Schumer Introduces Bipartisan Alternative To Sham Dubai Compromise
Schumer Introduces Bipartisan Alternative To Sham Dubai Compromise
The administration is desperate to “avert an impending political showdown” with Congress about the UAE port deal. Over the weekend, the White House worked out an arrangement with Dubai Ports World whereby the company would “voluntarily” submit the sale of port operations to an additional 45-day review.
The showdown has not been averted. The review, under current law, would be meaningless. The report would be secret. Only President Bush and the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) would get to review it. Both Bush and CFIUS have already decided the deal does not present any national security concerns.
Today, a bipartisan group of 10 members of Congress will introduce legislation that will give the review some teeth. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) talked about the legislation this morning on Good Morning America:
SCHUMER: Well, I’m not sure we have a truce. Our legislation, which is bipartisan, five Democrats, five Republicans — we’ll introduce it today on the floor of the Senate — says do the 45-day review that’s necessary, but it also says give Congress, not just the president, the findings and let Congress have an opportunity — 30 days — to disapprove the deal. That’s what’s needed, because the president has already decided. He said he’s for it. So he has the verdict already, and now he’s having the trial.
Any member of Congress who supports a meaningful review of the transaction should support this legislation.
UPDATE: More details on the bill from Sen. Robert Menedez (D-NJ).
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Details, please?
February 27th, 2006 at 11:13 amThat’s all I know right now. I’ll update the post with details as I learn them.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:15 amWhat we have here is a one party system that is engulfed in secrecy.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:21 amIs there a compromise for the sham outrage liberal Democrats are displaying? God knows they are not serious about fighting terror.
Look – someone agrees with you guys on nukes. He will be the hero of the left come fall 2006: Link
February 27th, 2006 at 11:25 am#4 – I think you’re listening to Faux news too much. Pres. Bush doesn’t seem to care that American Ports will be under the control of the UAE (United Arab Emirates). This is the country that met with Osama bin Laden.
While Security is still (supposedly) in the hands of America, since we only inspect 5% of cargoes that enter the US, what makes you think that the UAE will go out of their way to stop terrorists from entering our country?
It’s too bad that the elected neo-cons hate America so much that they don’t care who controls our ports.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060223-123441-8908r.htm
February 27th, 2006 at 11:33 amDoes anyone know who the other nine congresspeople are?
“God knows [the democrats] are not serious about fighting terror.”
John Conyers and Jim McDermott could carry Bin Laden’s head down Pennsylvania Avenue, impaled on a pike, and people like this would say that liberals are soft on terror and “appeasing the terrorists” by making him a martyr.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:34 amOh c’mon, the Bush crime family has ties that go way back with the Saudi royals. I mean, Bushie hisself has been known to hold hands with the crown prince in the Rose Garden.
Nothing to see here folks; move along.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:35 amThis issue is the Democrat’s Waterloo; there’s a chance to frame the debate of US security in a way that will prove to voters that the GOP isn’t remotely interested in national security.
Let’s hope Schumer, Clinton, et al, don’t back down and deliver what they promised last week and that’s legislation to stop the port handover to the UAE.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:36 am#4,
Gee, funny how you whine about the Left being “soft on terror” when your own party lies to you about what they’re doing to protect our ports. In case you didn’t know it, there are 21 ports being handed over to Dubai Ports World, not just 6. Considering UAE has strong ties to terrorism and more than likely helps those terrorists traffic their arms, I’m more than worried about the security of our national ports.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:37 amSchumer and the Democrats are trying to stop Bush’s right to approve these types of deals.
They’re going to have to force it into the public and keep it there. If the Democrats can’t capitolize on this they might as well hang it up.
This is a “Slam Dunk”. Americans don’t want these ports and jobs and national security in the hands of countries with ties to 911 terrorists. Period.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:38 amI don’t get it–doesn’t the Admin look at the 17% approval for this and realize what they’re doing? Why do they think this’ll die down in 45 days?
February 27th, 2006 at 11:38 am“Any member of Congress who supports a meaningful review of the transaction should support this legislation.”
Nonsense. What sort of meaningful review can be made of and idiotic idea? Dismiss DPW, over ride Bush’s veto, let the bastards sue, get someone else in there to run the ports (21 at last count)and send a message to the “moderate” Islamists that we are not going to bare our throats just so we seem tolerant and multicultural.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:39 amI’m for the ports being run by 911 terrorist countries!
February 27th, 2006 at 11:40 am#6 – Agree.
It’s like Pres. Bush saying “Hey, UAE! I don’t care that you supported the Taliban, or met with Osama bin Laden when he was in Afghanistan! Come on over here, and take charge of our international ports!” It doesn’t matter how much Pres. Bush screws our countries ability to “fight terrorism”, he’ll be referred to as “harsh on terror”.
Pres. Bush could host Osama bin Laden to a night in the Lincoln bedroom, and he’d still not be called to account for his actions.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:40 amSounds like Schummr needs to get with the program.
Doesn’t he know America is a Monarchy now?
February 27th, 2006 at 11:41 amLook – someone agrees with you guys on nukes. He will be the hero of the left come fall 2006: Link
Comment by person of interest
That insane ass is already the hero of the Filthy Left.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:41 am#6 – that would never happen. McDermott was too busy wiretapping Gingrich for political gain in the 1990’s when Bin Laden was planning an attack on America to care. Then, he felt it necessary to betray his country and get buddy buddy with Sadam right before the war.
As for Conyers, he’s too busy breaking up bar room brawls his wife starts to understand fighting terror. Of course, the hateful race baiting he incites reflexively is time consuming too.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:42 amI support Americans selling port control to countries with 911 terrorist ties, too!
February 27th, 2006 at 11:42 amNonsense. What sort of meaningful review can be made of and idiotic idea? Dismiss DPW, over ride Bush’s veto, let the bastards sue, get someone else in there to run the ports (21 at last count)and send a message to the “moderate†Islamists that we are not going to bare our throats just so we seem tolerant and multicultural.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 11:39 am
My God.
Has hell frozen over? Are monkeys flying out of peoples butts? Because I actually agree with I-RIGHT-T on something.
OMG :o
Its bizzaro world.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:43 amThere will be no REAL investigation. When will we learn the repigs are only interested in keeping their Political Power safe above and beyond our Country’s safety. We should let them outsource our Ports then beat them over and over with it from now though 06 until 08.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:43 amFor once, I agree with I-Right-I
February 27th, 2006 at 11:44 amMahmoud Ahmadinejad
is crazy. Everyone agrees with that. You Bush folks keep questioning our patriotism and I’m here to tell you, you will regret it!
February 27th, 2006 at 11:45 am#11 – Bush’s position on the UAE deal is ‘business as usual’. Bush is paying off something here…that’s what should be asked.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:46 amYou’re finally right I-MFINALLYRIGHT-I.
I could not agree with you more on this one.
Its a LAMEBRAIN idea not worth considering.
Questions we know the answers to we don’t need to ask, right? Screw the review, toss the deal in the trash.
In fact, I’d take it a step further. I’d federalize the ports. Then we don’t have to worry about this deal coming up again in a year or two.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:47 am#22 – no, we won’t. When you stop comparing Bush to Nazis and terrorists, we will stop questioning your patriotism.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:47 amBruce Gorton,
IRI just called you a supporter of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a nutjob holocaust denier.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:47 am#11–why should they care how this polls? As usual, they’ll do whatever they damned will please. After all, no one’s going to hold them accountable.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:49 amBush is more like Stalin than Hitler. Hell, he’s more like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:49 am#19 – so, is it that the US should not sell its ports off to Arabs/Muslims or Arabs/Muslims who are known enemies of the US? Should all ’strategic’ and ‘defense of the homeland’ industries be in the hands of US companies? Where do you draw the line? Where is the consistency?
February 27th, 2006 at 11:49 amTerrytheturtle,
February 27th, 2006 at 11:54 amShowing up for another Arab/Muslim related thread? You’re as predictable as my morning SH*T.
Bush is war profiteering. Americans are tired of Bush family friends who ignore terror. That’s all that needs to be said about this. So leave it alone.
Are you kidding Person of Interest?
Bush is ruling the US like Hitler ruled Germany. He is an emporer, not a President.
But as for questioning my patriotism, you go right ahead. Cause if patriotism involves sticking your nose up the ass of the horse in front of you and following it off the cliff, if patriotisim means allowing a President to rule like a king, then you can question mine all you want.
Doesn’t bother me a bit. Cause I know a traitor to the US when I smell one, and Bush, and every one who follows him is a traitor to all that is, and ever was good in this country.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:54 amThis is about more than just our ports ,more than National Security .Its about a loose cannons in the W.H. Scaming and Scheming the take over the break down of America and the Oil Rich Countries.
There are 21 ports in this country that the U.A.E. has purchased under the P&O big tent.
bush & co is scheming something as deadly as what happened on 9-11 .
This nutpresident has an insecure ego and manical thrist for power he is a danger to this Country.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:55 amHere’s my solution!
I say we let Iran take over our ports. That way, they can blow us up with CONVENTIONAL weapons, and wont need nukes!! Think of all the lives we’ll “save” in the long run!!
Plus, with all their best mathematicians spent counting shipping containers at 21 ports, they’ll lack the brainpower necessary to crunch those damn quantum mechanical equations…Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and Shcrodinger’s equations…at best they’ll manage cold fusion and perhaps illict the secret of Altoid’s minty-fresh strength, but nukes? No way.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:55 am#19 – so, is it that the US should not sell its ports off to Arabs/Muslims or Arabs/Muslims who are known enemies of the US? Should all ’strategic’ and ‘defense of the homeland’ industries be in the hands of US companies? Where do you draw the line? Where is the consistency?
Comment by Terrytheturtle — February 27, 2006 @ 11:49 am
Hey Terry. How they hangin?
Yes, yes and yes.
All industries that have anything to do with homeland defense, or access into our country, should be under the complete control and ownership of US firms.
And not just US firms, but well vetted US firms.
Its a no brainer for Worfeus.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:58 amThe enemy still lurks sez Bush…
February 27th, 2006 at 11:59 amSo screw your National Guard!
