This port deal has GOT to be a trick !

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Ok, FACT WE KNOW - Cheney and DimSon and Rove are devious criminals. And typically savvy politicians (at least in controlling the minds of the masses).

Why, then would they be STUPID and TRANSPARENT enough to propose this port deal? Just turn on Wash Journal and listen to all the Republicans calling in opposition. I just heard a Republican say, "What's next, are they going to put Bid Laden over the NSA?"

What, could they possibly be doing?

1. Are they taking a bullet for Republicans running in 2006? Taking a fall for them so they can stand up in opposition to B**? Allowing them to show some spine?

2. Are they setting this up, so that we DON'T hire this company for port security, and then we have an attack, just to boost ratings?

3. Or, have they just gone haywire? I liken it to a murderer who killed his first person who has no qualms about killing again. B** et al, is on a mad dash to do as many horrible things to help their benefactors before they are out of power.

[castiron]

1. Yes.

In a word. EVerything is geared toward letting Republicans come forward to "reform" themselves and give EVERY opportunity for conservative Amerika to re-elect, re-elect, re-elect.

[fasttense]

2. Someone with pull in the administration is set to make billions.

He doesn't like the fact that he might not get his billions and is pressuring the administration. He is probably threatening to withhold campaign funds.

[rfranklin]

22. This is Junior's retirement plan...

His hand-picked man is now heading the company. I think that Junior's going to wet his beak in this deal.

[ChiciB1]

54. The Fix Is In... It's Much More Than It Seems!

Saudi Arabia and Bush are hand and glove together and have been for DECADES!!!

[lonestarnot]

24. Yes

but this is no trick, nor is it anything new.

[PaulaFarrell]

74. do you have any facts whatsoever

to back that up? The deal is for 3.9 billion pounds, what's that about 6.5 billion dollars? and someone in the admin is set to make billions? huh? The people making money from this are the fat cats in London.

[AndyA]

3. Sloppy with power

It isn't the money, it's the power. It does something to people once they get it. They can never have enough, and they think they are invincible.

They were just hoping this little tid bit would slide by, no big deal. I think it's just a part of a much bigger deal somewhere, and without this little piece, the big deal falls apart. That means Bush can't back away from it now that everyone is screaming about it.

This isn't the first time he's done this, other things have gone by largely unnoticed by the American public, and much of it wasn't covered in the media. Now that the poll numbers are dropping, the media is going to follow the majority and start covering the dirty deeds, because that makes people tune in.

I think this backfired on them, and they're in real trouble. I can't see them sacrificing one of their own since they've already got so many in trouble right now.

This is not going to be a good year for Republicans.

[FreedomAngel82]

81. So why not wait until after the midterms?

Why are they doing this now? Have you kept up with the talking head shows? ONLY republicans are being shown as being tough on this and last night I watched Joe Scarborough and he was talking about how great Frist has been doing with this. Lawrence O'Donnell was on and he was the only one who talked about Hillary's bill and everyone ignored him. Whenever he tried to talk Joe talked over him or cut him off to go to someone else.

[flyingflyn]

4. Maybe...

they feel that Hillary needs a little push so she gets the dem ticket in 08, I dunno.

Btw, as an outsider I recommend that you yank's pick someone other than Hill as your candidate.

[castiron]

8. Many agree with you.

Including me. She is absofrigginlutely hated by so many as a result of years of media war against her. My momma hates her. Everyone I know hates her.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Welcome to DU ! Do not worry, the nomination of Hillary is NOT

a certainty, by far. Every poll we conduct here has her coming in at the very bottom. However, she does have power, and will have lots of money, and those of us who support far better choices than her, will have to work very hard.

[ChiciB1]

55. I SURE Hope She Isn't THE Candidate... This Said From A

forever Democrat!!

NO HILLARY! If she was smart or even thinking about what was good for America, she would "bow out"!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Nope. Occam's Razor.

The simplest explanation is the correct one: they f*cked up. There's a lot of money t be made with this deal, and with the Bushies you always follow the money. They just have gotten so used to the sheeple accepting anything they do that they didn't expect the Dems to grow a pair or their own party to object. Don't assume some intricate plot -- this is the gang who couldn't shoot straight, remember?

