"These sudden experts on port security seem to have been unaware that a lot of U.S. port operations are foreign-run. Chinese firms, for example, run two big marine terminals in New York harbor." Does "might make right"? Maybe a "manufactured" political firestorm is needed. (It's heartening to see congressional deadheads becoming agitated about something!) Why are we outsourcing management of our ports to foreign nationals?

This writer completely ignores the fact(See Capitol Hill Blue) that they didn't "go by the book) but ignored the 45 day rule and subsequent report to the President and his signing off on it. The above statement is also according to the President himself. He said publicly that nobody told him about it and he found out by reading the newspapers.

While I agree that the danger has probably been wildly overstated, I also agree with the commenters.
"Intensely vetted"? Rumsfeld claims that he never heard anything about it, even though he's part of the group that's supposed to sign off on the deal. BushCo is saying "Trust us". Nope. Uh uh. Never again.

You have missed the point. We have had 19 Arab hijackers shoved down our throats and yellow orange and red alerts put in our faces for almost five years now. Forget the details, the average American wants no part of an Arab owned company servicing our seaports. Bush's threat of a veto is equally absurd since he didn't veto many bills that his conservative base was opposed to - McCain-Feingold for example. I'm afraid the Bush's dog "don't hunt" anymore and Republicans that don't distance themselves from the POTUS will find themselves unemployed at the end of this year.

2-24-06
Flash From the Brain, Minnesota

WILL BUSH'S PORT OF PIGS BE THE WAKE UP STRAW FOR HIS CULT FOLLOWERS?
by Romero XIII

This whole thing is insane.
Bush can't even make it look like he's trying to protect America with this U.S. ports lease problem they are having.

Should we lease our ports to a business owned by a government who has helped the terra-ists when the money was right? Should we consider that they have also helped American businesses when the money was right? Should we look at everything thuroughly before rushing in?

Bush and his followers should be ridiculed and this "Port of Pigs" should be used as a catalyst for Americans to start heading back to a more realisticly based existance and away from the unreality of the Bush beliefs.

It should be seen as a huge scandel with all the cronyism, the lies and misreprsentations of the facts, the gambling of national security in exchange for the bottom line of money all comes to a head and shows that this is another one of Bush's "harriet Myers" moment. A deal that only helps the few who are rich enough to afford national ports and the government/private owners.

This port deal only helps those who are already addicted to money and are willfully blind to the obvious problems that could occure.

Isn't this the party who thinks it's ok to "temporarily" remove civil liberties and rights and spy on people because "it's better to be safe than sorry" with national security?

Now these addicts, always chasing after their next money high, are starting to have consequences for their addictions, they they are willing to ignore all facts and stop listening ot the other side jsut so they don't have to say they could ever be wrong.
They are totally willing to ignore the consequences that effect more than just the addicts themselves, consequences that will probably not effect them since they will all be out of office and enjoying their money and power if or when something horrible comes from this deal.

Probably this deal is all ok and there may never be a problem with them. And then again the odds were mighty low that a bunch of hyjacking foreignors getting cutting tools on a public plane during a summer of official "hair being on fire" and using them to fly a plane... ummm, pretty low. Almost impossible and totally improbable. That is, until it happened.

This port deal is about making money for a small group of people today... "and the future be damned. hope it all works out." Just like everything this administration and everyone they deal with do everytime. It's all "I hope it works out."
Hope in one hand and scratch your ass with the other and see which gets the job done better.

By the way, everytime Cheney is in the news for something, energy bill people and release and kill buddies who get shot in the face by the the Vice-President, no ones wants a picture taken or wants anyone to know they hang with Dick Cheney. Everyone Cheney knows hides when the cameras come out. Odd isn't it?

