Speaking of Frank Gaffney . . .
He probably beats James K. Glassman on points in their Townhall.com back-and-forth on the Dubai Ports World deal. Glassman uses twice as many words, most of which are mummery of one kind or another, especially the implication that we should approve the DPW deal because, he all but says, “Dubai’s got hookers!” (Which appears to be true.) On Glassman’s own site the prestidigitation continues, as Gregory Scoblete admits that, yeah, Dubai has a pretty mixed record on the terrorism front, but so does - and you knew this was coming - France!
At this point you’re probably wondering if there’s an intermittently salacious Dubai blogger you could be reading and the answer turns out to be, in blog language: indeed.
Still not sure what I think about the ports deal, but I am sure I can’t bear the thought of thinking about it much longer.
Comment by HankP —
February 28, 2006 @ 2:34 am
You have to beat this administration with the stick you have, not the stick you wish you had.
Comment by Frank —
February 28, 2006 @ 3:11 am
Jim- I agree with HankP. You and the Note should get over yourselves. I for one am delighted that this will continue to damage Bush for the forseeable future, and I would be even if I didn’t think there was merit to this, which I do.
Comment by Jim Henley —
February 28, 2006 @ 7:20 am
Yeah I know I’m committing a vast crime against all that is good and right by not dutifully giving a shit about whatever Phil Singer wants me to at the precise moment he wants it. Might ThinkProgress run an item denouncing me? Cause I can always use the traffic.
Comment by Rich Puchalsky —
February 28, 2006 @ 8:46 am
People don’t understand that when you run large, continuing deficits as the U.S. is doing, you end up with foreigners owning more and more of your country. That’s just how it works, if you want to stay within a capitalist system.
I couldn’t care less, personally, whether large corporations are U.S. owned and run or not. A boss is a boss is a boss.
This deal is interesting (to me) only as an example of the contradictions that Bush is trying to paper over.
Comment by Barry —
February 28, 2006 @ 8:48 am
It’s astounding that Glassman is still able considered to be somebody worth using in a debate, after ’Dow 36,000’. IMHO, he’s now a indicator person - any outlet which uses him is either ignorant or dishonest.
Comment by Jim Henley —
February 28, 2006 @ 9:21 am
Barry: I tend to agree. I don’t read much Glassman, but the skeeviness of his end of the Dubai debate was striking. Gaffney may be insane, but at least he’s straightforward about it.
Rich: Yes, contradictions Bush is trying to paper over puts it well. I think it’s marginally more interesting than that yet, and I may end up writing another item about it.
Comment by Jim Henley —
February 28, 2006 @ 9:47 am
One more contradiction to paper over, Rich . . .
They’ve still got hookers, though
Comment by Barry —
February 28, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
Hmm. So could DPW security call Heimat Sicherheitdienst on Mossad agents, have them sent to Gitmo and tortured? Or does the agreement with DPW include a torture outsourcing contract, to render suspects to Dubai? Or do we send them to Syria, which is a charter member of the Axis of So Evil/Certified Torture Experts? Or do we send them to Israel, because Mossad has an excellent rep in terms of getting high quality information from hard cases? In which case, would Mossad stage a raid on Mossad HQ, to liberate the prisoners?
My head hurts; international business is *so* complicated.
Comment by Rob —
February 28, 2006 @ 6:02 pm
Anyone want to bet that Glassman is now doing PR and lobbying for Dubai?
Comment by diana —
February 28, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
Daniel Pipes of all people thinks the French have been doing a grand job of anti-terrorism.
Comment by Barry —
February 28, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
Comment by Rob —
”Anyone want to bet that Glassman is now doing PR and lobbying for Dubai?”
Nah. But only because I imagine that TCS is actually collecting the money; Glassman is just doing ’scholarship’. And even TCS might have a middleman for deniability.
Comment by Rob —
March 1, 2006 @ 12:15 am
TCS is hardly Glassman’s only lobbying place. Most of his Op-eds are paid palcemant deals. He is a living breathing bought and paid for shill. And people still listen to him.