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I agree, they thought no one would notice

They've gotten away with everything else they've done, that now they no longer have to pretend or even try to be careful.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Well, if they thought no one would notice, they surely realized

that someone DID notice before B** threatened veto.

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. That's always Bush's reaction

whenever something he wants is challenged. He just gets right back in your face and says, I'm going to do whatever I please and up until now, he's gotten away with it.

Why do you think he had such a big puss on yesterday?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. OMG - almost spit up. Yes, you are right, that is his MO

But, guess the law of averages says it will not work ALL the time.

[Vanje]

38. Oh!!!!!! I almost saw his soul in that photo.

Dorian Dubya is becoming a monster

[HereSince1628]

6. I think it's simply blowback from creating a post-911 mentality

Bush/Cheney have been propagandizing the nation since 911, selling fear has been their most productive line of work. Now, people respond WITH fear, they say...no, no, no.

Rove did his job well, alternative arguments have no traction on the sands of fear.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

36. Yes, you are right. It is just so absurd ! Since 9-11, all we have

been hearing is be scared, terror, enemy, different world. And then yesterday, "Hey, wait a minute, what's wrong with the Middle East? They are our friends."

[skipos]

9. He is one of the worst presidents ever, why is it so hard to believe

that he is just doing ANOTHER thing that is bad for the country?

[castiron]

10. It's not hard to believe it is simply this.

But it's not hard to believe it is also immediately embraced by political maneouvering for purposes of keeping in office. It can be simultaneous.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

12. Quid pro quo?

Whats the UAE giving us? Permission to launch an attack on Iran from UAE land?
crazy times we are living in.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. scary possibility. but why not just attack from the country we

invaded?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

17. Attacking from UAE could have more avantages?

Just looking at a map, it would give a better base to launch air attack from?

[MoonRiver]

18. But that argument does make sense.

They need more bases than those in Iraq to successfully pull off an attack. :scared:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. You are right...

[JNelson6563]

13. I think it's their arrogance.

I've always known it would be their downfall. They believe they can act with impugnity and get away with it. Probably because, so far, they basically have.

But not this time. Now the fear-mongering they have been doing is biting them in the ass and even a large portion of the usual kool-aid drinkers cannot reconcile this in their minds.

Julie

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. This seems so different, though. Typically, they can play the

"terra fear" card. This is a totally opposite situation.

[Hardrada]

76. This group always acts

with impugnity. A good word for them.

[wake.up.america]

19. I'll take what's behind door number 1

[Frank Cannon]

21. This administration is the biggest smash-and-grab robbery in history

They are SO busy robbing the US treasury, and time is running out. They really don't care what anyone thinks about what they do at this point, even their own brainless followers. And so they sold the American people out again, this time in broad daylight, hoping that no one would think twice about it but not really caring if they did.

I'm sorry, but I don't see any ingenious political maneuvering in this debacle. I see another massive robbery of taxpayer money for Bush's cronies with the typical "Fuck You, America" attitude that always goes with that.

[donkeyotay]

75. Dang, Frank. Can I quote you on that? I'd like to make that my sig line

This administration is the biggest smash-and-grab robbery in history.

The only thing different about this particular episode is that, for some strange reason, the aspens have decided to turn him in for it. Otherwise, there would be a complete blackout on this, except for on the DU.

[Frank Cannon]

77. Go right ahead, donkeyotay. I am humbled.

Today's breathless announcement by the WH that Bush didn't even know about this exchange confirmed for me that they thought that the unwashed masses wouldn't care. They were wrong.

[FreedomAngel82]

82. In the past though

they always did it on the more downlow. All the republicans were locked step and center. It's just really makes me wonder.

[PaulaFarrell]

23. A few facts

Bush dudn't propose this. It is part of a deal by Dubai Ports to buy all of P & O which has container ports in 19 countries, as well as lots of other operations. The US ports are a very small part of the deal.

The people making money off this are the execs and also the shareholders of P & O (and the lawyers of course). Unless bush and his cronies have invested in P & O (unlikely as it's been doing poorly lately) I'm not clear how they could be profiting.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. B** approved the deal and is threatening to veto anything that

blocks it. Why, oh why, would he do that against the public sentiment and well being. Why would he push for an extremely unpopular transaction, when it hurts him politically? Without some gain of some sort.