I didn’t know shipping containers could type.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:59 am#24, oh no no no, we can’t federalize! That would be the first step on a slippery slope that would lead to nationalizing health care, oil and electricity and god forbid, a living wage!
February 27th, 2006 at 12:00 pmBut it is the best solution… too bad big business won’t let us.
I live in Oakland, and the port here pays no taxes to the city. We sure could use the revenue from the 4th largest port in the country, for our schools for instance, but there isn’t a hope in hell.
And yes, pretty weird for us to agree with I-R-I about anything – I always gt a kick out of his rabid meanderings, but for once the monkey at the typewriter came up with a coherent sentence!
I repeat, as long as Democrats and their vicious allies compare Bush to Hitler and this fool in Iran, we will blundgeon you as unpatriotic. AND you will lose.
If you spent half the time attacking America’s enemies as you spent attacking Bush, we would have won this war already. Democrats are living in the hell they created for themselves. You’ve gone too far and your punishment is a GOP controlled govt that will not change as long as you slander your opponents.
Let the punishment fit the crime. America is making a hard right turn and their is not a goddamn thing you can do about it!
February 27th, 2006 at 12:00 pm“Bruce Gorton,
IRI just called you a supporter of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a nutjob holocaust denier.
Comment by Low Wage Container Carrier in Dubai — February 27, 2006 @ 11:47 am ”
Umm where exactly?
“Nonsense. What sort of meaningful review can be made of and idiotic idea? Dismiss DPW, over ride Bush’s veto, let the bastards sue, get someone else in there to run the ports (21 at last count)and send a message to the “moderate†Islamists that we are not going to bare our throats just so we seem tolerant and multicultural.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 11:39 am”
Well put I-RIGHT-I. Seriously the more I see that statement the more I think “Damn straight.”
February 27th, 2006 at 12:04 pmIf you spent half the time attacking America’s enemies as you spent attacking Bush, we would have won this war already.
Comment by person of interest — February 27, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
I knew it was only a matter of time till these little goosesteppers started blaming their failures on us.
Let me explain NIMROD. The Iraqi insurgents are not reading our blog and saying, “hey, maybe we should plant some more IED’s”. Chances are they thought of that all on their own.
It was your NIMROD administration, the IDIOTS you little SHEEP elected into office, that has threatened this country.
But don’t worry, its only the leaders that we will try as traitors at Nuremburg 2.
Guys like you we’ll just beat your ass, shave your head and send you down the road naked with the word traitor painted across your backs.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:07 pmIllegal spying is the only thing Bush ever did to secure America. Everything else has turned to SH*T. This is pretty much common knowledge, now.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:08 pmSo you’re right. Comparing Bush to Stalin or Hitler is an insult to Stalin and Hiltler.
America is making a hard right turn and their is not a goddamn thing you can do about it!
Comment by person of interest — February 27, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
Wrong again slappy.
America made a hard right turn about 6 years ago.
Unfortunately you took the turn too fast, and spun out of control.
We’re just now taking the wheel before you wreck.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:09 pmRight. They blame Democrats and insurgents now.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:11 pmSoon it will be Shiites and fornicators…
I further assume that person of interest has already served honorably in the armed forces, or at the very least, will be signing up at the recruiting office as soon as he gets done posting his thoughts here.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:12 pmIt is only buying time. The time will be put to good use by the administration using contributions and a baseball bat. All they are looking for is for enough “no votes” on either DP World legislation or a veto override.
The long term GOP strategy is campaign contributions from corporations favoring a Middle East Free Trade Agreement (MEFTA). They are betting that an influx of cash will give just enough to hold on to one or both houses come November. Watch for “Security through trade†coming to your TV soon.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:15 pmGOD what a MESS the Republicans have made for us to clean up.
What a BLOODY AWFUL MESS.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:16 pmDoes anyone know when todays contributions need to be disclosed to the FEC? I will be willing to bet there is a large influx going to the GOP as we speak.
When is the filing date?
February 27th, 2006 at 12:21 pmHere, I took a crap on a Bun here, but now I say its meatloaf.
I poured some ketchup on, some mustard, a little relish, mmmm. Everyone take a bite.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:21 pm#46 – NO – the mess was made leading up to 9/11 by the Clintonites. They used Monica to avoid real policy debate and get Hillary elected. The GOP came roaring to power and will stay in power for the near future. The left does not have the resolve against America’s enemies to lead. Bush and Cheney are not the enemy.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:22 pm#38 – “America is making a hard right turn and their is not a goddamn thing you can do about it! ”
So much for correct grammar by Americans in this country!
#25 – “When you stop comparing Bush to Nazis and terrorists, we will stop questioning your patriotism.”
It was the Republicans that began with the “Democrats support terrorists!” when they didn’t rubber stamp every bit of legislation Pres. Bush put forward. It’s the Republicans that began with the “Democrats are Nazis!” propaganda.
When the Republicans begin losing elections this November, maybe they’ll start to realize that Pres. Bush is NOT the second coming of Christ, and start to vote their original values.
Since the neo-cons have perverted the Republican agenda, they have become the party of borrow and spend, BIG government, anti-civil-rights, pro-business over American citizen rights.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:23 pm# 49.
Are you a fool, or crook?
February 27th, 2006 at 12:24 pm“NO – the mess was made leading up to 9/11 by the Clintonites.”
Squat lower eununch, when reading kult scripture.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:24 pmHey Democrat Soldier. Don’t feel bad if he can’t launch much of a response.
All we are seeing now is the VolkSturm.
Its all they have left. Berlin is falling, and Hitlers in his bunker looking for an easy way out.
Person of Interest is just VOLKSTURM, nothing more.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:26 pmBush and Cheney are not the enemy.
Comment by person of interest #49
piss ant of little consquence,
…you’re right…
Bushiva and L’il Dick ALONE aren’t the enemy…
…include dog excrement like yourself and your inbred Bushite worshipping co-TRAITORS…
February 27th, 2006 at 12:26 pm#49 – “Bush and Cheney are not the enemy.”
No, Pres. Bush and VPres. Cheney support Big Business over average American citizen rights. They obviously hate the Constitution!
Pres. Bush and VPres. Cheney support cutting the Veterans budget over tax cuts for the top 1% of the top 1%.
Pres. Bush and VPres. Cheney support continued war without taking responsibility for not sending in enough troops to secure Iraq and only sending in enough troops to secure the oil production facilities.
Pres. Bush and VPres. Cheney support countries that support terrorism over American security of our ports.
Why don’t you hold Pres. Bush accountable for his mistakes?
February 27th, 2006 at 12:28 pmI sure wish Chuck and the gang had done this from day one…
…maybe a lot of screw ups would’ve been prevented…
…finally, Congress wants to do its job!
February 27th, 2006 at 12:28 pmIt is funny listening to them though.
For the last 6 months we have had nothing but failure, corruption, incompetence, scandals and lies on a monumental level.
We have never seen such a all out barrage, a blitzkrieg if you will, of corruption, bumbling incompetence and downright criminal actions by an administration, and the VOLKSTURM still want to cry about Bill Clinton.
Clinton handed Bush a 1.7 TRILLION dollar surplus, which Bush sqaundered in less than a year. (Like he has always done with money he was handed).
IDIOTS, FOOLS, BUMBLING INCOMPETENT RELIGIOUS NUTS.
Thats the legacy of the right.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:31 pmPRESERVE THE PATRIOT ACT:
…let’s use it to go after the treasonous inbred Bushites (like “piss ant of little consequence” et al) and their gods
Bushiva and L’il Dick…
…America’s traitors must be dealt with, if we are to survive…
February 27th, 2006 at 12:32 pmOh and the reason they haven’t answered yet?
They’re too busy looking up VOLKSTURM.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:33 pm#56 – I recall watching a Republican talk about how California was in a “bad way’ when the Governorship, House, and Senate were under Democrat leadership saying: “It’s bad when only one party controls all three seats.”
When he was asked if it also applied to the White House, House, and Senate, he had the decency to look embarrassed by his first claim: “I guess you’ve got me there!”
I cannot remember who it was they interviewed, but that was one Republican I felt had not turned his back completely on his parties original values. Now that the neo-cons have hijacked the Republican party, it’ll be time for them to start answering to their constituents and go back to the minority party until they straighten up their act.
I can’t wait until this November, and history proves that “no single party holds majority status forever!†The New Republicans need to get a can of whoop-a$$ opened up on them so they turn away from big-government solutions and return the budget back to surplus spending that Pres. Clinton brought back in the 90’s!!!
February 27th, 2006 at 12:35 pm#30, hmm, so you seem to be on to the real story behind this, but for some reason, you don’t wish to explore around the edges of this. This incident shows that Bush is willing to sell out for his cronies rather than be the president who protected Amurka. Its also clear that the defense of this by his immediate supporters is based on painting the opposition as racist. My point is that if that is the case, then if this is NOT a protest based on race, then Americans might also be concerned NPR reported that many of the same port facilities in New Jersey were managed by the Chinese, so are most of the ships. Venezuela runs a bunch of refineries and what about all those illegal Latin Americans making hamburgers in abbatoirs all across the West? (sorry being flippant, but Low Wage you could take that morning crap of yours and spread it in the hamburger meat and cause havoc in a dozen states the next day with the amount of checking the meat industry does).
February 27th, 2006 at 12:39 pmI hate to keep saying this, but do you remember the name of that Presidential Daily Briefing that Bush got on his fake ranch on August 6, 2001? It was called, “bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US”
And just what did YOUR illustrious pinhead of a president do with that? No one knows.
Too bad John O’Neill (the FBI agent who was told by the adminstration to back off his investigation of the Taliban and bin Laden during the summer of 2001) isn’t still around to tell us what really happened in those days leading up to 9/11.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:40 pm#61, sorry forgot my other point – Schumer should be hammering on the Bush cronyism, but he’s getting a great ride from what I think are an inconsistent security approach at best or borderline racism at worst.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:41 pmThere is nothing racist about denying a country who financed 911, provided 2 of the 911 hijackers, supported the Taliban and is a den of theives and corruption, denying them the job of managing our SeaPorts.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:46 pmAmerica is making a hard right turn and their is not a goddamn thing you can do about it!
Comment by person of interest — February 27, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
All 43% of it?
