The shamelessness of the US Congress
While they ranted and held daily press conferences and interviews about standing up for national security, according to new reports, they actually gave up a golden opportunity, in the form of the Dubai ports company, to get a hold of port security:
The Dubai port saga is not quite over. The Wall Street Journal reports that two days before the Administration asked Dubai Ports World to transfer its U.S. operations to a domestic firm, the company presented top Republican senators with an "extraordinary package" of security measures it was prepared to take to get the deal through Congress. The proposal included state-of-the-art screening devices (installed at company expense) at all of its 51 ports around the world and giving DHS the right to disapprove its choice of "all senior officers." Deeming the offer too late, the senators dismissed it.
The irony here is indeed bitter. Congressional leaders, positioning themselves as the true champions of national security and protectors of all things American, rejected a deal that would have markedly increased port security at no expense to the country. No American company will come close to matching this security offer, even as they seek massive federal subsidies for far inferior security systems.
Yup. Further evidence that the US Congress was acting only on a desire to appeal to the ignorance, xenophobia and/or bigotry of millions of American voters. Elected officials are supposed to be more informed, more mature, more thoughtful, but not in this situation.
I recently saw some polling information that showed how Americans are downright hostile to the idea of foreign investment and ownership of their economy. And when that foreign element is Arab or something else that's "extra foreign", it makes the situation all the worse.
Because of the US Congress, not only has America scared away billions of dollars in foreign investment, it has also given so many people around the world an actual (recent) example to point to when talking about American (institutional) racism. How unfortunate, especially when the person that most foreigners tie to supposed American racism was the most cool, calm and rational person during the entire process (President Bush).
The Dubai port saga is not quite over. The Wall Street Journal reports that two days before the Administration asked Dubai Ports World to transfer its U.S. operations to a domestic firm, the company presented top Republican senators with an "extraordinary package" of security measures it was prepared to take to get the deal through Congress. The proposal included state-of-the-art screening devices (installed at company expense) at all of its 51 ports around the world and giving DHS the right to disapprove its choice of "all senior officers." Deeming the offer too late, the senators dismissed it.
The irony here is indeed bitter. Congressional leaders, positioning themselves as the true champions of national security and protectors of all things American, rejected a deal that would have markedly increased port security at no expense to the country. No American company will come close to matching this security offer, even as they seek massive federal subsidies for far inferior security systems.
Yup. Further evidence that the US Congress was acting only on a desire to appeal to the ignorance, xenophobia and/or bigotry of millions of American voters. Elected officials are supposed to be more informed, more mature, more thoughtful, but not in this situation.
I recently saw some polling information that showed how Americans are downright hostile to the idea of foreign investment and ownership of their economy. And when that foreign element is Arab or something else that's "extra foreign", it makes the situation all the worse.
Because of the US Congress, not only has America scared away billions of dollars in foreign investment, it has also given so many people around the world an actual (recent) example to point to when talking about American (institutional) racism. How unfortunate, especially when the person that most foreigners tie to supposed American racism was the most cool, calm and rational person during the entire process (President Bush).
posted by Japnaam Singh at
9:43 PM
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