Port Deal Thoughts

[ThomWV]

Imagine this: During the second world war Winston Churchill agrees to turn over loading and unloading of ships in Great Britain's ports to a state-run company from Bavaria.

Yesterday Bush told the Congress that they have no reason to fear the Port Deal because "the Government has looked at this" as if the Congress were no more than an interested bystander, no more a part of the "Government" than flys hovering over a bowl of shit.

Amazing how little mention you hear this week of "suitcase nukes" and how easily they could be slipped into the country.

If you are a terrorist trying to smuggle devices capable of great destruction into this country for use against the people of the USA its bound to be easier if six of your cousins, and three fellow mosque members, work at the shipping company.

[Crazy Dave]

1. How much do you want to bet....

...that this gets less static and opposition than the Alito confirmation?

[Avalux]

2. We need to focus on another aspect as well -

This port deal is a tradeoff to allow American Corporations to operate out of Dubai where they will make tons of $$ - could and probably will impact jobs here. Our government is putting corporate interests ahead of national security.

[gratuitous]

3. I wonder if the UAE company will do a cost/benefit analysis

And decide that in the interest of making more money for their CEO and its company shareholders that they'll . . . you know, fudge things. Just a little bit. Cut a corner or two. Maybe hire just two guys to patrol an area instead of four. Or install just three surveillance cameras instead of five or six.