You can't trust anything any republcan says about why bush is right about anything, let alone with his "port of pigs" judgement.
He wants to let all the greedy pigs make money at the expense of American security or ethics or common sense. They help terrorists.
But in the Bush cultist's fantasy world it's ok to let the greddy have all the money. Someday it might trickle down to those in the middle. And after that it's up to them to let it trickle down or not. It's all ok. It will never effect the good honest hard working republicans. Well, for now lets just allow the wealthiest addicts run everything. I'm sure they can say no to money once in a while and after all... the bottom line is THE most important thing to everyone involved in this port deal and the world. On both sides of this deal. The American people have nothing to do with it.

You can't trust Republicans. You can't trust anyone who has ever supported this President. They are brain washed cultists who can't tell the difference between things that are good for them and thing sthat are bad for them. They can't tell the difference between right and wrong, and reality and fiction.

They believe George Walker Bush is a good honest, blessed by God, a man who only wants the best for America. Oh yeah, and that Bush knows everything he needs to know about (Except the insignificant things that "don't matter none". Why should bush need to know THAT stuff? Like Bin Lauden, 9-11, Iraq, Katrina, the price of medicare, etc, etc, etc). Who cares if our President didn't know Poland was pulling out of Iraq? Who cares if Bush didn't kow Italy was pulling troops and had to find out from a reporter on Air Force One. Who cares? He and his friends are makling money so America is good! Right?

How could anyone have EVER supported this man?

Bush claimed the impossible way back in Nov. and Dec. of 2001. That's when, 2 and a half months after 9-11, Bush claimed he saw the first plane hit the towers while watching television in the hall way of a grade school.

A COMPLETE fantasy. No way he could have.
No one in the world, the galaxy, the universe was able to see it on television since the television cameras didn't show up until people found out it had happened.
So George Walker Bush lied about how he found out about the first attack on mainland soil ever. Who could ever forget how they found out?
He lied, just for the sake of lying. A national tragedy and Bush is making up stories and not telling the real story along with it.

Yet people (republicans mostly) still believe that you cannot call the President a liar. And that he never lies. Unless of course they go with "all politicians lie. So What? That makes lying ok when our side lies blatantly to us."
That's just the way junior high children think.

Then, after Bush claims he saw the first plane hit the tower, and he has claimed this at least three times roughly three months after 9-11-01, does he or his people make immediate emergency plans? You know, just in case this huge unprecidented unknown "accident" isn't an accident? Or in case it causes more problems, or if it's an epidemic, or if triggers a domino effect of problems? Maybe let the shcool know that something else might take precidence?

After all they didn't know what this was, accident? Attack? A techilogical problem? Will there be more? Will there be panick? Do people need help in New York?

Nope. Not in the republican cult view of things. Bush doesn't let the school know he may have to leave quickly. Who cares if people might be dying in a huge office building that has just been hit by a big commercial plane? A plane that the President claims he saw on television (which he clearly could not have) but even in Bush's own fantasy world where he sees a commercial jet fly into one of the twin towers... seeing the smoke and the magnitude of it...
... his only reaction to it as PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA... is to go, "Now there's one terrible plot. heh heh. Oh well, hope that turns out ok. I got more important things to do."

Then he goes into a class room to tell children how great his education plan is as if they would understand or care, and then he sits down and listens to someone else read to these children about a pet goat (satan analogy??? hoho). Giving absolutely no thought to what is going on anywhere else Bush keeps going with his plans without any changes to them.

Of course he froze! When Andy Card whispered in his ear "we're under attack." There was no planning or action. Who would have guessed something else bad could have followed such a tragedy?

In actually, he was told either before they got there or when they got there. Depending on the report. No pictures, no video, just Rove or Card telling Bush that a report came in saying a plane had hit a building in new york and they didn't know if it was an aaccident or more.

Even though George Walker Bush claims he knew what had happened via the television in real time, and he claims he saw the devastation first hand through his imaginary magic television, he makes a joke to himself and went about his business.

And the people of this cult think that's all ok and proves nothing to them.

Republicans think it's ok for one man to be able to say whatever he wants about any horrific national tragedy he wants for his own political gain and personal satisfaction.

