Peggy Noonan has an interesting point of view on the port debate…
So we’re all talking about port security this week, and the debate over the Bush administration decision to allow an United Arab Emirates company to manage six ports in the United States. That debate is turning bitter, and I wonder if the backlash against President Bush isn’t partly due to the fact that everyone in America has witnessed or has been a victim of the incompetence of the airport security system. Why would people assume the government knows what it’s doing when it makes decisions about the ports? It doesn’t know what it’s doing at the airports.
Peggy, as always, makes an excellent point.
The main point about the ports being operated by an Arab country…we don’t know what to expect from them next. Yes, they may have the biggest ice palance on the planet, but whose to say that radical Islum won’t come to town too? Their “dedication” to their religious leaders is beyond the pale…and I for one do not want my nation to end up like so much pea soup because of some radical….I just don’t want to take the chance…..in the end it will be our destruction…like–let the cat babysit the gold fish…?
Sorry GW, on this one I am on the other side—we just can’t trust those guys–and as long as they hate us….why bother!
And, I have a quiry to you all: why is it that Isreal started out as a huge empty desert and now is a thriving prosperous nation….and the Palestinians did the same yet they remain stuck in the middle ages and still in a hugh empty desert? Both nations received aid…so money was is not the issue. What do you think?
Peggy as always, on point. I believe the training manuals begin something like this:
1. Do not profile or select for targeted searches unless:
a. it is a US woman
b. she is elderly
c (and especially if). she’s using oxygen
d. it’s a senator
e. it’s a US military serviceman
Such suspicious persons must be thoroughly strip-searched including a complete colon screening.
2. Confiscate all nail clippers and tie tacks (terrorists couldn’t make a knife with anything they find on board, of course)
3. Confiscate all weapons of self-defense form the Captain
4. Confiscate all port products boarding the plane (except for Ted Kennedy), as these might offend the sensibilities of muslims and cause more violence on board our planes with plastic butter knives.
4 - pork, not port :p
I think this TSA thing is just another sad example of how incompetent our government is at solving any problem that deals with the public. Look at the IRS, social security administration and most government offices. They all have the same bored, bossy, incompetent, mean spirited workers. I haven’t flown on a aircraft since 9/11 so I can’t comment on the TSA, but I cannot see why they would be any different than the others. Just think, there is a group that thinks this same group of people can administer health insurance.
My question with the ports: Isn’t there a US company that is capable of running them? Where’s Haliburton when we need them? Forgive my ignorance: is this a private or government contract? I know it is being appoved by the govm’t.
Where are my liberal friends: after 9/11 didn’t Bush say something like, if you supported the terrorists you are no friend of ours?
Bush and his team have really fostered a feeling of faith and total trust in our government. Look how well they have handled the deficit, medicare, natural disasters and corruption and the war in Iraq.
Why not just take them at their word and let them put whoever they want in charge of whatever they want.
To do anything less would be unpatriotic and possibly even treasonous.
I would like to see the record of ALL FOREIGN OWNERSHIP of any and all properties, businesses, schools, national monuments and parks, and EVERYTHING. I want to know percentage of owner ship, foreighn country involved, and NAMES…and also who in this country supported and encouraged foreign particpation…
Isn’t China or is it Japan that “operates” or “manages” Terminal Island in San Pedro California? Who would have guessed…and now we have our very “enemies” set to operate 6 of our biggest and busiest ports—just like our “former” enemies are doing in California…
Shame on us…is it that we have no one or no company located within our national borders with the where-with-all to fulfill this “need?” Can’t our country produce the “right type” to fulfill this need, or is our “future” to be turned over to “other interests?”
Gorbazev (sp) once said “they” would destroy America from within…I now believe he was not speaking of his country, but of those with is mind-set (philosphy) and as it turns out, we have an abundance of like thinkers in-tenched in our country, especially in our government. Yep, here we to, unraveling from the inside, like and old worn out baseball once the protective cover has been torn…
God save us from ourselves…
As a “uniter”, Bush could never equal Clinton’s accomplishments of uniting Larry Flynt and feminists to fight on the same side on his defense. Anything Bush does will bow to that historical political accomplishment.
I could give a hoot about “uniting”. America is polarized and whenever a liberal talks about “unification”, it always means conservatives must abandon their ideals or values, or at least water them down enough so they conform with those of liberals. Although clearly the minority party, liberals never think of compromise (our way or fillibuster!).
I just think of how they gnashed their teeth at Regan for daring to think to we could win a fight with the Solviets. One day, the media will be brought to venerate W Bush for freeing millions of Middle Eastern people from tyranny… …despite the MSM polls.