February 27th, 2006 at 12:46 pm” borderline racism at worst.”
F*CK you Terry. Americans don’t know anything about UAE.
They don’t know where it is on a map.
They don’t know what language they speak.
They don’t know how they dress.
All we know is 2 of the 911 Terrorists came from there.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:48 pmI used to respect your thoughts, Terry. But you’re out of line. You don’t live here. You have no right to describe Americans sentiment. And your guesswork is irresponsible.
But tell ya what.
When the UAE can go for a decade or two without any of their citizens flying Jet Liners into our buildings, then maybe I’ll lighten up.
But even then I wouldn’t let the run the shipping ports.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:48 pm#49 Bush and Cheney are very busy creating enemies across the globe.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:49 pmChainy is very much the enemy of Free Speech and Civil Liberties. He has spent his working career empowering corporations to exploit the resources of people all across the world thru economic terrorism. His Fear based Initiatives have been the direct and indirect cause of death and suffering for many thousands.
Bush isn’t so much an enemy as he is simply a malleable pawn: packaged, promoted and controlled to act as the front man. The scary part after a term and a half is that he may believe that he is capable of making sound decisions on his own.
How did America allow itself to believe it is acceptable to elect a person of questionable balance and intellect to be our primary representative?
My definition of an elected leader is someone who listens to his or her constituents, finds the common ground within those voices, and promotes that position.
My definition of a dictator is a person who thinks he or she knows better than the consensus, and promotes that idea.
Branding Americans as “Racist” is a Republican strategy.
Straight out of Rove’s mouth.
Keep it up.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:51 pm#66 – So, I guess you’re an expert at the UAE, right?
What language(s) do they speak?
What type of government do they have?
How much is their annual GDP?
Before you start throwing around accusations, you’d better make sure you’re ducks are in a row!
UAE:
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Population: 17 December 1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002.
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu.
Government type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates.
GDP: $74.51 billion (2005 est.)
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ae.html
February 27th, 2006 at 12:54 pmThe real racists, Terry, are the blue collar Bush supporters who elected him to Smash Muslim Skulls in the mideast.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:56 pmAnd now they see this port bullsh*t. And they feel betrayed. This is not my or the Dem/Prog sentiment.
Bush hid this for a reason. He hid it from his supporters.
The UAE is in the Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia.
It is 82,880 sq kilometers in land mass, or just slightly smaller than Maine.
It has a desert climate although it is cooler in the mountain regions.
The current estimated population of the UAE is 2,563,212, although a whopping 1. 6 MILLION of those are Non-Nationals, making security a nightmare. In fact less than 20 percent of the population are UAE citizens.
The bulk of the population are Arab and Iranian and south Asian.
The interesting thing is that while the majority of the population is not UAE citizens, more than 90 percent of the population is Muslim. In fact, Muslims make up a whopping 96 Percent of the overall populace.
The official language of the region is Arabic, however they also speak Persian, English, Hindi and Urdu.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:57 pm#64, I agree with you Worfeus, the UAE has not demonstrated that they would or even secure the ports: check this out
#66 – hmm, is that it? “You’re either with us or agin us?” I’m trying to find out if the issue is one of ‘all Muslims are terrorists’ or ‘terrorism based on Islamic extremism’ is the issue – you’re foaming diatribe against me seems to indicate to me which statement you agree with more. Richard Reid – shoe bomber, British citizen. Time to ban the Brits from running the ports? How about building engines for US aircraft? Tell me what I am guessing about – you are making Bush’s supporters’ job easier by falling into their trap.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:57 pm#71 – that’s exactly it – Bush tapped into the underlying sentiment about muslims (and sorry it is racism) without actually saying it exactly. But now his true ‘corporate cronyism’ colors are flying from his masthead with this port deal. We should be finding out why he is defending this to the death – what did he promise the UAE? I think there is something uglier under there than run-of-mill blue collar racism (no disrespect to you IRI, you’re quite a case in your own right).
February 27th, 2006 at 1:05 pmJesus, everyone is arguing sematics here.
IT IS THE MIDDLE EAST FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, NOT RACE, NOT THE UAE, NOT TERRORISM, BUT CRONY ECONOMICS!
February 27th, 2006 at 1:05 pmHey Terry.I know you’re just trying to clarify peoples positions. I do it all the time. Sometimes people think you are advocating a postion when in reality you are merely trying to get them to define their position.
My position is simple. Any country that had ANY supporting role in 911, (except us of course), should be as a rule prohibited from any roles where strategic or national security interests are involved.
For me its a no brainer.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:06 pmPerhaps Chainy is just trying to create more work in the future for Halliburton. Re-building ports is EXPENSIVE!
February 27th, 2006 at 1:06 pmHis little hidey Hole (pun intended) in Wyoming is a long way from any coast, he won’t need to worry about toxic dust or bad water while the work is being done.
Interesting to me that there has been no comment about what and when he knew about the port deal……
remember, he is The Mechanic, he understands the nuts and bolts of how to put these corporate structures together…… somehow he got the idea that party boy George could pull off being the Designated Driver….
so, is it that the US should not sell its ports off to Arabs/Muslims or Arabs/Muslims who are known enemies of the US? Should all ’strategic’ and ‘defense of the homeland’ industries be in the hands of US companies? Where do you draw the line? Where is the consistency?
Comment by Terrytheturtle #29
Terrythetroubledmaker,
DPW is a privately owned subsidiary of the GOVERNMENT of the UAE…
…which is a non-democratic monarchichal oligarchy…
…who sent members of its “royal” (ruling) family to…
…Afghanistan, to hold talks with bin Laden…
…a country that launders money for terrorists, and from which two of the 9/11 hijackers hailed…
…not NO but HELL NO!
…plus! al Cracker Bushite sombiches want to play the “FEAR GAME” one minute…
…then when they see there’s a freakin’ buck in it for them “both” ways…
…they want to spin this sh*t to their (gods Bushiva and L’il Dick/Carlyle group’s) advantage…
…eat-a-L’il Dick treasonous al cracker swine…
…Bushites are all TRAITORS!…
I almost forgot…
…last I checked neither China nor Venezuela had citizens that attacked us on U.S. soil (a’la 9/11)…
EVER!
February 27th, 2006 at 1:08 pmTerrytheturtle – You keep trying to play this as a RACIST arguement. What part of “they are associated with terrorists” do you not understand?
OK, so China runs some of our ports. When was the last time that a chinese member to a radical chinese group tried to kill us? When was the last time that a radical group from Britan tried to kill us? (Note: one person acting on his own out of sympathy for the muslim cause does not count).
The problem, which has been told to you over and over again, is that they have been partners with people/groups who where known terrorists. They still today, smuggle illegal items from the ports. They smuggle women and children through their ports.
Until they can clean up their acts, they should not be allowed to manage our ports PERIOD
February 27th, 2006 at 1:09 pmIn fact, on a pure principle we should not be insulting the people of New York, where the towers fell, by inviting the country that provided 2 of the terrorists, and LAUNDERED the money for the attacks, right into the harbor to manage operations.
Its a insulting, disgusting slap in the face to every New Yorker who died that day, or who watched the towers fall.
Its an insult to ALL AMERICANS, EVERYWHERE.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:09 pmI am a New Yorker, and the very notion of it disgusts me, and makes my blood boil.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:11 pmBesides, Bush wants it.
It simply goes without saying it must therefore be bad for America.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:11 pmHas hell frozen over? Are monkeys flying out of peoples butts? Because I actually agree with I-RIGHT-T on something.
Comment by worfeus — February 27, 2006 @ 11:43 am
And you thought I’d lost my mind last week… :)
It’s the thing we have to remember that it’s “WE The People”. And we have to act like it. Especially when we disagree.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:16 pmLOL, ok UNB, ok, just remember I never said anything about liking him.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:19 pmGeorge da Turd likes the royal family idea (where did he get such notions?) United Oil Emulates could be the name for his dienasty
February 27th, 2006 at 1:21 pmI repeat, as long as Democrats and their vicious allies compare Bush to Hitler and this fool in Iran, we will blundgeon you as unpatriotic. AND you will lose.
Comment by person of interest — February 27, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
You’re really not that interesting, actually. In fact, more like bitter and vile.
Looks like you’re the one losing. But, I suppose you don’t get real news broadcast inside that hole where you’ve buried your head. Stay there, we’ll let youknow when it’s safe to come out…. maybe.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:22 pm#83 – I didn’t think you had lost your mind, I just thought that you were being a bit too civil, considering the tone that some of the non-Think Progress persons use when they post against topics on this site.
Yes, it is “We the people”.
NOT “We the Republican people”.
NOT “We the Democrat people”.
NOT “We the straight people”.
It’s “WE the people”.
“We” includes the Republicans who think Pres. Bush has turned his back on the true values on which the Republican party was founded.
“We” includes the Democrats who want to hold Pres. bush as accountable for his actions as Pres. Clinton was held to his actions.
“We” includes the progressive/consesrvative people who post to this page.
“We” includes the religious and non-religious citizens of this country. I wich more people would remember this before they boradly paint the opposition based on the perceptions (or misperceptions) of the minority.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:23 pmBranding Americans as “Racist†is a Republican strategy.
Straight out of Rove’s mouth.
Comment by You’re Safe. We know. We’re Spying On You. — February 27, 2006 @ 12:51 pm
Yep. It’s simply a modern reinactment of the Southern Plantation Owners pitting the Irish Immigrants against the Black Slaves to distract from the fact that the Plantation Owners were behaving unethically. And we’re still foolish enough to fall for it again and again and again.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:25 pmCool, I have become my own troll.
#75 – yes hallelujah
#79 – no I’m not – I’m just trying to find out who is playing the race card and why. I think Schumer is demogoguing this for politics and since it is working, then go for it. And in the Richard Reid case, he didn’t do that on his own – he had support and finances and you could argue that the Brits had been very lax in their ‘Londonistan’ policy that nurtured both Reid and Moussouai. Whereas you won’t find a photograph of Tony Blair with Bin laden (yet)…
I’m not going off on the China/Venezuela thing I apologise for the ’strawman’, but much of the US establishment views China as a future enemy and the Chinese have, like Israel, spied extensively on the US. My point is that there is no consistency of policy on national security betrayed by this port issue, its just populist demogoguery whipping it up whenever an opportunity comes by and I don’t trust it – bad things happen when demogogues get an audience.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:27 pmLOL, ok UNB, ok, just remember I never said anything about liking him.
