Arab/Muslim does not equate to terrorists - or - Some talking points

[Solly Mack]

are beneath contempt.

Arab/Muslim = Terrorists is the type of racist rhetoric one expects from the likes of Coulter and Limbaugh.

Sure, UAE buying from P&O (another foreign company, I might add) exposes the hypocrisy of the right wing rhetoric that Bush supporters spout(from Muslim = terrorists, to national security, to protecting America) - but isn't it better to point out their hypocrisy than it is to adopt their racist rhetoric as a talking point?

If you're against foreign control of ports - say so. But do so without the racist rhetoric.

The talking point against Bush isn't worth the embracing of racist rhetoric. It.Just.Isn't.

There's the connection of UAE with the Bush family. There's the Carlyle Group/Bush Family/UAE connection. Most importantly, there's the point of foreign ownership in and of itself. There's more than enough to base any objections on instead of appealing to racism and fear.

Leave the racist rhetoric where it belongs - in the trash heap with the rest of the trash.

[blm]

1. I prefer the angle of GLOBAL FASCISM - where the same small circle of

cronies will be in control of all global interests. It's not racist to note that Bush cronies in China, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain, Spain, etc.... are setting up these situations for themselves.

[Solly Mack]

3. There you go! Excellent point!

Thank you!

[Hatalles]

2. Thank you.

:applause:

[Solly Mack]

4. Thank you, Hatalles

I appreciate the support! :)

[johnaries]

5. There's a lot more connections than that!

I agree we should avoid the racist Muslim/Arab=terrorist rhetoric, but there are serious al Qaeda connections in Dubai, as I have already posted several times:

http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/nov02/southAsia.asp

Financial investigators tracking al Qaeda assets rely heavily on data and paper trails from commercial banks and financial regulators in pursuing and investigating leads. Such data have included the tracing of wire transfers between suspected hijacker Mohammed Atta and Shaykh Saiid of Dubai, believed to be one of Osama bin Laden's key financial operatives.....

...Although Pakistan, India, and the Persian Gulf states are home to the largest concentration of Hawala organizations, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, perhaps handles the largest volume of transactions.

B* claims that the UAE is our "ally", but with all the terrorist activity in Dubai can we be certain enough that they can't slip in a terrorist to entrust them with hiring security?

[Solly Mack]

6. You're 100% correct. There are more connections

and those connections must be pointed out without the racist rhetoric.

Bush also claims SA as an ally, as well as Pakistan. So many areas to point out the Bush Regimes hypocrisy.


Thank you for the link!!!!

[johnaries]

7. Yes, let the freepers use the racist rhetoric. We need to continue

presenting the facts!

[Karenina]

11. Let's hope we have enough

among our number here who have the ability to nuance. ;-)

[Solly Mack]

16. You taking bets?

:)

[Karenina]

23. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

NO COMMENT. Tell the Sheriff we'll send him a fax next Monday.

[Solly Mack]

24. Oh just phone it in when you get around to it - no rush

nothing to see here ;)

[AntiFascist]

28. All it takes is one bad wealthy individual....

(notice that I left out any racial connotation) and the UAE Ports (ancestor of P&O) has already demonstrated that it can be subject to bribery, not to mention that certain UAE banks, controlled by government officials, have been subject to terrorist money laundering.

[entanglement]

8. Nice post, recd

Thank you

[Solly Mack]

9. Thank you

:hi:

[magellan]

10. Well put!

Bush** has done us a favor: the same hate and fear he uses to control people is biting him in the a$$ now. We don't need to engage at that level to enjoy watching Bush** suffer the blowback he so richly deserves.

Simple-mindedness is Bushbot territory.

[Solly Mack]

14. Thank you. The focus must on the actual issues and facts

of this "deal."

No one needs to engage in the favored tactics of the right wing to get the truth across.

[Pavulon]

12. If they are good enough

to own caribou coffee they can handle the ports. If this were germany or japan, who contributed to a war that killed over 20 million there would be nary a peep.

[Solly Mack]

13. Well, I don't know about that - "nary a peep"

I've heard some truly atrocious comments about Japan and the buying of American properties. Not here - but I've heard them.

But like I said, there are enough reasons to object to selling to UAE, without resorting to racism.

[Posteritatis]

19. Errr...

If this were germany or japan, who contributed to a war that killed over 20 million there would be nary a peep.

Christ on a pogo stick, what is it with people around here and this idea of collective or perpetual guilt, these days?

So Germany and Japan were belligerents in WWII on the Axis side. So what?

The war ended over sixty years ago with the near-complete destruction of both nations. Of course there would be nary a peep because "they were on the other side in WWII" is a damned poor reason to complain about, well, anything. This may come as a surprise, but "German" or "Japanese" stopped being synonymous with "fascist" awhile back.

[usregimechange]

15. I agree. Is anyone here doing that?

[Solly Mack]

17. I would most certainly hope not

:)

[SoCalDem]

18. It's actually a stroke of brilliance by the Bushgang

They can claim it's a "biddness" deal, and will save money. and any dem who complains will be accused of racism/xenophibia/jingoism..

Repubes get to walk both sides of the street here, and as usual, the dems will be walking blindfolded, down the center of the expressway..

[Solly Mack]

20. That's true. Stripped down to it's basics - it's a brilliant move

You nailed the strategic brilliance of it.

Which is why the facts and only the facts must be used. Yeah - it's tempting to throw their shit back at them by saying "Terrorists control our ports" - or "The Arabs control our ports" (since the right has been saying forever that Arab/Muslim = terrorists), but we can't sink to that level. That's a talking point wrapped in racism.

There's more than enough reason to object to this sell. More than enough.

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. thank you ...I'm glad I'm not the only one who is bothered by the wording

If people just imagined substituting another ethnic group and think about how it sounds..

recommended

[Solly Mack]

22. Exactly. Just substitute "black people" or "Asians"

We can't take that route. It's wrong.

[Marie26]

25. K&R

Good post!

[Wordie]

26. Thank you for a sensible post on this issue. K&R

[blm]

27. Kicking this great post again.

.

[Wordie]

29. I'll second that kick! eom

[PsychoDad]

30. Well said.

And Thank you.

Somehow I doubt we would be hearing this much noise if it were an English company controlling these ports...

Oh wait, they already do.

Well, I doubt we would have heard this much noise about the Chinese controlling these ports, as they currently do the Panama Canal.

I do think there is an element of racism involved here.

Thanks again, and peace.