2.20.2006

Ok, Defend This

There is a crazy story that is taking the nation by storm (and kudos to a faithful reader for emailing this story six days ago although I couldn't believe it). It will only get worse. What you need to know: -- For some crazy reason, our federal government bids out contracts to "run" the coastal ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. --(I've yet to find the definition of "run" but apparently the control is expansive). --For the last several years, the company winning the bid to control those ports has been a British company called Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. --We like Britain. They are our friends. Tony Blair likes W. They support our War On Terror. --Last week, a company owned by the Persian Gulf country,the United Arab Emirates, bought the British company. --That means the United Arab Emirates is going to be in charge of major U.S. Ports. --The United Arab Emirates has "Arab" in its name. --Ok, the United Arab Emirates has ties to 9/11 --The Bush Administration, and I am not making this up, is in favor of this deal. --The current director of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff , said this weekend that, "We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint." --Exactly how was this done? Can't tell you, "it's classified". (Sound familiar?) --Even Republicans on Capital Hill are raising hell about this deal. --The Bush Administration is so scared of terrorism that they have to monitor your phone calls. --The Bush Administration isn't worried about the United Arab Emirates running our ports. --I'm confused. Everything you ever need to know can be found here (the results of a Google News search).