Comment by worfeus — February 27, 2006 @ 1:19 pm
Not yet… :)
February 27th, 2006 at 1:27 pmThe Racist brand is not going to fly.
Republicans have been cowering under that brand for decades and I should not have to even explain that. Everyone KNOWS this.
The Dubai deal has nothing to do with the color of anyones skin.
Anyone who says otherwise, including George Stephanopolis and George Will, is either a liar or a fool.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:30 pmNot ever UnB.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:33 pm#89 – “but much of the US establishment views China as a future enemy and the Chinese have, like Israel, spied extensively on the US”
Spying is a moot point. Everyone spies on everyone. We spy on them and they spy on us.
“My point is that there is no consistency of policy on national security betrayed by this port issue”
What consistancy are you talking about? The fact that a company has known ties to a terrorist and or groups? Why is this a different stance over the British, who are KNOWN not to support terrorists. How many UAE troops are there in Iraq? How many British troops are in Iraq? See the difference?
February 27th, 2006 at 1:34 pmI agree with 75, it goes deeper. I also agree with Terry Turtle that we need to concern ourselves with China as well.
China has always been the real threat, and I have posted volumes on the the new China-Russo alliance in earlier posts.
This thread however is about the UAE deal, so I am focusing on the UAE deal.
And I wouldn’t give the UAE a janitorial contract at our nations seaports.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:38 pm#94, OK then, should the Saudis own part of CNN? Or is it ABC? I forget. After all the pen is mightier than the sword. I’m in agreement with you on the UAE issue, the more I read about the issue. Where I am going is about general foreign ownership of ‘key’ US businesses. Which are ‘key’? Why? Who is a strategic opponent and why? Terrorism and spying are just two ways of being an opponent – why does this issue over everything else, protection for nuke plants, safeguarding food and water supplies, energy grids, get the airplay? I agree that it should, I just want to understand why and what is fueling it.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:43 pmPeople are actually worried about whether or not we will offend the Arab nations!!!
WHO CARES???
I can assure you this offense is no where near the offense they are taking at our invading their lands and killing their people.
I think if they had to choose between carpet bombing, and loosing one contract, one could assume they will choose the latter.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:44 pmRemoveBush
For the sake of an intellectual argument, take terrorism, race, and foreign owned state company off the table.
What are you left with? Why is the administration going towards a seemingly self destructive deal? Why push a “security” issue that is at odds with four years of careful construction?
You are only left with an economic decision. Crony economics is one of two constants (other is politicizing everything) within the administration. So putting aside everything else, all that is left is behind the scene economics at play. We all have our reasons for not wanting the DP World deal for going through, but what is the Whitehouse’s reasoning?
February 27th, 2006 at 1:45 pm#96, in other words, is Schumer cleverer than me? Don’t answer that.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:45 pmWell Terry, come out of your shell a little further so you can put your thinking cap on.
See, the seaports?
Thats where people and STUFF, come into the country. :|
Boats float on water. The water comes right into the center of our largest cities.
Boats can carry things.
Some of those things are nice things, like toothbrushes and Cream of Wheat.
Some of those things may be not so nice things, like Biological agents, and explosives.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:49 pm#98 – Citizen, care to speculate on what Bush got in return as a quid pro quo? Is this payback for Harken Energy? Or Neil Bush? Or a bookshelf or two at Bush’s library? Or something else that has not yet surfaced?
February 27th, 2006 at 1:51 pmNow I’m just funnin ya a little, so don’t take it personal, its just the ports to me are a NO BRAINER, and I am having trouble understanding why anyone can’t see this.
Bob Baer, a former CIA operative and Anti Terrorism expert said the Seaports are perhaps the most attractive target Al Qauida has.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:52 pmA clear majority of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, are against selling our East Coast port operations to a Middle East government owned corporation, with known ties to Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban too!
The Congress can have a 45 day review of the deal, but if they approve it {thinking we the people are stupid}, then every Senator and Representive who says yes better look for new employment come November, because enraged voters would seek revenge on them! Kill the dirty deal and impeach Bush!
February 27th, 2006 at 1:54 pm98 – Citizen, care to speculate on what Bush got in return as a quid pro quo?
Comment by Terrytheturtle — February 27, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Well, we know that the UAE just funneled 8 BILLION (with a B) into Bush’s daddy’s company, Carlyle.
8 BILLION!
That’ll by a lot of burkas.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:54 pmRelax folks, this is just George HW Bush’s vision of a New World Order being manifested. Hell, if Bush can hold hands with the Royalty of the country who sent us 15 hi-jackers, the least he could do is hand over the keys to 21 of our ports to a country that only sent 3. I assume Pakistan gets 1st dibs on Logan, Newark, JFK, and Ron Reagan Airports.
Reading IRI’s post, I think we’ve had the “100 monkeys typing a Shakespeare sonnett” moment. Not to fear, though, Person-of-Interest is able to take over the Uber-Monkey role. Here’s your virtual banana P of I —-> (
February 27th, 2006 at 1:58 pmI-RIGHT-I did a 180o turn?…is it the same person? Did someone take over his name?..hmmmmmm….
February 27th, 2006 at 1:59 pmTerry
There is no quid pro quo per say. It is a long term project of campaign finance and sitting on the various corporate boards later.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:00 pm#100, so Worfeus, seaports are on my list of places to look for nasty stuff, very high in fact. But is this just issue de jour? Major parts of the US energy grid can probably be shutdown in minutes according to this Canadian. I just don’t see a coordinated, well-thought out plan to deal with the real threat. And what’s up with this?
OK, so this is the port thread I should stick to the ports…
February 27th, 2006 at 2:00 pm“100 monkeys typing a Shakespeare sonnettâ€
Wow, when do we get to see that?
February 27th, 2006 at 2:01 pmMore about why UAE should not yet be considered a “close ally”
1) the UAE was one of three countries that recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan before U.S. led-forces overthrew the regime in 2001.
2) Republican and Democratic critics of the ports deal have claimed the UAE was used as an operational and financial base for some of the Sept. 11 hijackers.
3) Critics also contend the UAE was a transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by the Pakistani nuclear engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan, who ran a nuclear proliferation ring.
4) Last September, a government-run think tank in Dubai said the al-Qaida network was recruiting and sinking roots in the region. Some terrorism specialists have said Dubai was an ideal logistical hub for Osama bin Laden’s network because of its cosmopolitan lifestyle and freewheeling business rules.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5641254,00.html
February 27th, 2006 at 2:02 pmBut is this just issue de jour?
Comment by Terrytheturtle — February 27, 2006 @ 2:00 pm
You’re right. It is the issue of the day, but sometimes you gotta fight the fights you can fight.
A war is not one in one big battle, its won by a series of smaller fights, skirmishes and sorties.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:03 pmListen to CZ-1.
He just made it as clear as can be.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:05 pm#102 – curses, you posted that while I was thinking. OK, I read Baer. But then, if it gets attention on the corporate cronies first, victims second behavior that Citizen is on to, then let’s have it.
#104 – got that link, Worfeus?
February 27th, 2006 at 2:05 pmFor true port security to take place, full funding must take place. It has not because of the cost and oversite that the port contractors would have to implement. The funding is not there due to cutting corners in congress from massive budget deficits.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:05 pmWhat link TT? I didn’t post #104.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:09 pmHere is why Bush & Co consider UAE to be a “close ally.” Most of these are the things we were supposed to stop using as the primary criteria for someone to be an ally of the US. This is why the general public of these countries hate the US or can be incited to hatred by the clerics and terrorists. This is why Bush is merely compounding terrorism, not fighting it.
1) the country’s oil riches, strategic location and willingness to cooperate with the U.S. military have made it an invaluable ally for Washington.
2) The two countries have worked together, even though the United States has been critical of its friend’s human rights standards. In a report last year, the State Department said UAE citizens do not have a right to change their government and the country restricts freedom of speech and of the press.
3) “The UAE is a good partner in the war on terrorism,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a Middle East trip.
4) The U.S. has a “superb” military relationship with the country, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters this week. He also said U.S. forces use UAE seaports and air fields for logistics support and for training of Air Force pilots.
5) In 2004, the UAE signed a trade and investment agreement with the United States.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5641254,00.html
February 27th, 2006 at 2:12 pm1. So did Pakistan and the Saudis so why the freeride for the Saudis? And I bet the US would have too if the Unocal pipeline got Taleban permission
February 27th, 2006 at 2:13 pm2. So was London – the UAE involvement has to be deeper than just lax policing and access to an ATM
4. UAE is one of many again see 2.
3. That’s the one that gets me going…
Terry, the UAE is a hot bed of corruption and a haven for terrorist financial backing.
The UAE allowed A. Q. Kahn, a man who has been called the most EVIL man in the world, to smuggle nuclear components through its port to Libya, North Korea and Iran.
I don’t need any more reason than that.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:17 pmI know you’re afraid of being fooled.
It all seems too neat.
Suddenly. liberal siding with conservatives on an issue.
I keep wondering myself if I’m being set up, but it doesn’t matter. The fact is there is no way, no way in hell I would EVER be on board with this deal, even if they promised to deliver Bin Ladens head on a Charger, and rebuild the Trade Towers.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:19 pmMy God.
Has hell frozen over? Are monkeys flying out of peoples butts? Because I actually agree with I-RIGHT-T on something.
Comment by worfeus
…eat-a-L’il Dick treasonous al cracker swine…
…Bushites are all TRAITORS!…
I almost forgot…
…you are right iRi and just for that I’m going to make you a honorary member of the New Black Panther Party and send you one free “Huey P. Newton get outa ass-whoop’n free” card to be used at your next mugging or car-jacking when you find yourself in my part of town.
Comment by big papa
For once, I agree with I-Right-I
Comment by Bruce Gorton
I love you I-RIGHT-I, will you have my baby?