Republicans need a national intervention and a hard core deprogramming.
"Bush is not a leader, look at the facts!"
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!! Bush is a GOOD man! a GOOOOD man! Freedoms on the march!"

How far will republicans go just for their little power trip and all the money they can possibly stuff in their empty heads? How many liberal lives are they willing to sacrifice just to feel that their side is the only way?

This is not a racist thing. This is s common sense, better safe than sorry, realistically looking at the facts kind of thing. What people claim they want to teach their kids.
"Check twice - cut once.", "Don't be a greedy little pig.", and "Share with the others and stay away from the bad kids."

So how does teaching your kids basic common sense beliefs work with "lets give our port over to a foreign government with a rap sheet a mile long and is only interested in money no matter who gives it to them." ? Why can't people see the total illogical sense that makes?

Republicans love saying "we can't trust Canada's prescription drugs" and yet they easily say "we can trust a government built on ultra conservative social views and a severe addiction to money and power and have helped terra-ists." The highest bidder gets to be king for a day any day they can come up with the money.

They sound like a better trading partner to the republican cultists.

Also the overall security is by our guys but the actually cargo security is not completely american but the responsibility of the renter (the UAE in this case). Another fact that the Bush lovers refuse to admit.

And don't forget this deal would mean that the UAE governments gets the plans to our ports and security... so everyone is on the same page.
There is one major law in the UAE... "Everything is for sale." It's all about the bottom line there. The bottom line is where paradise is found.

They are the Arabian version of "free trade republicans". The UAE is the future of the USA under republican rule.

How much of America is for sale to our admisistration? How much of their safty are republicans willing to let the white house spit on?

WHAT ARE BUSH CULTISTS?

All these Bush loving supporters and all these weak minded, easily lead party pawns are nothing more than a small minority of brainwashed cultists worshipping one man - George Walker Bush.

These cultists call themselves "republicans".

"Republican" must be latin for "brainless drones of the status quo".

Republicans show classic signs of being in a cult.
Lack of ability to recognise facts, inability to listen to others apart from their group or leaders, inability to grasp inaccuracies and out right falsehoods by their leadership. They have trouble dealing with things that do not match what they have been told. Exessive agression and violence, an inability to rationally think out a situation without frustration and anger as their last resort. A pattern of blame that points to everyone else except your group or your leaders.

It's time for us so called liberals and moderates of reality to reach out to our friends and neighbors and fellow Americans and start giving love and interventions.

If you don't believe it, listen to the last exchange between Al Franken of Air America Radio and his friend and Rush Limbough follower Mark Luther ( their "resident ditto head"). Mark was willing to side with Bush through Rush and label one of his best friends since childhood and all around half jew of being a "rascist" because Al is worried over the security of a sea port. Being against a possibly horrible decision is now labeled as "rascism" by these cultists.

Bush is an inveterate liar whose only oath of office is to protect and carry out the duties of The Constitution of The United States of America, and yet all Bush has tried and is still trying to do is change the Constitution to prohibit and restrict the freedoms, liberties, and rights of a minority group of Americans simply because he believes they are NOT equal to "regular" people, and he believes they DO NOT deserve the same rights and life as everyone else. Which goes directly against the whole idea and concept of the Constituion. All men are created equal and have the god given right to life, liberty and the persute of happiness. Taking away marriage (or anything) from someone on a national federal level just because they don't fit into a certain god's view of things is anti American, anti Constituional and is a very rigid pro commu-nazi mind set. Literally.

No ability to empathise with others not in the group, the leadership, or the only belief the group has. In their mind it is better that those sub-human Iraqis die for American beliefs than good and more important American humans. See? It is better that others who are less worthy die than the wealthiest of America have to give up moeny they will never use. It's a sick psychopathic view of things to be judge, jury and law over other human lives. Haven't the Iraqi citizens suffered enough in the last few decades? Republicans feel it's ok to bring terror to a breed that they don't consider to be real humans.