[PaulaFarrell]

73. This deal was cooked in another country

Who knows, maybe he is trying to repay Blair. I think it will look quite bad for Blair if US interference causes this deal to be stopped. It will prove that the 'special relationship' is a one-way street.

Do you honestly believe that Bush or the US has the right to unilaterally cancel business deals in other countries? I don't. If you don't think the ports should be in foriegn control (which is a sentiment I agree with) then don't sell them in the first place! These ports have been under foregn management for years.

[MiniMe]

78. True, except Dubai is getting a space port now. Who is making

the money off of that? Remember, the Bushies have to approve it.

[CJCRANE]

84. Two Bush appointees have links to the Dubai Port company.

There are threads on DU about it.

[PaulaFarrell]

90. do they also own large quantities of P & O stock?

If not, I'm still not sure how they are going to make money off this. Unless you are saying they were bribed? Now that would be worth getting upset about.

As I understand it, DP probably overbid for the company which was probably a result of PSA putting a bid in - which may just have been a ploy by PSA to to reduce DP's scope for discounting after the takeover.

[H2O Man]

25. I respectfully disagree.

I think that this is a natural progression that can and should be expected from an administration that is isolated and out of touch with the rest of the country; that has always considered its financial dealings to be the very definition of our national interests; that has been suffering a sequence of set-backs politically since the second term began; which has been exposed as dishonest; and which is being placed at a distance by republicans looking towards re-election this fall.

This is a replay of the old black and white classic, the "Nixon Administration: 2nd Term." Only this new version is in color.

[Vinca]

26. This administration is filled with the largest collection of

incompetents on the planet. Somewhere I heard that Shrub wasn't aware of the deal at all until the doodoo hit the fan. Given his missing a major hurricane, that rings true. I don't think this is a Rovian plot. If it was he'd somehow be protecting Shrub's legacy and I don't see that here. The mystery to me is John McCain jumping on the sinking ship rather than off.

[H2O Man]

28. That was reported

by Lou Dobbs of CNN several times last night. Bush didn't have a clue until the story was being reported as a major controversy. Dobbs had a White House source verifying that.

[Vinca]

32. That must be where I heard it - thanks. I'm liking Lou Dobbs more

and more these days.

[H2O Man]

34. My understanding is

that both the White House and UAE are putting pressure on CNN to "make Dobbs shut up." I am very serious. It might be nice to have people e-mail CNN to support Dobbs' right to report on this issue.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. No #1 - Insiders say that BFEE is fully supporting McCain for 08

(Maybe Jeb as VP????)

I heard on C-Span this am that this deal has been widely reported in the financial community for quite some time. The Baltimore Sun analyst said that the sudden and strong public outrage came as a total shock to Rove, et al.

[sendero]

27. For the life of me...

.. I cannot see how having the Republican congress publicly rebuke and neuter a Republican president is going to gain them anything.

No, this is just George "I want my way waahhhhhh, how could you question my judgement waaahhhh typical self".

Some of you folks are really like abused dogs, cowering in the corner every time anything happens. If this were a case that really required Dems to stand up, I'd be worried, because we have good reason to expect nothing from them - but it isn't.

I heard a report on NPR this morning, interviewing "experts" who claim "it doens't matter who owns the ports" they seriously want this deal to go through for one reason or another but I don't think they can pull it off.

[Warren Stupidity]

39. "Republican congress publicly rebuke and neuter a Republican president"

Allowing them to run against the Bush administration is one way of mitigating what might be a significant defeat in November.

I'm fine with the 'stupid corrupt arrogant blunder' theory right up to Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert threatening legislation and the presidunce putting on his big sour puss and threatening veto. These asshats get together for crisco and prayer every am. They don't fart without getting permission.

[sendero]

42. This requires...

... Bush to take one for the team. I don't believe he is capable of that, I really don't.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

45. well, think about it. B** knew nothing about it. It was probably

a Rove deal. What is good for his future? Perpetual conservative republicans in charge.

[sendero]

47. Now you are saying...

... that Rove is working against Bush? Well, I suppose they could have had a falling out, but I doubt it.

Why not accept the simplest, most plausible explanation? Bush wants this for various reasons, not the least of which is that he is and has been a primary BUSINESS booster for various Arab countries. This deal was supposed to rush through with nary a notice. Now that folks are complaining, Bush digs in his heels because he is king, dammit, and nobody questions his authoritii.

