONLY for himself and his oil baron buddies to get the under the table payola, nothing more, nothing less. IF King George is so paranoid about "National Security" he will NOT let the Arabs have the ports. Bush MUST be impeached if the USA is to survive.

Impeachment, finally somebody agrees with me!

The difficulty not addressed here is the very nature of Muslimism. Although the majority of Muslims here and abroad are rational people who are unlikely to blow themselves up, the fact is that they rarely, if ever, publicly denounce such slaughter. In fact, if they did, they might become targets themselves.

Repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly, the Koran calls for the "destruction," "killing," and "slaughter" of those who are not Muslims. These orders, redolent though they are of their Middle Age origins, are taken quite literally by millions of Muslims. In fact, a very large percentage of Muslims in the Middle East -- more than 50% have replied to surveys by saying that they do indeed think that the slaughter of non-believers is justified. These include a large percentage of the populations of our 'friendly' Arab allies, whether or not their government does not support terrorist activities. We do not know and can not know when or if some of these individuals -- people certainly not identified at this point as 'terrorists' or even 'terrorist sympathizers' -- may be in a position to "make the difference" when it comes to assisting in an act of terror. I do not blame the UAE or Muslim Americans or anyone else in general, but the fact is that many Muslims are no different from psychopathic Christian inquisitors when it comes to what should become of 'infidels.' Even The US is a nation of witches as far as these people are concerned. Let's call a spade a spade. We would LIKE it if we were dealing with rational people, but we absolutely are not.

Even the lunatic fringe of US Christian dominionists, which like Muslim fundamentalists dearly believes the rest of us infidels will roast in hell, rarely kills us to insure it.

"The UAE is a small _ population just over 4 million _ oil-rich Persian Gulf state." For Christ's sake, it IS a foreign state we're asking to run our ports! Identifying those who object as racist is an argument posted by a cretan. The logic of a foreign state running our critically strategic ports is patently absurd. Why don't we ask the Saudis to run The Whitehouse? Or maybe our National Monuments.. Washington's, Jefferson's, etc.Wecome to Bush Thugdom and the logic of cretans!

I'm a progressive who votes Democrat. Sifting through horseshit is my game. And it stinks.

The difficulty not addressed here is the very nature of Muslimism today. Although the majority of Muslims here and abroad are rational people who are unlikely to blow themselves up, they rarely, if ever, publicly denounce the uttler loathing for the "other" that permeates the Koran and is now directed toward the U.S.

The most they can say is that they themselves are moderates. Of course, were they to express outrage at Koran literalists, they would likely become their targets themselves. In any case, the Koran itself does not call for mercy for, compassion toward, or acceptance of, infidels. Period. It is not "a book of peace." It is a book of faith and the subjugation of those who do not hold that faith. Kind of like the Bible.

Repeatedly,repeatedly, repeatedly, the Koran calls for the "destruction," "killing," and "slaughter" of those who are not Muslims.

These orders, redolent though they are of their Middle Age origins, are nevertheless taken LITERALLY by millions of Muslims. In fact, a very terrifying percentage of Muslims in the Middle East have replied to surveys by saying that they do indeed think that the slaughter of non-believers is justified, at least under "some" circumstances.

These respondents include an uncomfortably large percentage of the populations of our 'friendly' Arab allies, whether or not their government does not support terrorist activities.

We do not know and can not know who these individuals are and when or if some of them (certainly not identified so far as 'terrorists'or even as 'terrorist sympathizers') may be in a position to "make the difference" when it comes to assisting in an act of terror.

I do not blame the UAE or Muslim Americans in general or even the Dubai company involved in this deal.

The fact is, however, that many Muslims today are no different from the psychopathic purveyers of the Christian Inquisition when it comes to how 'infidels' are perceived and what should be done with them. They hate us and want us dead. All of us.

Let's call a spade a spade. We would LIKE it if we were dealing with rational people here, but we absolutely are not.

Even the lunatic fringe of US Christian dominionists, which like Muslim fundamentalists, dearly believes the faithless will roast in hell, rarely kills us to insure it.

They do, however, hope greedily for war in the Middle East, which THEIR mythology assures them will promote the "Rapture" they babble about insanely. Rapture -- wishful thinking in which all but they will be brutally and viciously destroyed by Allah -- oops! Ares -- oops! -- Mollok -- oops! Yaweh -- oops! -- Jesus.

In fact, bite me on the fibula and call me Lucy, but isn't George Bush a Dominionist?