Comment by Unbelievable
I’m touched, really. Y’all remind me of a broken clock for some reason.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:25 pmeat-a-L’il Dick treasonous al cracker swine
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
Little being the defining adjective.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:31 pmSecret Service agents say Cheney was drunk when he shot lawyer
By DOUG THOMPSON
Feb 22, 2006, 07:35
Secret Service agents guarding Vice President Dick Cheney when he shot Texas lawyer Harry Whittington on a hunting outing two weeks ago say Cheney was “clearly inebriated” at the time of the shooting.
Agents observed several members of the hunting party, including the Vice President, consuming alcohol before and during the hunting expedition, the report notes, and Cheney exhibited “visible signs” of impairment, including slurred speech and erratic actions.
According to those who have talked with the agents and others present at the outing, Cheney was drunk when he gunned down his friend and the day-and-a-half delay in allowing Texas law enforcement officials on the ranch where the shooting occurred gave all members of the hunting party time to sober up.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:33 pmSorry, didn’t mean to hijack the thread.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:35 pmNow where were we?
Oh yea, we were talking about I-SMALLMEMBER-I’s tiny lil penis.
So tell me, how’s that 2 inch nobby working out for you “big guy”?
February 27th, 2006 at 2:36 pm#116
1. So did Pakistan and the Saudis so why the freeride for the Saudis? And I bet the US would have too if the Unocal pipeline got Taleban permission
2. So was London – the UAE involvement has to be deeper than just lax policing and access to an ATM
4. UAE is one of many again see 2.
3. That’s the one that gets me going…
Comment by Terrytheturtle
Agreed, Pakistan and SA should only be provisional allies, if that. SA does have a long history (since about WWII) of kissing US presidents, but in truth they are no friend of ours. We should not lower our standards for them in any way. Where they are lacking in human rights, in civil rights, in fair trade practices, in funding or coddling terrorists, they should be required to have reform plans with short timelines if they want “friend” or “ally” status.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:37 pmConsidering more than half the country support Bin Laden, I think it would be safe to assume Pakistan should not be called an ally in the war on terror.
A suspect, perhaps. A instigator, maybe. A threat, ok.
But ally?
Not on your life.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:40 pm#125, so back to my point about Saudis owning portions of US media: remember this?
So if what you see about the Saudis and things important to the Saudis is controlled by the Saudis, what will you see?
February 27th, 2006 at 2:50 pmI think its a crock.
But what does it have to do with the price of tea in Dubai?
We are talking about the UAE operating our nations ports 4 years after they helped knock down the towers and butcher 3000 Americans.
Why blur the issue?
February 27th, 2006 at 2:56 pmTerry – do you have little bite marks all over demonstrating where progs try to eat their own? REMEMBER – as a prog, you may NEVER leave the liberal plantation.
I can’t imagine DWP wanting to do anything to jeopardize their billion dollar business interests, but what do I know – I’m just a capitalist. I appreciate DWP complying with everything asked of them by the Bush administration – I just nervous with the infiltration capabilities of radical Muslims. But I guess if we send undercover agents to keep tabs on the Muslims “gone wild” in the bars and strip clubs we might have a degree of confidence.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:01 pmTerry, mighty~
I’m so glad you’re still here. These are people throwing the word “racist” around:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13945827.htm
February 27th, 2006 at 3:07 pmThis is F*CKED UP UPSIDE DOWN WORLD where torturers wrapped in Israeli flags are showing gay pornos while they call me “racist”.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:10 pm#129 – I’m doing just fine as troll for this thread, please try another.
Oh, you are confident that the DWP will do “everything asked of them by the Bush administration”. Pity the Bush administration wasn’t asking that much:
February 27th, 2006 at 3:12 pm1. No security audit by DHS yet
2. Poor security performance
3. The administration did not require Dubai Ports to keep copies of business records on U.S. soil, where they would be subject to court orders
No ones biting Terry The Turtle.
At least Worfeus is not.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:14 pmI guess…if…keep tabs on… the Muslims…we might have a degree of confidence.
“I guess”
“if”
“we might”
“a degree of”
You’re serving up more soft one here, mighty.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:14 pm“I can’t imagine DWP wanting to do anything to jeopardize their billion dollar business interests, but what do I know – I’m just a capitalist. I appreciate DWP complying with everything asked of them by the Bush administration – I just nervous with the infiltration capabilities of radical Muslims. mightyTranny”
Oh please, you’re the same idiot who said that ALL MUSLIMS were barbarians and should be killed not to recently. When I pointed out to you that you owed your very existence to an Islamic scholar who had basically brought about the Renaissance you were as clueless as this post is today.
It’s obvious you only care about your political party, and ballyhooing anything they do. The reichwing morons like yourself are just pathetic lemmings who’d follow any moron who says “I’m conservative” off a cliff. You’re just a sad, sad little boy, pretending to be a successful woman. What an idiot.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:15 pmOh didn’t you know?
Conservatives don’t like facts, theorum, reason or logic.
They prefer to roll the dice snd see where the chips fall.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:17 pmBTW, nice to see you again Ryan.
Last I heard you got booted.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:20 pmOh please, you’re the same idiot who said that ALL MUSLIMS were barbarians and should be killed not to recently.
Comment by Ryan Neat
That was probably me. I have a low tolerance for throat slitting pagans.
When I pointed out to you that you owed your very existence to an Islamic scholar who had basically brought about the Renaissance you were as clueless as this post is today.
This ought to be good. To whom do we owe this tremendous debt?
February 27th, 2006 at 3:27 pm#128 Worfeus, media ownership, marketing and messaging is what gave us Iraq 2003. It may give us Iran 2006 too.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:30 pm[...] The White House is pushing for a sham compromise on the port deal whereby they investigate the deal a bit more, although they’ve said their minds are already made up. We need a real review of this sale. Senator Schumer has introduced legislation giving Congress the right to approve or deny the deal following the investigation. [...]
February 27th, 2006 at 3:30 pm#138, hey Adolf, get your facts right before you throw your bigotry about. Pagan’s are NOT Abramhamic religions. Are you talking about being wary of knife-wielding wiccamists?
February 27th, 2006 at 3:34 pmSchultz is accurately painting this as not only a security issue but a “more Bush secrecy” issue. And it’s showing in the polls.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:37 pmI’m Bushy the sailor man.
My money’s from Kurdistan.
They’ll do as they’re told,
As I steal their black gold
Cause I’m Bushy the sailor man, toot toot!
February 27th, 2006 at 3:37 pmthis is too reasonable – it’ll never fly…
February 27th, 2006 at 3:38 pm“That was probably me. I have a low tolerance for throat slitting pagans. MizzWrong”
It was both of you. Retardation is a consistent quality among the reichwing. Besides, it’s pretty obvious you’re either the same troll, or mightyTranny’s boyfriend anyway.
“This ought to be good. To whom do we owe this tremendous debt? Comment by MizzWrong”
Well, I’m not surprised you would be ignorant of your own history. Just like you’re ignorant of the history of Christianity, yet you claim to be a Christian. The reichwing always rewrites, ignores or forgets history that’s inconvenient to their idiotic sensibilities.
You should look up Ibn-Sina also known as Avicenna who lived between 980 and 1037. He wrote Kitab Al-Shifa (”The Book of Healing”), which introduced medieval Europe to the principles of logic. The second major islamic scholar that impacted europe was Ibn-Rushd also knonw as Averroes who lived between 1126 to 1198. His writings and commentaries reintroduced medieval Europe to the Aristotelian approach of studying nature by observation and reasoning.
See, Christian Europe destroyed all of the greek and roman works, just as you and your reichwing would destroy all liberal thought, reason and science today if given a chance. Since virtually all Roman and Greek works survive entirely due to their preservation by the islamic empire, and only became known to Europe during the Renaissance – you can thank Islam for that gift. And when you consider this country would not even exist without the Renaissance, you can thank islam for your very life.
Now THAT is reality, not the crap you spew.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:41 pmWorfeus, you posted a comment about 8 billion for Carlyle Group from UAE as the quid pro quo for the port deal – what was that link?
February 27th, 2006 at 3:49 pmSorry to go off topic, but this is strange.
We have a KNOWN Taliban member attending Yale on a scholarship with a student visa.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/2/27/110828.shtml?s=ic
WTF? This is a prime example of how screwed up our government is with National Security.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:52 pmTwo things I noticed about this legislation:
February 27th, 2006 at 3:54 pm1) How exactly does Congress seek to prevent the purchase of a UK company by a Dubai company? I know the High Court in London has to rule on the Eller suit,but absent that remaining issue,I don’t see why that provision would be enforceable.
2) The takeover by DPW includes a North American subsidiary (P&O Ports) which will have a US board of directors (they have to ) as well as business records. The negotiation that the various agencies approved has a provision for inspection of records on request. The idea that not domiciling corporate records in the US would allow the company to avoid workers comp claims is unlikely. Those aren’t federal issues,they’re state.
“Two things I noticed about this legislation:
1) How exactly does Congress seek to prevent the purchase of a UK company by a Dubai company? I know the High Court in London has to rule on the Eller suit,but absent that remaining issue,I don’t see why that provision would be enforceable.”
The US can’t do anything about the deal its self, as P&O is free to sell their company as they wish, but they can and do have a say as to who will be in charge of operations of those ports.
“2) The takeover by DPW includes a North American subsidiary (P&O Ports) which will have a US board of directors (they have to ) as well as business records. The negotiation that the various agencies approved has a provision for inspection of records on request. The idea that not domiciling corporate records in the US would allow the company to avoid workers comp claims is unlikely. Those aren’t federal issues,they’re state.”
The problem is SECURITY! GEEZE. With the approval, they then get sensitive information about the operations of our ports, which can then lead to a Security Issue.
What’s wrong with these People???????
February 27th, 2006 at 3:59 pmWorfeus, you posted a comment about 8 billion for Carlyle Group from UAE as the quid pro quo for the port deal – what was that link?
Comment by Terrytheturtle — February 27, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
I don’t know. I didn’t get it off the web. I heard it on the news on Saturday.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:59 pm#147, one of the stars of Fahrenheit 9-11 I think…same dude…judging by Yale’s standards he’ll get a C.