I just have a real hard time with the idea of the House Speaker and Majority Leader sending letters saying "we're gonna stop this" being some kind of plan. No, the Repubs in the house and senate have NOTHTING ELSE to run on except National Security. No amount of talking point bullshit is going to convince Joe Six Pack that this is a good idea.

We'll just have to wait and see I suppose.

[Warren Stupidity]

57. "Rove is working against Bush"

News flash: Bush has no political future. He be done. Karl would like to remain in power.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

64. Bush has a monetary future to secure. Karl has a power future to

secure.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. Some of you folks are really like abused dogs, cowering in the corner ever

Where did this come from ??

[sendero]

44. Every thing ...

... that happens is a Rovian plot. ROVE DOES NOT CONTROL THE WORLD. And if this IS a Rovian plot, it is not at all clear that it will work IMHO.

[Warren Stupidity]

49. ROVE DOES NOT CONTROL THE WORLD

That is true. However that says nothing about the control structure of the republican party's political machine. I think our friend Karl is very much in control of that piece of the world.

So we have the republican political machine, well known for its discipline, publicly squabbling over an issue that can be played to hurt the LAME DUCK Bush administration while benefitting the congressional delegation that must continue to control congress if the Republicans intend to continue their one party tyranny.

The question of 'is this a rovian plot' is pretty much irrelevant. I happen to think that we are in the 'rovian plot phase' of this scandal, which as usual is an attempt to turn what was initially a huge embarassment into a useful plus for their agenda. From the perspective of the Opposition Party, our role in this is quite simple: rovian plot or not we oppose turning control over public goods such as our ports to foreign corporations, arab, british, or otherwise.

[sendero]

53. See...

.. "rovian plot or not we oppose" - that is the crux of why I don't think this is a Rovian plot.

For this classic gambit to work, it depends on Dems getting vociferously on the wrong side of the issue, and that is just not going to happen.

The best the Republican senate/house can do is "me too".

[Warren Stupidity]

56. I disagree on the 'me too' part.

Democratic legislation won't make it to the floor. Republicans control the legislative agenda, and if Bush doesn't back down Republican congress asshats will be leading the charge. Racist Arab-hating Democrats will just be following along. Hastert and Frist will be the big heros, keeping our ports safe (from A-rabs but only if you are a Democrat). Halliburton (or its equivalent) will get the ports instead. Win win win for Team Asshat.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

59. Well, maybe that is why the whole thing is falling apart. Rove

had nothing to do with it, like you say. There is just no way, pure and simple, to spin this, even for the grand master of spin. Power and greed is involved, as always, but this time, there is not terror mask to hide it behind. Maybe this shows how these criminals work. Bush and Cheney supply the basic theme - money and power - to benefit some select group, somehow, somewhere. Rove supplies the spin.

[Mizmoon]

88. It makes me sick to see it

It's like they like to lose or something.

[FreedomAngel82]

83. Look at the John McCain torture "bill"

Bush said he was going to block that too and than McCain went and "talked" with him and Bush caved and was on McCain's side which made McCain look tough and moral and righteous. Same thing going on here.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. Diebold takes care of '06 and '08. It's worked for all the other

IN YOUR FACE moves by bushco.

[Lerkfish]

30. here's the proof its a trick....

Because the media is allowing this to drag on for too long. If it were truly embarrassing to BUshco, like shooting someone in the face, we'd be hearing people minimalizing it and dismissing it.

let's pull back and think about it. When would Republican lockstep congresscritters work AGAINST Bush? let's think back to the only time they did: harriet meiers: obviously underqualified, and whose nomination and fake outrage from the right set up Alito. Its good cop, bad cop.

I, and others, think this is a set-up to put halliburton in charge of the ports. Bush will relent, the repubs will look good in time for 2006, and the dems will be in a corner if they object to halliburton. If dems object to ANY american company, after this bruehaha, it will be a nonstarter.

These guys are too devious to be this incompetent. The proof is the corporate media's response.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. But, the thing about this issue and the press is that the ports in

question, are in the largest media markets in the country. There are millions and millions of people that live there. And they are represented by some of the most powerful people in the legislature who are speaking out. It would be quite difficult for the media to totally ignore the issue, wouldn't it? If this was happening in some podunk place and the media kept the story alive inexplicably, it would be different.