ONE THING THAT NO ONE IS MENTIONING ARE THE CLOSE TIES BUSH AND HIS FAMILY HAVE WITH THE ARABS! NEIL BUSH HAS CLOSE TIES TO THE MAKTOUM FAMILY OF DUBAI. THE SAME FAMILY THAT HAS INTERESTS IN THE STATE OWNED FIRM , DUBAI PORTS WORLD! WHY SHOULD WE TRUST THE UAE OR GEORGE BUSH? THE UAE ALL OF A SUDDEN HAS A CHANGE OF HEART? BUSH IS GOING TO SUDDENLY STOP LYING AND BECOME HONEST? ITS ABOUT TIME THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WAKE UP! GEORGE BUSH SAYS HE WANTS TO PROTECT US AND THEN GETS IN BED WITH THE UAE! MY GUT INSTINCT TELLS ME THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY THAN MEETS THE EYE! JUST LIKE HIS ENERGY BILL, THE MEDICARE DRUG PROGRAM, FEMA AND KATRINA FAILURE, ABRAMOFF SCANDAL, PLAME SCANDAL, HE LIES, LIES, LIES! HE HAS SOLD THIS COUNTRY OUT TO CORORATE GREED AND HAS NO SHAME OR HONOR!

I think President Bush is applying double standards with his notion of trying to implement American foreign policy.

Not to long ago, a Chinese company wanted to buy UNOCAL Oil and there was hue and cry from legislatures about China planning to eventually take over American sovereignty. The deal was eventually shelved.

For President Bush to even think that this is acceptable and is a way of spreading American foreign policy is laughable.

What is not good for China is also not good for the Arab Emirates (Dubai).

Why apply double standards?

This is a perfect example of reductionism used to frame an issue in over-simplistic terms. Why? Indeed. While there are surely those who object to arabs owning the ports based on racism, there are also those who believe profits in the ports should not go to any foreign country, that workers in those ports should be citizens, and that foreign ownership of our ports is bad security. Your reduction to racism is racist. You can simplify all you want, but some of us aren't drinking the kool-aid of selling off America.

That's BS.

George Tenet testified at the Terrorism Attacks Hearings in 2004 that the CIA had targeted Osaama BinLaden but had decided not to pull the trigger. That was because there were a large number of the UAE Royal family sitting with BinLaden there in Afghanistan.

Tenet said, "If we had targeted BinLaden, we would have wiped out half the Royal Family."

So it's racism if we don't want Osaama BinLaden's buddies running our ports?

That's pure B***hit. I can smell it all the way over here.

We are not racist, or my favorite word these days "xenophobic" used to discribe "our type" from opposing viewpoints.

I am sick of worrying about offending the Muslims, the Criminal Invaders, the H1-B's (whom are telling me these days their Americans -hogwash), and all others.

Pretty soon, our freedom of speech will have offensive or xenophobic jail sentences, should someone "tell on us". It almost happen to the Brits, so it could easily happen here. With Bush is charge, 1984 is sooner than you think.

Personally I would believe nothing the state department said.
Whether it is liked or not by the rest of the world (and personally I could care less what they think of us-they hate us no matter what we do) I wouldnt trust anything Arab or muslim right now to have anything to do with anything in our country.
Call it racism or whatever you want-they should not be running our ports.
Sorry.

Stop being such a PC wuss.

You had good article, with plenty of good points to balance out the arguments. But by playing the PC *Racism* card, you weaken the argument, and embarass yourself.

If it was Kuwait, would you still use the *Racism* card?

Jerk.

Racism?

Why on earth should US ports, or any US property be protected by any but US citizens? Why are we hiring mercenaries? Presumably the English are our best allies, but I don't want them responsible for our security either. I want the individuals responsible for our security to have a stake that is larger and more important than mere business dealings.

LOL..what a funny fairy tale. Bush played that card last night....along with his 'threat'. It has taken off just as mightily as he thought it would. so...rather than DISCUSS the ludicrous issue of a terrorist sponsoring country taking over our Eastern ports...we now have to defend our position...'we ain't racists'...it's about the 'terrorists' Well...and the Bush wars against terrorism, tyranny and authoritarian, dictatorships. Both of which are part of the political scene in these countries.

The REASON the UAE should NOT 'own' our ports...
1. one of three countries in the world that recognized the TALIBAN as the legitmate government of Afghanistan.
2. UAE refused to be investigated, when it was uncovered by the FBI, that money was transferred TO the 9/11 hijackers through the UAE banking system. Anyone remember them? 19 men, 15 of them Saudi citizens?
3. UAE has been a KEY TRANSFER POINT for illegal shipments of nuclear components to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Although...so has Halliburton and Cheney...ok..moot point.
4. After 9/11...the Treasury Dept reported that the UAE was NOT cooperating in efforts to track down OBL bank accounts.

Good try for Bush. It's hogwash...and appalling...but...good try. He's the one that has 'designer rules' for his terrorism war. 9/11 is no longer a part of it.

