As batshit loony as the story of Dubai Ports is, I have to say I am enjoying perusing MSM outlets that chronicle the almost unanimous rejection of Bush's plans to outsource port control to the UAE.
Over at ABC.com, though, I noted this rather weak defense of the program by "Presidential counselor" Dan Bartlett:
Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, said the UAE was a partner in the war on terror.
"They're helping us cut off terrorist financing and sharing intelligence. If we're going to win the war on terror, we need more people in the Middle East partnering with us, not isolating themselves from us," Bartlett said. "I think we're sending a dangerous signal to people overseas that America plays favorites." [emph mine]
Something about that last statement didn't sit right with me. And then I remembered:
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon will bar companies from France, Germany, Russia and other countries that opposed the war in Iraq from bidding on $18.6 billion in prime contracts for reconstruction of the country, according to a memo released Tuesday.
The memo, signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, says that "for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States," only companies from the United States, Iraq and the countries that joined the coalition against Saddam Hussein will be allowed to bid on the 26 contracts to be announced soon. [emph me again]
(from
LAT, reprinted by Common Dreams.)
Does Bartlett know that Donald Rumsfeld was sending dangerous signals?