It's obvious and yet people still follow Bush and the republican party after everything they've done has been proven to be wrong time after time, with their theories and ideals being more important than other people, other ideals, and America itself. Over and over and over they are wrong and over and over and over the republicans follow.

It's a cult. They are litterally brainwashed. And this could be serious as seen in New Orleans and Iraq.

Hopefully this "port of pigs" scandel will break the spell. Maybe the inept "liberal" press will stand up for America, maybe politicians will have a surge of American pride and responsibility... and maybe Bush won't always need to have a reporter tell him what's going on out there.

Or else we are going to have to work hard to help these poor weak willed republican become human again and make America a better and freer nation by working towards reality.
Maybe we can have people in charge who see things coming and prepare for them and stop them BEFORE they become a problem.

Instead of the republican Bush cultist belief of "just hope it works out, and don't do anything until it BECOMES a problem."

"Lets not look at what went wrong lets just hope we do better next time."

"Why worry or spend money on something that may or may not happen? It's a waste of time."

Well, there is always more than one way to skin a cat and there is such a thing as preventative planning instead of jsut waiting for a problem to come along and then solve it. That is the way the President runs his future plans. Always.

Mr. President, I want a problem preventor not a problem solver.

Flash From the Brain, MN
C.2006 free to distribute

You are RIGHT. I do not and never will trust the arabs. We in the United States must become independent from them and let them live their miserable lives sucking up their oil.

the concern is not because it is an arab owned company, it is that the uae has direct links to 9/11 (both financial and with 2 of the terrorists of that country), the uae leaders have gone bird with osama in afghanistan just prior to 9-11, nuclear arms transactions, and supposedly was a transit point for the van that killed the lebanon leader as it was transported through dubai ports after being stolen in japan. there are also the issues of smuggling and slave trafficking. top this off with the idea that they do not have to have a paper-trail. now tell me, is this concern really about foreigners, or more specifically, arabs running the port??? give me a break.

WELL SAID...AM I COMPLYING WITH YOUR STANDARDS?

HISTORY TEST - speaks to sell of US Port Security to the UAE & American sentiment.

Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test. The events are actual cuts from past history. They actually happened!!!

Do you remember?

0. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by
> > a. Superman
> > b. Jay Leno
> > c. Harry Potter
> > d. Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40

1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by
>> a. Olga Corbett
> > b. Sitting Bull
> > c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

2. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
> > a. Lost Norwegians
> > b. Elvis
> > c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

3 .During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
> > a. John Dillinger
> > b. The King of Sweden
> > c. The Boy Scouts
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

4. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
> > a. A pizza delivery boy
> > b. Pee Wee Herman
> > c. Geraldo Rivera
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
> > a. The Smurfs
> > b. Davy Jones
> > c. The Little Mermaid
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

6. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
> > a. Captain Kidd
> > b. Charles Lindberg
> > c. Mother Teresa
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

7. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
> > a. Scooby Doo
> > b. The Tooth Fairy
> > c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
> > a. Richard Simmons
> > b. Grandma Moses
> > c. Michael Jordan
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

9. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
> > a. Mr. Rogers
> > b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
> > c. The World Wrestling Federation
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

10. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
> > a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
> > b. The Supreme Court of Florida
> > c. Mr. Bean
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

11. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
> > a. Enron
> > b. The Lutheran Church
> > c. The NFL
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

12. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
> > a. Bonnie and Clyde
> > b. Captain Kangaroo
> > c. Billy Graham
> > d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Nope, I see no pattern here to justify distrust or profiling, do you?

So, to ensure we Americans do not offend anyone,
particularly fanatics intent on killing us,we will sell our Port Security to the UAE.

It isn't just an ARAB OWNED company. It is owned by the government of UAE. The very same government that the AQ has said it infiltrated in 2002(?).
Having said that, it's not the port deal that scares me. It's the trade deficit we are experiencing that is resulting in the selling off of American corporations and property.
We are on the precipice of bankruptcy my friends. What then will happen to America? I would imagine this situation can't be good for Nat'l security.