People wake up! Can't you see what the Prez and his associates are looking to do? They are in dire straits to have Americans focus their attention of anger and hatred toward Middle Easterners, so the truth NEVER becomes unveiled. What is in part of the truth? The members of the American government are the "creators and owners," of the action of the Muslim world.

So who should Americans be actually looking at? The artwork or the artist? Who is the real creator? The artwork or the artist? Who has control of the pen? The artwork or the artist? Who has the ability to change the design? The artwork or the artist? ETC., . . .

Think people!!! Think! What is the sense of having a mind if you keep yourself from thinking beyond the American political box?

People wake up! Can't you see what the Prez and his associates are looking to do? They are in dire straits to have Americans focus their attention of anger and hatred toward Middle Easterners, so the truth NEVER becomes unveiled. What is in part of the truth? The members of the American government are the "creators and owners," of the action of the Muslim world.

So who should Americans be actually looking at? The artwork or the artist? Who is the real creator? The artwork or the artist? Who has control of the pen? The artwork or the artist? Who has the ability to change the design? The artwork or the artist? ETC., . . .

Think people!!! Think! What is the sense of having a mind if you keep yourself from thinking beyond the American political box?

WOA!!!! HIT THE BRAKES!!!!

We're not talking about race here! We're talking about what country gets to make decisions concerning who and what gets into all the major ports on the Atlantic side of the United States! Love ya Doug! You know I do! But this is WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

This tiny little country you'ld have to struggle to find on a map, is a sputtering fuse just waiting to blow! When you're are as small as they, are with as many BIG neighbors, you have too get allong with the big boys if you want to keep your lunch money! These guys consider the Taliban to be a government! There's no telling what this little fiasco could turn into! I for one had rather be safe than sorry! If that makes me a racist... Well SHIT!

I have some questions I hope someone can help me with concerning this deal with the ports being guarded by a company that is owned by the UAE
Who is resposible for clearing the people who will work for this company while they are in this country? Will all the people hired be from the UAE? What type of vetting process will be used? Will the Dept. of Homeland Security have a say in any vetting process? We don't have in companies in the USA who do this type of work? Since this dude has been president his whole deal has been national security so why are we turning to foreign governments to protect our ports?

RACE is not the same as country, or NATIONALITY! I have an expertise in this from birth, since I am "Black". RACE is a biological thing....color of skin, type of hair, etc. Nationality is a matter of ALLEGIANCE. I am an American citizen. It is a BEHAVIOR.....like voting, joining an army, etc.
Since we ARE responsible for our actions, it is the BEHAVIOR OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DUBAI-Port company that we should worry about. Since terrorists can be "sleepers" for several YEARS, it IS possible for someone to pass scrutiny in 2006, and still be a threat in 2010, when they decide the time is right to strike.
If I were a politician, I would NOT allow the Dubai company to have access to our ports.
~ Imzadi ~

You all just don't get it! There is no reason to be concerned with who the "babysitter" is, . . . We need to be concerned with who the parents are of the child. (Child: America, Parent: A.G., Babysitter: Outsiders/Insiders)

The A.G. is NOT going to have ANYONE watch what they consider belongs to them, without any safeguard and supervision of their own. The American people need to question, . . . What is the REAL INTENTION of the A.G. with this abrupt maneuver?

Like it was said before, . . . We don't have to watch out for the art work, we have to watch out for the artist!

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR AMERICA

Dear Mr. President George W. Bush:

I, as a native American citizen, hereby bring to your attention, the release of this formal and legal document given to you, in witness of , my fellow American, and the world in which we are considered as One.

Mr. President, in one of your public speech’s, you proclaimed, . . . "Freedom is a powerful force."

We publicly question you on this matter of your speaking.

Is this the reason to why you are attempting to strip the citizens moral right to freedom?

Mr. President, do you attempt to, inhibit a person from meeting up with his or her individual power?

Mr. President, do you attempt to, inhibit all people to agree to disagree with a government that has stripped the white and the blue out of the American flag, leaving behind only the sight of red, which symbolizes the blood shed by the many souls you have placed into harms way, based upon your treacherous and insubordinate lies?

President Bush, ‘Patriotism’ is defined as when, an individual makes a conscience decision of choice to be patriotic toward their fellow-countrymen at all times, and patriotic onto their government, only when they deem its members being deserving. Receiving respect is not a given right, it is an acceptable privilege.

Mr. President, you publicly stated, . . . "We will not be proven wrong." Sir, in regards to the American government being proven wrong or right, is irrelevant. Relevancy exists only in the final results to the choices that were made, through the decisions of the American government. Of which in themselves, have proven the American government to be in the wrong.

Mr. President, the time has come to publicly apologize before the American public and the entire world included. The incompetency and the high level of gross negligence that has been spewed from this administration are in the purest form, of treachery.