But, I do agree with your other point. Maybe that is how it will play out. Dubai will have to divest the US ports, because they will not be allowed to operate. Bingo, BFEE puts who they really want in there.

My oh my, is there ANYTHING that Halliburton can't do ???

[TallahasseeGrannie]

31. They are ready to let their power go

and now they want some cash to take with them.

[madinmaryland]

33. I've got to go with #2.

I think they are up to no good. :tinfoilhat:

Whether it is to set up the next invasion of a middle eastern country, I am not sure. It just doesn't smell right.

[johnnie]

37. I agree with you

This whole issue is just too far out not to be some "plan".

[npincus]

46. Not a trick

was the stunning ncompetence, hubris and carelessness of ALL of Bushco's policies, recklessness and irresponsibility a savvy political move hatched by master politicians?

No.. this is one huge fuck-up and Bush is backed into a corner.

My opinion.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

50. Dubai would make an excellent launch pad to Iran

Where did Sy Hersh say he thought the US would bomb? Maybe southern Iran?

[iconoclastNYC]

52. # 3 - they thought this would fly under the radar

They were wrong. Rove is trying to figure away out of this mess right now.

[janx]

60. YEP. n/t

[janx]

58. I don't think it's a trick.

I agree with those here who believe that it's simply a matter of a stupid decision. Bushco wants to nurture ties to Dubai.

Bushco is in the business of infiltrating the Middle East, remember? This is probably just one more inroad, so to speak.

Where is Cheney these days?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

61. Cheney? Trying to recover from the 'worst day of his life' - Did you

happen to see Colbert Report last night? He was hysterical. Said he had been out of pocket last week and didn't see any news. He then said that something happened that he might as well get out there in the public. He said, "I shot someone. It is very complicated. It is very difficult to explain - What happened between the time my victim was shot and ant the time my victim was unshot" A great dig at Dick.

[janx]

65. HA No, I didn't see that.

But this deal reeks of Cheney.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

67. Hmm. maybe we should step back and look at the deal itself

(the sale by the british to the UAE). That's where the answer may be.

[Mme. Defarge]

62. Were they hoping the deal wouldn't get any publicity?

[LisaLynne]

63. I still maintain that while Rove and this admin are good at ...

manipulating public opinion, they really aren't that smart. Face it -- if any of us had access to the media (read: control of it) the way they do, we could run this country any way we want. That's really all they've got -- that control. I think when things, such as Cheney shooting a 78 year old man in the face, happen that are sort of surprises, they really can't deal with them very well. We've seen the meltdowns before. They've just been lucky that up until this point that the American Sheeple have stayed asleep (or aSHEEP).

If they were really as masterful as they can seem through their blind luck, I think they would have done a lot more already. I think they would have orchestrated a "terrist" attack to whip people in a frenzy as soon as people started noticing that Iraq wasn't going the way they had planned. I think they would have staged a highly publicized "thwarted" terrist attack instead of that lame 2002 thing Bush was trying to push which was shot down and forgotten.

I think they have gotten to the point, as you alluded to with your third option, that they have convinced themselves that they can do whatever they want. They really are just all about the money and they think they have the right to it. They are in power and they can do whatever they want. And all they want is to make money. I think that's pretty much the sad long and short of it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

66. Doesn't it amaze you too that they never planted wmd. I

would have bet a lot of money, back then, when it was totally apparent to everyone that there weren't any, that they would plant them.

[LisaLynne]

68. It really, really does.

I was EXPECTING it in the first few months of the war. I really don't know why they didn't, unless they just couldn't figure out a way to get away with it. I've never been able to figure that one out unless they really thought it was easier to just distract people by saying suddenly that we weren't afraid of WMDs -- we were "spreading democracy".

[yodermon]

70. there were reports that they TRIED

to plant WMDs but were thwarted by friendly fire or some other f*kup. No link handy, although you can google "Nelda Rogers" for info. (caveat: I'm not certain she actually exists).