“FAHRENHEIT 9/11: “Then in 2001, just five and a half months before 9/11, the Bush administration welcomed a special Taliban envoy to tour the United States to help improve the image of the Taliban government.†“
February 27th, 2006 at 3:59 pmI was reasonably happy with Schumer’s appearance on ABC, but there was something he did not make clear. Although he mentioned that he was worried about infiltration of the UAE government by Al Qaeda, he did not point out that the worry of infiltration is based on reports. Some people might not have understood the context or may have thought he was coming up with some problem out of thin air.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:00 pmDidn’t you like my little picture of Popeye Bush though?
I even wrote a little seafaring jig to accompany it, being as we are talking about Seaports and all.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:00 pmPopeye picture is not bad, Worfeus. He could use a pipe, though. Maybe some Rove-brand spinach cans lying around.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:07 pmI love you I-RIGHT-I, will you have my baby?
Comment by Unbelievable
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
You should be so lucky.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:16 pmHe would require male genitalia for that UNB.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:17 pmHe would require male genitalia for that UNB.
Comment by worfeus — February 27, 2006 @ 4:17 pm
And a very large bottle of tequila… :)
February 27th, 2006 at 4:22 pmWorfeus: found it…”Just last year, Dubai International Capital, a government-backed buyout firm, invested in an $8 billion Carlyle fund“. Christine Romans on Lou Dobbs…
February 27th, 2006 at 4:25 pmSince virtually all Roman and Greek works survive entirely due to their preservation by the islamic empire, and only became known to Europe during the Renaissance – you can thank Islam for that gift. And when you consider this country would not even exist without the Renaissance, you can thank islam for your very life.
Now THAT is reality, not the crap you spew.
Comment by RightPunch
I never ax a question around here that I don’t already know the answer to and of course you are wrong. But I’ll wait to cram it down Ryan “FMFB” Neat’s throat, unless you’re Ryan’s sock puppet. Are you Ryan’s sock puppet?
Funny stuff though, that Muslim renaissance crap. Got a link?
February 27th, 2006 at 4:26 pmAnd a very large bottle of tequila… :)
Comment by unbelievable
It just so happens I have both.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:27 pmWorfeus: found it…â€Just last year, Dubai International Capital, a government-backed buyout firm, invested in an $8 billion Carlyle fund“. Christine Romans on Lou Dobbs…
Comment by Terrytheturtle — February 27, 2006 @ 4:25 pm
Thats right. I also saw it on Lou Dobbs during the week. Lou Dobbs is DA MAN.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:33 pmLou Dobbs doesn’t need a bottle of tequila to be a man….
February 27th, 2006 at 4:34 pmThey give Bush 8 Billion, he gives them 6.8 Billion, democracy in action.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:35 pmCHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over):
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is a major investor in The Carlyle Group, the private equity investment firm where President Bush’s father once served as senior adviser and is a who’s who of former high-level government officials. Just last year, Dubai International Capital, a government-backed buyout firm, invested in an $8 billion Carlyle fund.
Another family connection, the president’s brother, Neil Bush, has reportedly received funding for his educational software company from the UAE investors. A call to his company was not returned.
Then there is the cabinet connection. Treasury Secretary John Snow was chairman of railroad company CSX/. After he left the company for the White House, CSX sold its international port operations to Dubai Ports World for more than a billion dollars.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:36 pmTerry and Worfeus
I believe the quid pro quo you are referring to is the negotiations between Oman, the UAE, and Kellogg. Kellogg Brown and Root’s owns the contract of project management concerning the natural gas pipeline. This ties into MEFTA. The pipeline from Oman to the UAE pumps between 3-7 billion dollars of natural gas per year, this is the biggest prize of MEFTA.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:42 pm“But I’ll wait to cram it down Ryan “FMFB†Neat’s throat, unless you’re Ryan’s sock puppet. Are you Ryan’s sock puppet?
Funny stuff though, that Muslim renaissance crap. Got a link?
Comment by MizzWrong”
Actually I posted as RightPunch just to annoy you and your alter-ego MightyTranny. He/She/It/You seems to think we are one and the same (Sorry RightPunch for playing with your alias), so I thought I’d fuel his(er)(your)’s paranoia. As for your fascination with ramming things down my throat, dude, get a boyfriend. You’re just such a sad closet case.
As for the ‘renaissance crap’ as you so call it, go read a book sometimes. Only idiots like yourself are ignorant of our history’s debt to islam.
You do know how to read don’t you?
February 27th, 2006 at 4:43 pmI don’t know about Muslim history. But I do know We know more about Greek history than Roman because of the wacko Christians.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:44 pmLou Dobbs doesn’t need a bottle of tequila to be a man….
Comment by Terrytheturtle
What’s that got to do with the price of rice in China? Did Lou also mention that George Soros is a Carlyle investor and former member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations? Humm…interesting no?
You’re just a useful idiot.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:46 pmCritics say the outcry over the £3.9bn acquisition of P&O by Dubai Ports World, which will transfer the running of five US ports to a state-controlled Middle Eastern company, has exposed the US Congress at its xenophobic worst. But it has also revealed more starkly than ever the protectionist tide that is waxing in America under the guise of national security.
In the UK, in the cash-rich Gulf states and in fast-growing India, different incidents in the past week have made people ask the same question: is it worth doing business with the US?
http://news.independent.co.uk/business/analysis_and_features/article347680.ece
February 27th, 2006 at 4:47 pmCitizen,
We are talking about a state owned firm called Dubai International Capital that invested 8 Billion in cash into the Carlyle Group last year.
Thats gotta raise an eyebrow.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:49 pmYou’re just a useful idiot.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 4:46 pm
Too bad you can’t be a useful one, I-DUNSEL-I.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:53 pmIt just so happens I have both.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 4:27 pm
That’s romantic…
February 27th, 2006 at 4:56 pm…is it worth doing business with the US?
Money is money. Sure it’s worth it. Ya gotta go where the money is.
Q: “Why do you rob banks, Jesse James?”
February 27th, 2006 at 4:59 pmA: “Cuz that’s where the money is.”
Funny stuff though, that Muslim renaissance crap. Got a link?
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 4:26 pm
http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/ghazi1.html
February 27th, 2006 at 4:59 pmAcross the world, friends and free traders are concerned about the course set by the US. They say that while its motives are diverse – national security, energy supply concerns, the protection of investors – there is a single conclusion: it has become riskier, costlier and harder to do business with the US and, unless that changes, fewer people will want to.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pmFunny stuff though, that Muslim renaissance crap. Got a link?
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 4:26 pm
http://www.teacheroz.com/renaissance.htm
February 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pmTerry & Worfeus
In addition, a UAE investment group infused Carlyle with about 7 billion dollars of investment capital. Combine that with the chain of ownership within the port deal (Carlyle owned CSX and bid on P&O) of CSX, P&O, and DP World and one gets the scale we are talking
February 27th, 2006 at 5:02 pmFor anyone who appreciates art and has some degree of ‘culture’ (which inherently excludes reichwing morons), you may be surprised to find that Averroes is the only non-european philosopher painted in Rafael’s School of Athens famous painting that hangs in Paris. This is considered to be one of the great art works of the Rennaisance, and it clearly shows the role that the Islamic philosopher played in the ‘Enlightment’ of europe.
I don’t expect a semi-retarded southern redneck closet case like MizzWrong to actually know anything about history, art, culture or philosophy. But if he did, he might realize what a useless tool he actually is.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:02 pmSorry Worfeus
Of course you knew of that “investment”.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:03 pmI thought you had posted about it a few days ago.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:05 pm#174 Comment by Monkey Nut Wrench
Somehow I’m not worried. We should do what is right for us morally and security-wise. If that costs us a little business, so be it. I’d rather focus on what’s important. Money is not the goal. A secure, relatively happy life where one can be proud of oneself at dying time is the goal. “Turned the stone and looked beneath it, peace on Earth was all it said.”
February 27th, 2006 at 5:09 pmThat’s romantic…
Comment by unbelievable
unbelievable, are you one of those “hot Democrat girls” they show on the right hand side of the websites? ;-)
February 27th, 2006 at 5:12 pmCZ-1
Too bad you have absolutely NO control over it.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:13 pmAh, but if only I did… ;-) “It would be so much easier if I were a dictator.”
February 27th, 2006 at 5:14 pmCZ-1, thats the republican sites that do that.
Every one I go to has those ads. Even Ann Coulters site has some of them.
I went to one where they have the hot conservative babe of the week. One week they picked Katherine Harris. LOL.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:15 pmCome on guys
If you find your true soulmate…
February 27th, 2006 at 5:18 pmAs for the ‘renaissance crap’ as you so call it, go read a book sometimes. Only idiots like yourself are ignorant of our history’s debt to islam.
You do know how to read don’t you?
Comment by Ryan Neat
I know of the small, very small contributions of the mostly illiterate (English, Greek, Latin) Muslims to the arts, sciences and philosophy but I also know a few things that are claimed by Islamophiles that are not true, like the renaissance issue.
But why bullshit around Ryan, how bout a link or a title? You’ll regret it but you’ll learn something you didn’t know before.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:28 pmNo, I’m talking about the girl-next-door ads for Democratic dates. This post on Kos talks about it: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/12/23/163435/00
February 27th, 2006 at 5:29 pm“I also know a few things that are claimed by Islamophiles that are not true, like the renaissance issue.”
Go away ignorant boychild.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
February 27th, 2006 at 5:41 pmDo make these Worfeus? Brillant!
February 27th, 2006 at 5:42 pmHmm, I think Unbeleivable cleaned Adolf’s clock with a couple of links, whereas he has not posted a single fact about the lack of influence of muslim thought on the Rennaisance. Here’s my small contribution:
If it had not been for Arabic/Muslim thought, Adolf, you’d still be posting against comments listed by Roman numerals instead of the advanced Arabic system…
February 27th, 2006 at 5:42 pmI know of the small, very small contributions of the mostly illiterate (English, Greek, Latin) Muslims to the arts, sciences and philosophy
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 27, 2006 @ 5:28 pm
Is algebra a very small contribution? How about the numerals we use? Is that a very small contribution too?
February 27th, 2006 at 5:48 pmNah, they’re all over the internet.
I found this one particularly amusing.
