IPW

Short Political Rant

I find that I have much to rant about these days, as most people. Ranting is a bit boring since it is so much easier to complain than it is to propose solutions, but that doesn't stop most people and it won't stop me today. I want to weigh in on the Dubai Ports deal thing, not only because it is a regional thing having to do (theoretically) with the safety of the area in which I currently live, but because secretly by ranting about it, it might actually become a rave. How is that possible? Alchemy!

Here is the secret: This is a no win situation for the Republicans. And therefore, I rub my hands together and coo.

Here is the background if you haven't been reading your papers (taken directly from CNN and then edited to take boring stuff out): In October 2005, the London-based Peninsular & Oriental (P&O) Steam Navigation Company agreed to be purchased by DP World, a Dubai-based ports company owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As part of the worldwide deal, DP World gained the right to operate in six major U.S. ports, including terminals in the New York/New Jersey area, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Why is this an issue? Because, say fear-mongers, with Dubai, an Islamic country and a member of the United Arab Emerates in charge of America's ports (instead of the English), it will open the way for the Terrorists™ to shove boat-loads of nukes into our major cities and blow them up! As well as to ship freight-fulls of young eager jihadiis into town. You see, Dubai was one of the many countries through which money travelled to fund the Terrorists™ behind 9-11 (another country involved: America, oops!) So clearly, signing over all of our rights to the Terrorists™ is a bad thing. Right? Right? Well in this climate it is, and this climate of knee jerk nationalism was generated by our boy George Bush. The hilarious thing though, is that George is in bed with so many people with so much money, including the very wealthy Arabs behind this deal that he is demanding the deal go through and is threatening to veto any bill signed to stop the deal (it would be his very first veto in office). This veto would be contrary to the very fear-mongering he has inspired. This is perhaps the moment when my rant turns into a rave. Bush might finally be realizing that he doesn't want a black and white, you're with us or against us type of world, and is now paying the political price for his earlier arrogance. The Republicans in congress have been so wholy indoctrinated by his simple minded rhetoric that they think, that America thinks, that the Dubai Port deal mean Death for American port cities. Which of course we do! Thanks to them!

But the secret is, it doesn't. It turns out that the owner of the contract has nothing at all to do with security at America's ports, that is and will always be the Coast Guard's job, though they are ill-suited to do it (underfunded by Bush). Bush knows this, which is why he was so casual when okaying the deal. But once the attack dogs have been unleashed, you'd better be careful that they don't turn around. By okaying what would have been a huge boon for his pals in the oil industry, he overlooked the anti-islam sentiment he has been allowing to foment in this country for years and now it is Republican v. Republican, The Cooking of the Lame Duck. Attack Dogs coming Home to Roost. Bwuhahahaaha!

So you see, what began as a rant against the idiocy of Congress became a rave for the idiocy of the President. Now hopefully, although we know they won't, the democrats should step back and let them fight it out, because there are no winners here. What simply put is a non-issue has exploded into an firestorm simply because of this right wing opinion that you are either with us, or against us. And Arabs™ are clearly against us.

Posted by ian at March 9, 2006 03:37 PM