FINALLY, THE NAZI CONNECTION....

[kpete]

FINALLY, THE NAZI CONNECTION....John Podhoretz on the Dubai port deal:

It's possible that this event is George Bush's Bitburg.

Ouch.

—Kevin Drum

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2006_02/008268.php

DUBAI AND BITBURG

I have absolutely no inside knowledge about the ports deal, but it's possible that this event is George Bush's Bitburg. A private personal appeal from a world leader may have been the key missing link to what seems like an inexplicably stupid decision. Bush might have been personally prevailed upon by the pooh-bahs in Dubai -- who have, it is said, been very helpful in some of the financial aspects of the war on terror -- to agree to the ports deal. That would follow the same pattern as Ronald Reagan, who agreed to a personal plea from Helmut Kohl to lay a wreath on the German war dead at Bitburg. Wrath rained down from the heavens upon Ronald Reagan, just as it is right now on George W. Bush. And as was true in the earlier case, it's only going to get worse. A classic second-term blunder.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/06_02_19_corner-archive.asp#090454

[liberal N proud]

1. One of the email read on CNN also reference the Nazis as well.

[tocqueville]

2. Apples and Oranges, Reagan was right

Reagan was right to lay a wreath at Bitburg, because it showed that EVEN the German war dead were a victim of nazism. If the French, the British (who have reconstructed the bombed cathedral of Dresden) and other Europeans that were FAR WORSE hit by the Nazi barbary than America, can go beyond simple hatred and forgive (not forget) by extending the German victims into the collective remeberance, why can't the US ?.

Because it goes beyond the understanding of the simple-minded Republicans despite all their Xtian rethoric. And sadly many Democrats joined the choir.

Besides the Bitburg episode might have been a temporary setback for the Republicans (and not decisive), it has nothing to do with the port story. Reagan wasn't endangering the US by laying a wreath. Bush is potentially endangering the US by the deal, that's completely different....

[bobthedrummer]

3. It was wrong, that section of Bitburg was for SS members. eom

[tocqueville]

5. 49 out of 2000

The visit was intended to be symbolic of the goodwill between the two countries, but unbeknownst to Reagan and deputy chief of staff Michael Deaver, 49 of the graves contained the remains of men who had served in the Waffen-SS. The cemetery also contained remains of about 2000 other German soldiers who had died in both World Wars, but no Americans.

Reagan defended himself by saying that "I think that there's nothing wrong with visiting that cemetery where those young men are victims of Nazism also, even though they were fighting in the German uniform, drafted into service to carry out the hateful wishes of the Nazis. They were victims, just as surely as the victims in the concentration camps." Reagan was right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitburg

The US administration wasn't aware of those facts and the place was maybe poorly chosen. But in principle Reagan was right.

If De Gaulle, Mitterand can say to the Germans "we forgive" (but don't forget), so should the US be able to do, specially when the US never suffered any losses on its own territory. By the way apologies to natives, apologies for slavery, apologies to Vietnam, future apologies to Iraq ? Other countries with similar backgrounds have done it. Why not the US ?

and this story relation to the port story is artificial .... or will 9/11 firemen start sending back their medals ? I'd be curious to see that..

[RazzleDazzle]

4. This is a Carlyle deal -- nothing more mysterious or complex

than that. As ever, it's about money, power, greed, fascism:

Who the hell cares what YOU think?
(good compilation with links)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x474465

UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE--Space program to UAE!!!
Randi just read an article about someone moving a program or business to the UAE to build rocket ships! What is happening?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x482110

BUSH SAYS HE WOULD VETO LEGISLATION TO STOP DUBAI PORT DEAL
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x482124
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x482418
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2473610
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2122983
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2473610&mesg_id=2473610
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2473635
Link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WBT004834.htm

Ask yourself: Why is Bush so damned determined to keep the port deal?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=482138&mesg_id=482138

UAE corp. exec. to be U.S. DOT Administrator. (Jan. 06)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x472586

Edward Copeland (52 posts) Mon Feb-20-06 03:50 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2471299&mesg_id=2471307
1. This thing is smelling worse all the time
On top of the bipartisan criticism of this plan, including Tom Ridge, a poster on my blog tipped me off to this angle: a key executive of the UAE company was appointed by Dubya in January to a key transportation department post overseeing maritime issues and serving under Norman Mineta.

Here is the link to the company's own press release:

http://www.dpiterminals.com/fullnews.asp?NewsID=39




Port security should have been an issue before Bush decided to sell it
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2471299&mesg_id=2471299
Link:
Key lawmaker says U.S. should freeze port deal
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/centredaily/news/local/13914905.htm?source=rss&channel=centredaily_local

the connection to it all - Carlyle Group involved in port security deal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2471320#2471323
also: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x473813
and: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x474295
Link: http://www.bridgedeck.org/mmp_news_archive/2002/mmp_news021219.html
and: http://www.nsnet.com/archive-1-2005-02.html
and: http://www.informare.it/news/review/2003/b030303.asp


Our Ports are a Tradeoff!! All about $$$ and Oil
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x471124
Link: http://www.oilandgasnewsonline.com/bkArticlesF.asp?Article=14878&Section=1947&IssueID=336 (also other links in OP)

[Orrin_73]

6. The Ramones had a song about Reagan and Bitburg

Joey was furious that Raygun was going to Bitburg he wrote this song to cool his anger.

Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down)

You've got to pick up the pieces
Come on sort your trash
You better pull yourself back together
Maybe you've got too much cash
Better call the law
When you gonna turn yourself in
You're a politician
Don't become one of Hitler's children

Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces

My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down

Shouldn't wish you happiness
Wish her the very best
Fifty thousand dollar dress
Shaking hands with your highness
See through you like cellophane
You watch the world complain But you do it anyway
Who am I
Am I to say

Bonzo goes to Bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on TV somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces

My brain is hanging upside down
I need something to slow me down

If there's one thing that makes me sick
It's when someone tries to hide behind politics
I wish that time could go by fast
Somehow they manage to make it last