February 27th, 2006 at 5:49 pm“I know of the small, very small contributions of the mostly illiterate (English, Greek, Latin) Muslims to the arts, sciences and philosophy but I also know a few things that are claimed by Islamophiles that are not true, like the renaissance issue. MizzWrong”
Bahaha, you didn’t even know about the contribution until I pointed it out. You’re such an idiot.
“But why bullshit around Ryan, how bout a link or a title? You’ll regret it but you’ll learn something you didn’t know before. MizzWrong”
Why don’t you start with wikipedia MizzWrong, they’ll point you to all of the resources you need. Or haven’t you learned how to use wikipedia yet?
Or better yet, go to amazon, and plug in the names of the philosophers I mentioned.
I’m not afraid you’ll learn anything, that’s an impossibility for a semi-retarded closed minded nazi bigot.
February 27th, 2006 at 6:15 pmGregor,
Or how about the theory of ‘enlightenment’, which Averroes is credited with, and which was the foundation principle of the United States.
These reichwing retards have to be the dumbest folk ever put on the planet.
February 27th, 2006 at 6:16 pmMany ethnic groups conceived of base 10 numbering systems. The contribution of the Arabs was the introduction of zero into the number system. Until then, one went from -1 to +1 with not anything else in between. Once the sequence -1, 0, +1 was recognized, math and science exploded. Look at the Roman numeral system, it starts at ‘I’. The ancients could understand what nothing was, but did not introduce it into their equations – even when nothing was the answer.
February 27th, 2006 at 6:20 pmThese reichwing retards have to be the dumbest folk ever put on the planet.
Comment by Ryan Neat — February 27, 2006 @ 6:16 pm
As a former one, I don’t think it’s stupidity but willful ignorance. Blind faith in all areas. If the average American would think for themselves, open their minds to reality, and read something other than fascist propaganda, The Inquirer, or the Bible, I think we’d be amazed at how intelligent the human species actually is (we have evolved the brain for it after all :).
And I want to thank you and Gregor for the free education. I didn’t know this much about Islamic contributions either. So it’s definitely not lost on everyone :).
February 27th, 2006 at 6:23 pm#134, et al – RyANNE who??? You mean the suave, independently wealthy playboy who neeevvver quite gets the quotes or content correct????
I-R-I- RyANNe is RumPunch – Mr. Aphrodite started laughing as “their” syntax is so similar and their content is identical. It’s a Jekyll and Hyde thing.
#181 – “unbelievable, are you one of those “hot Democrat girls†they show on the right hand side of the websites?”
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
****Yes, if you consider gals who refuse to shave their under arms “hot”.
I’ll give Islamic “culture” credit for numerals and algebra – and even much in the way of astronomy. But “Enlightenment” for who – the observant Muslim male??? To credit them with the foundational aspects of the Enlightenment is expected from those can’t “do” so they teach. But could you PLEASE mention an Islamic contribution that is younger than 500 years old. P.S. Osama bin Laden does NOT count.
February 27th, 2006 at 6:55 pmThanks to Ryan’s stimulus, I’ve been off looking at ideas that emerged during the Rennaisance that came from contact with the muslim world. And it looks like heliocentricity is an idea which influenced Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo, but which came from Arab astronomers who got it from the Indians.
So there you have it: the Age of Enlightenment, algebra, the number zero and the number system and finally the idea that the earth is not the center of the universe – all arrived in Europe from the muslim world during the Rennaisance.
February 27th, 2006 at 7:01 pm#199, hmm let’s see, a formerly enlightened society with advanced engineering, philosophy and artistic culture, allows itself to be gradually dominated by religious dogma, political disenfranchisement and extremism as the power in those lands is consolidated in the hands of semi-hereditary elites and radical clerics who retard scientific inquiry and political freedoms….could there be a lesson there for someone?
February 27th, 2006 at 7:22 pmunbelievable, are you one of those “hot Democrat girls†they show on the right hand side of the websites? ;-)
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
I hope you guys know me better than that.
February 27th, 2006 at 7:38 pmTTT,
February 27th, 2006 at 7:38 pmDon’t forget gunpowder.
#181 – “unbelievable, are you one of those “hot Democrat girls†they show on the right hand side of the websites?â€
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
****Yes, if you consider gals who refuse to shave their under arms “hotâ€.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 27, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
Unlike you, I don’t believe in the objectification of women. And, also unlike you, I do believe in razors, deodorant, natural shades of lipstick and putting down my fork when I am full.
Your envy is very obvious Magda. You can stop waving it around now.
February 27th, 2006 at 7:42 pm#189 worfeus,
February 27th, 2006 at 7:56 pmThat’s going on my cubicle bulletin board tomorrow.
#201 I hope you guys know me better than that.
Comment by unbelievable
Didn’t want to offend. Note the grin emoticon in that post. You are one of my favorite posters. I’ll behave. ;-)
February 27th, 2006 at 8:12 pmDidn’t want to offend. Note the grin emoticon in that post. You are one of my favorite posters. I’ll behave. ;-)
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
No offense taken. And the feeling is quite mutual :)
February 27th, 2006 at 8:38 pmBy the way, in Dubai, UAE, they are currently building what will be the tallest skyscraper in the world BY FAR. It will dwarf the “Freedom Tower,” if and when the Freedom Tower is ever built. The Burj Dubai will have 160 floors (living space up to 109 floors, observation deck on 124th) and will be about 2,313 feet tall—they have steel up to something like 25 floors now. The Freedom Tower will only be 1,776 feet tall and will only have about 60 occupied floors—and it hasn’t really been started yet.
February 27th, 2006 at 8:47 pmTurtle – I love science!! I use it regularly in my work and at home proved the exitence of God using human cells and DNA in my model. A religious scientist (there are more than a few – as unfashionable as that is) might tell you that science doesn’t disprove God – it affirms Him.
Your quaint attempt to connect the Muslim-Christian dots is a stretch – unless you consider the moron “Kristians” from Bobbie Byrd’s old buds.
February 27th, 2006 at 8:50 pmCZ-1,
Clearly an indication of compensating for other short comings… :)
February 27th, 2006 at 8:51 pmCurrent progress (Feb 2006) on the Burj Dubai:
February 27th, 2006 at 8:53 pmA religious scientist (there are more than a few – as unfashionable as that is) might tell you that science doesn’t disprove God – it affirms Him.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 27, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
Stop speaking in oxy-moronics. A religious scientist isn’t a very good scientist.
Science proves there is no god. Only someone who didn’t understand science would believe otherwise.
Google Occum’s Razor, and then ask yourself which is more likely – a god just existing or the universe just existing. (hint: the simpliest explanation is that god is superfluous).
If you proved anything in your kitchen it is that drinking while cooking is not very smart.
February 27th, 2006 at 8:55 pmAnd they are also building their own artifical islands in pretty shapes like palm trees. Also note the sail-shaped hotel in this photo.
Palm Jumeirah and the Burj al Arab, Dubai
February 27th, 2006 at 9:00 pmAnd they are also building their own artifical islands in pretty shapes like palm trees. Also note the sail-shaped hotel in this photo.
Palm Jumeirah and the Burj al Arab, Dubai
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 9:00 pm
That kind of really bad architecture is mostly why I left the profession. People with no imaginations and too much money have no business dictating design. Period.
February 27th, 2006 at 9:05 pmLook, I know that if Mike Finn at Crooks and Liars permalinks to my blog, you guys stream in by the thousands whereby if I ask you to come to the same permalink, you trickle in my maybe multiples of hundreds. I don’t know if this is an accessibility issue or a credibility issue. I also know that the major blogs won’t link to me for some reason and the big dogs almost never deign to respond to my comments and questions much less actually deign to link to my site. But this is important and I have you to read what I’ve just written about Jill Carroll. I’m speaking about you, John Aravosis, Duncan Black, John Amato, Jane Hamsher, Glenn Greenwald, Markos, Arianna Huffington and all you big dogs that have the power to mobilize people, the power that I obviously don’t have. Jill Carroll’s (latest) deadline passed yesterday without even so much as a murmur of comment on all the major blogs (and I know, because I was scouring all of them all day and night yesterday).
This isn’t about bloating my hit count (I’m already racing toward 3000 today alone and don’t crave the notoriety) and this isn’t about soliciting comments. This is about mobilizing people to contact the State Department and to get them off their foggy bottoms and to seriously take more proactive steps toward saving Jill Carroll. Since I’d first mentioned this posting, it’s gotten maybe a dozen reads. I want the word to spread out that I want emails, faxes and phone calls to start streaming in to the State Department and to the White House like they did on the eve of the Alito cloture vote. We need to get more involved to save this poor girl.
Or, we can just sit back and wait for word of her decapitated body being dropped off at the US embassy in Baghdad to drop in our Yahoo news.
February 27th, 2006 at 9:11 pmBut could you PLEASE mention an Islamic contribution that is younger than 500 years old. P.S. Osama bin Laden does NOT count.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 27, 2006 @ 6:55 pm
OIL?
February 27th, 2006 at 9:11 pmCZ-1,
The hotel itself, I got a closer look, is actually pretty cool. But the literal palm tree harbor is just flat our horrible. Any monkey with a CADD program can be literal. It takes a true artist to be inspired by their client and create something unique.
February 27th, 2006 at 9:13 pm#208 Turtle – I love science!! I use it regularly in my work and at home proved the exitence of God using human cells and DNA in my model. A religious scientist (there are more than a few – as unfashionable as that is) might tell you that science doesn’t disprove God – it affirms Him.
Comment by mighty aphrodite
Great. You’ve proven that God exists. Now there is no such thing as religion. Faith is not needed. God becomes factual, and religion becomes pointless. People will now demand things from God and become angry and frustrated when nothing happens. They will want nothing to do with God. You done a wonderful thing. Go out and celebrate.
By the way, science is the study and explanation of the natural world WITHOUT RESORTING TO SUPERNATURAL EXPLANATIONS. Science cannot prove or disprove God, unless God is an understandable, observable, quantifiable, testable part of the natural universe. Pointing to the complexity of evolved biological systems does not prove God.
February 27th, 2006 at 9:14 pmScience cannot prove or disprove God,
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
Hate to disagree, but I think Science does disprove god by proving that conditions less complicated exist.