[catmandu57]

69. It's arrogance, greed, stupidity, elavated to the second power

Remember who we've been dealing with for the past five years, these people could't change a flat tire. I don't think it's a setup of any kind it's just that they got caught big time, and the big lie is failing now.
Sure the pukes in congress see a hole to scurry into, but there is other stuff out there that is going to bite them in the ass, hard.

These are the people who thought the Iraqis were going to welcome us with open arms, who think iran will be a push over. These are the people who have assraped America without even spitting on it.

I really do believe that this is nothing but absolute power corrupting absolutely, and that the pukes are not in lock step, but, they're actually in a big ass mess right now, blindly trying to right their ship before they sink.

Their leadership is in tatters, something like this could wake the media up, that wouldn't be good for them at all, I think they've screwed the pooch on this one.

[Unformatted]

71. If I may, I’d like to add a fourth item to your list.

For over four years now, our leadership in the House and Senate, as well as many on this board, has pointed out the absurdity of invading Iraq when there was no evidence that they were responsible for the attacks of 9/11 or that they harbored any intentions of using WMD against us or their neighbors.

I’m sure that we will be portrayed as having painted ourselves into a corner, so to speak. How can any Democratic Representative or Senator that has repeatedly insisted that this is a “Make Believe Global War On Terror”, and that the “capture of OBL” should be our sole focus in the efforts to help bring an end to our current dilemma now say that the acquisition of six of our major ports by a country that our party has effectively absolved of any responsibility in he attacks on this country now presents a obvious threat to the security of the nation?

I submit that this is an effort on behalf of the * administration to force the hand of the Democratic Party. If Hillary and Chuck, or any of the rest of our leadership, become to vocal in regards to the security threats that this deal poses, rest assured that Heir Rove will point out that their previous stance was that “it’s all about OBL” and that “we only hurt ourselves” when we assume the worst of nations in the Middle East and take measures to secure ourselves from any actual or perceived threats from that region.

Just saying.

[newyawker99]

72. Hi Unformatted!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[CJCRANE]

86. Iraq and UAE are not connected though.

Iraq is not connected to 9/11 attacks but UAE is, that's the difference.

[merh]

79. How about using the port deal to pull some repuke out of the

ranks that is strong on national security, so strong that he opposes the weed, the national security prezidunce?

They are trying to groom folks in the ranks for '08! :scared:

[FreedomAngel82]

80. I go with all three

Malloy talked about this last night on his program. He thinks that this is Bush sacrificing himself so the republicans can be seen as "tough" on security and be re-elected. They've been on the wrong side of the polls since the Terri Schavio deal so they need something to get them going. Watch Graham or someone like that make some fake legislation (that won't be anything) and he and whoever works on the "bill" and Frist will go to "talk" to Bush in a closed meeting and they'll come out and Bush will agree with them and they'll be seen as tough for 2006 midterms. This IS an election year.

[Frank Cannon]

85. Yeah, it's an election year, but the election's an eternity away...

in the easily-distracted mind of Joe and Jane Voter. There are still several weeks of American Idol and a new season of Survivor in the interim to make them forget ALL about the valiant efforts of their Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman(R-StateName) come ballot day.

With today's breathless statement from the White House that Bush had NO knowledge of this port deal, I'm more convinced than ever that this was just another monumental F-up from this administration, one of countless F-ups.

[radio4progressives]

87. "The dirty little secret behind the UAE port security" - Sirota Nails It.

this is what it's all about:
http://www.davidsirota.com/

http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=8F0C2C26-E5A6-B306-55BE87948B44A59C

(snip)

How much does "free" trade have to do with this? How about a lot. The Bush administration is in the middle of a two-year push to ink a corporate-backed "free" trade accord with the UAE. At the end of 2004, in fact, it was Bush Trade Representative Robert Zoellick who proudly boasted of his trip to the UAE to begin negotiating the trade accord. Rejecting this port security deal might have set back that trade pact. Accepting the port security deal - regardless of the security consequences - likely greases the wheels for the pact. That's probably why instead of backing off the deal, President Bush - supposedly Mr. Tough on National Secuirty - took the extraordinary step of threatening to use the first veto of his entire presidency to protect the UAE's interests. Because he knows protecting those interetsts - regardless of the security implications for America - is integral to the "free" trade agenda all of his corporate supporters are demanding.

(snip)

[PhilipShore]

89. A trick so the PNAC has offshore secret banking and trading -Tax free