Based upon the thoughtlessness and quick judgment of you and your administration, there now exists the creation of irreversible loss and damaged life, which will usurp man’s emotions for many years to come, for all nations concerned.

Taking on the actions your administration has chosen to, has cost this world its balance of honorable posterity. America no longer stands to be some other. America now stands to be suppressed by the known plights of ignorant men and women. There is a sizeable amount of exposed shame, through the many faces who ignored the telling of wisdom, and through the many faces who just merely ignored all together.

Mr. President, the American government will not succeed in this war, nor in the preempt of any other war. For the reason, war is an enemy against the nature of any domestic or foreign land. Therefore, within the arrogant stance of your administration, in the form of continuing with this front of aggression, warring in line with no just cause nor a lawful defense, the God of this land, the owner of his domain, will make himself known in a new form of light. One of which will be new to America’s imagination, one given with a fiery manus. So Mr. President, if we may lay an all-important question before your attention, . . . Are you willing to continue on taking on such a high risk, for such a no measure of a return?

We would like to kindly advise you Mr. President, . . . Please don’t tempt God. For God will prove you and your administration wrong, every time.

A WORD NOW GIVEN TO OUR AMERICAN COUNTRYMEN, . . .

America, it is time for the people to prove themselves to be right, and to enforce the power of law into the hands of justice and into the courts of service.

As of immediately, we present our initial to be added into this document, in allegiance to our country, alleging with substantial proof of evidence, that President Bush and all his named administrators of office, and those once removed, to be held liable for perjury, treachery, repeated crimes against the moral values of humanity, aiding and abetting terrorists, and obstruction of justice. This is not in conclusion to all findings of civil and criminal offenses against such matter of interest.

As of Thursday, February 23, of 2006, and hereafter, "We the people," in the name as One entity, declare President Bush to be immediately removed from all duties as Commander and chief and general of the United States for America.

If deemed necessary, force will be issued to arbitrate in the insurance of the removal of George Walker Bush from the seat of the White House located at:

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Mr. President, on a threefold note, we address the following:

We are truly in a state of remorse and disbelief. And in our time of sorrow, we come here to share with those, who suffer daily such excruciating pain, from an undying loss, and everlasting, longsuffering. We mourn with you. We also join, to genuinely apologize to all of the people, young and old, who have been viciously violated and victimized upon, throughout the many years given, by the work force of the American government. We stand with courage for you. In our closing testament, we are sincerely in empathy with those who are drenched with blood on their hands. We pray for you especially Mr. President. We pray that you will find the light to authentic spiritual healing and cleansing. And within the same hope, that many others will follow your lead, to the sacred place of redemption, rather than to, the position of war.

In our closing, we hope to collect one million initials in the support of the public’s demand for the removal of George Walker Bush, from the Public House of Representatives, also known as, the White House.

We hereby release this legal document into the care of the Open Court of Public Opinion for review. In final conclusion of this formal document, we enclose our initials in form of finalizing our will and testament before all the people of the world united. In step, we release all care of this written document into the charge of the Highest Lord of the land. We also release the guardianship of this document into the safekeeping of our fellow-citizens, and the powers invested in our ancestral law, which still stands in support for, the American Constitution.

Sincerely,
American citizen # one-C.B.
American citizen # two- E.B.

TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, OF THE UNITED STATES FOR AMERICA

Dear Secretary of Defense, Mr. Donald H. Rumsfeld:

You publicly announced the statement, . . . "There are people who lie and get away with it. That is a fact." Mr. Rumsfeld, this is not true. When the correct Time is given to speak, The Truth has the propensity to follow.

At first i thought this was a joke ... satire ... you know, like Stephen Colbert. Or if Jane Curtain still anchored 'Weekend Update'.

How is it even possible that someone would defend having ports of entry into the United States be controlled by a FOREIGN FREAKING GOVERNMENT????? And not just ANY ol' foreign government, no siree - one with ties to the NINE FREAKING ELEVEN TERRORISTS.

Racism???? C'mon ... even the staunchest of Bush apologists couldn't swallow that if it were liquified in a Cuisinart.

It is not the fact that it is a company based in the middle east, it's that it isn't a privately owned company, it is government owned by United Arab Emirates. It's not a race issue. We are selling a port in our country to another country. Don't you think that's wrong. It's not about security. The United Nations already own all of our national parks. Well I guess it's allright to sell out our country. Great idea!! What am I talking about. Hail Bush!!!

According to the above logic, if Libya or Syria or Iran took over our ports, objecting to it would be "racist"? No, it would be common sense.

So why should we allow UAE to take over when we know they oppose the existence of Israel? When they had ties to the Taliban? When we know it isn't about our security but about the Bush Crime Syndicate making money? Why aren't our ports under federal control, as our airports are?