If a god can just spontaneously appear, then so too can a universe, and therefore making the god unnecessary.
Science disproves the intelligence in “intelligent design”, therefore revealing the lack of an intelligent designer.
Billions and billions of years is visible, provable and real. That in itself shows a lack of a god to me because it shows that one isn’t necessary, and in nature, unnecessary quickly becomes extinct.
But – I loved your post! I never looked at it that way. If someone proved there was a god, Nietzsche would be posthumously elevated to prophet for having declaring God is Dead, and we have killed him…
February 27th, 2006 at 9:25 pm#208 Turtle – I love science!! I use it regularly in my work and at home proved the exitence of God using human cells and DNA in my model. A religious scientist (there are more than a few – as unfashionable as that is) might tell you that science doesn’t disprove God – it affirms Him.
Comment by mighty aphrodite
Would you provide me a link to your proof of gods existance, because it would help me in my arguement with some athiests I know, plus since you proved God exists can you tell me which particular sect of which religion has it right if at all?
February 27th, 2006 at 9:37 pmAh, but you see that’s the nature of God/religion. The faithful follower can always point out that God arranged for the universe to appear as it does, completely “natural.” God designed evolution. God designed an evolving universe that explains itself without revealing the designer. Or, God made fossils appear to be hundreds of millions of years old. God made uranium-238 appear to decay into thorium-230 so as to make Earth appear to be very old. God created starlight in route from the stars such that it only appears that the stars are billions of light years away. God partially designed evolution and partially designed the life forms. And so on. So there really is no way to disprove an omnipotent God who could do any of these things if he desired. There may be good, rational arguments why God is unnecessary or even unlikely, but I don’t think that’s proof.
Intelligent design is just a (documented) con game. You’ve heard of the “Wedge Strategy,” right? Behe’s Black Box has been debunked thoroughly. And Bush believes Intelligent Design should be taught in science class in our schools. [sigh]
February 27th, 2006 at 9:44 pm#219 …plus since you proved God exists can you tell me which particular sect of which religion has it right if at all?
Comment by Clif
Yep, that’s the classic quandry. If one is right, then are 100 wrong? How do I pick the right one? If I’m wrong, am I dead forever? Or living in Hell forever? What if I say I believe but deep down in my heart I think that I don’t really believe? Then am I dead/in Hell forever?
What if I get bored living forever in a perfect world? What’s the point–it would already be perfect, right?
February 27th, 2006 at 9:50 pmCZ-1 It is alot more fun to listen to the Amish who live near me tell me with a straigh face that GOD put all those dinasor bones in the ground to confuse all the unbelieving scientists, and that god put the oil there and will put more they kn ow it…… I’m not kidding the believe it and will argue with you all day long while they work for you…. at least it is funnier that day time tv or the evening news.
February 27th, 2006 at 10:00 pm#209, MA, if you love science, then why do you take a faith-based approach to rebutting my (and others) arguments about the key role of Muslim culture in the Renaissance?
February 27th, 2006 at 10:01 pmBut the literal palm tree harbor is just flat our horrible. Any monkey with a CADD program can be literal.
Comment by unbelievable
If you don’t like the palm tree, I give you The World. Okay, maybe not give, but they can sell you an island to develop starting at US$ 6.85 million.
February 27th, 2006 at 10:59 pmAnd there are two others palms LARGER than the first one.
http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/palm_islands.php
February 27th, 2006 at 11:04 pmTacky real estate for sale in UAE I see > lol. Anyone who buys property and builds a villa on created islands is an idiot! Tides will eventually wash them away! UAE is monarchy dictatorship, so who would want to visit or live there?
February 28th, 2006 at 12:02 am“I-R-I- RyANNe is RumPunch – Mr. Aphrodite started laughing as “their†syntax is so similar and their content is identical. It’s a Jekyll and Hyde thing. Mighty Aphrodite AKA RiteWinger AKA Jeffrey Shawn AKA Gary Ruppert AKA I-RIGHT-I”
That’s really ironic sweetie, considering I posted an almost grammatically identical posting of you and Jeffrey. You claim to be a ‘woman’, yet your syntax, choice of topic and vocabulary are virtually identical to Jeffrey Shawn.
I think you’re projecting your own habits, out of your partisan brain sweetie. But I forgive you for accusing others of your own negative and dishonest actions. It’s what hate filled silly partisans do. But I love you anyway Jeffrey, even if you don’t love yourself to admit that you lie about your fake identity and your ‘fake friends’ and ‘fake husband’ that you always refer to. Sweetie, I’ve seen those sad posts you put on the red state ‘friendster’ sites, there’s no chance you’re married, or even have any real friends pumpkin.
February 28th, 2006 at 12:36 am“#134, et al – RyANNE who??? You mean the suave, independently wealthy playboy who neeevvver quite gets the quotes or content correct???? MightyTranny”
It’s funny you the bearer of the ever fraudulent claim of the ‘Yacht Tax’ fiasco would accuse others of claims not panning out. You and MizzWrong are the ‘queens’ of false information. Heck you’re so out of touch that you think american liberals are ‘commies’ – bahaha, what a marooon! Here’s the wikipedia quote on Averroes.
Averroes’s work on Aristotle spans almost three decades, and he wrote commentaries on almost all of Aristotle’s work except for Aristotle’s Politics, to which he did not have access. Hebrew translations of his work also had a lasting impact on Jewish philosophy. Averroes’s ideas were assimilated by Siger of Brabant and Thomas Aquinas and others (especially in the University of Paris) within the Christian scholastic tradition which valued Aristotelian logic. Famous scholastics such as Aquinas believed him to be so important they did not refer to him by name, simply calling him “The Commentator” and calling Aristotle “The Philosopher.” Averroes left no school in the Islamic world, and his death marks the eclipse of liberal culture in Moorish Spain.
And the difference between you and me is that I actually post links, references and facts. You make wild baseless claims, that never pan out, aren’t factual, aren’t relevant, but pander to the worst kind of childish, self serving and reichwing propaganda. You’re a disgrace to all of those ‘jewish’ ancestors who survived Nazi Germany – you’re an american Nazi! Shame Shame!
February 28th, 2006 at 1:36 amAnd RightPunch, when MightyTranny compares you to me, it’s a compliment. I’m the closest thing to a real man he’s got in his life, and he and MizzWrong are drawn to me like McCarthy was to all of the attractive liberals he haunted. It’s the reichwing closet case version of the 19th century pigtain in the inkwell trick. It just means they’re too dysfunctional to recognize their closeted homosexuality. MizzWrong blatantly attacks all gay people just as McCarthy did. MightyTranny becomes a ‘female’ personna as Hoover did. It’s just more of the perversion and freakishness of the closet coupled with rightwing lunacy.
February 28th, 2006 at 1:40 amLOL, I expect to see Eric Estrada selling beachfront lots with those UAE maps, lol.
February 28th, 2006 at 3:17 am#208 Turtle – I love science!! I use it regularly in my work and at home proved the exitence of God using human cells and DNA in my model. A religious scientist (there are more than a few – as unfashionable as that is) might tell you that science doesn’t disprove God – it affirms Him.
Comment by mighty aphrodite
Sorry, I had to stop laughing or I would have responded sooner. Then I had to stop crying.
The last time science and religion got together, well, lets just say it didn’t go well.
Just ask a guy named Galileo Galilei.
February 28th, 2006 at 3:24 amAs for proof of God, I would be happy to see your research.
Just let us know where we can read some of it.
In the meantime, question.
Where in your scriptures did your God tell you to be a mean nasty witch to a bunch of people you never met?
Which chapter covers coming into a liberal blog, calling everyone traitors, cowards, calling for their arrests and executions, which verse is that again?
I’m just curious cause I think I got the wrong bible.
:|
I can’t find none of that in here.
February 28th, 2006 at 3:28 amOver 500 american companies have their Headquarters in the UAE according to James Zogby on Hardball with tweety, and this is not unusual to him or the administration.
1. If they are headquartered in the UAE how are they american corporations?
2. How many are owned by a member of the bush family?
3. How many have stock which are owned by members of the bush family?
4. How many are have stock that Carlyle has invested in?
Anyone have any answers?
February 28th, 2006 at 4:37 amSo there really is no way to disprove an omnipotent God who could do any of these things if he desired. There may be good, rational arguments why God is unnecessary or even unlikely, but I don’t think that’s proof.
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 9:44 pm
Arguments are not proof, but the tangible, observable universe we live in is. The lack of proof is proof that gods do not exist… as everything that is provable leaves evidence.
And I consider common sense and reality to override nonsense and conjecture.
Besides, we don’t have to prove there isn’t a god. They have the burden of proof. And so far, they haven’t produced anything to make me anything less than 100% certain that there is no god of any sort.
February 28th, 2006 at 8:37 amWhat if I get bored living forever in a perfect world? What’s the point–it would already be perfect, right?
Comment by CZ-1 — February 27, 2006 @ 9:50 pm
That was the lynchpin for me. When I realize what was actually at stake – what I would be sacrificing. Eternal boredom. No thanks. From there, religion began to crumble and I the more I thought for myself the less I wanted, much less needed, a god.
February 28th, 2006 at 8:39 amnot kidding the believe it and will argue with you all day long while they work for you…. at least it is funnier that day time tv or the evening news.
Comment by Clif — February 27, 2006 @ 10:00 pm
Hardly necessary for a being capable of creating this universe to play childish pranks and be so needy. Doesn’t make sense that if god were so codependent that he wouldn’t have created perfection that loved him no matter what. Sort of self-destructive to have the ability to create anything you want and this mess is what you create… To me, further proof that god is illogical and does not exist.
I will never cease to be amazed at the utter nonsense people will believe.
February 28th, 2006 at 8:43 amI’m just curious cause I think I got the wrong bible.
I can’t find none of that in here.
Comment by WORFEUS — February 28, 2006 @ 3:28 am
Touche’!
February 28th, 2006 at 8:47 amAmerica is making a hard right turn and their is not a goddamn thing you can do about it!
Comment by person of interest — February 27, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
All 43% of it?
Comment by Yachts and Lattes #65
Make that 34%
February 28th, 2006 at 9:11 am