Bill Clinton helped Dubai on ports deal

[ECH1969]

Bill Clinton, former US president, advised top officials from Dubai two weeks ago on how to address growing US concerns over the acquisition of five US container terminals by DP World.

It came even as his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, was leading efforts to derail the deal.

Mr Clinton, who this week called the United Arab Emirates a “good ally to America”, advised Dubai’s leaders to propose a 45-day delay to allow for an intensive investigation of the acquisition, according to his spokesman.

However, Mrs Clinton remains a leading voice against the deal, and this week proposed legislation to block it, arguing that the US could not afford to “surrender our port operations to foreign governments”.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/60414c4c-a95e-11da-a64b-0000779e2340.html

[niyad]

1. it's SENATOR Clinton, you sexist jerks.

[UCLA02]

16. Not quite fair and a bit misguided.

It is quite common, especially in Euro news. The article does refer to her as a senator initially. An article will refer to President Bush (no discussion invited about THAT premise), then continue to refer to him as Mr. Bush. Same with a Rep or a Gov. NYT is a perfect example of this.

See another Financial Times article on the US News page:

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/54066a7a-a97c-11da-a64b-0000779e2340.html

Refers to "Senator Shelby" then Mr. Shelby throughout. Not at all sexist reporting.

[columbusdem]

57. Brits are different.

The British press tends to be more formal. You'll notice they referred to Bill Clinton as Mr. Clinton, rather than as President Clinton.

[cali]

2. This is going to be very interesting. n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Kinda like Carville & Matalin--

a pair of hookers, one plying each side of the street.

When I think Bill, I think WTO, NAFTA, welfare "reform."
When I think Hillary, I think Universal Healthcare Screwup, Patriot Act, Iraq, etc.

[saracat]

7. Read the article. Bill supports Hillary's position. He also gave an

interview earlier this week saying the US should protect its own ports itself!

[bklyncowgirl]

33. Clinton says that ideally state owned companies should not run ports

You don't get that from the headline do you?

[rwheeler31]

4. hmmm

If you read the whole article he agrees with his wife.

[thoughtanarchist]

18. A winner!

a cigar for the eagle-eye!

:smoke:

I guess if they define "helping" as informing Dubai leaders of the US LAW that requires a 45 day delay to investigate the terms of the deal it may technically qualify as "helping", but I don't think it "helped" as much as the Bush* administration's decision to illegally bypass that 45 day delay.

The MSNBC article takes a disingenuous shot at the former president. For some reason, this does not shock me. :eyes:

The headline from USAToday is more honest.

From USAToday:

Clinton: U.S. should decide level of control of ports
By John Machacek, Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton weighed in on the port security controversy Tuesday, saying the United States should consider whether it should have more control over its ports.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the National Governors Association, Clinton said he is a "huge fan" of the government of Dubai, a United Arab Emirates state whose maritime company is poised to take over some operations at six major U.S. ports.

But he said the adequacy of port security under foreign management is a legitimate issue.

"I don't think there is any question that this (state-owned Dubai Ports World) is a reputable company," Clinton said. "And there is no question that the United Arab Emirates is a good ally of America. But all of us are feeling that we want to maintain the maximum control we can over our national security. This is one area where we have really failed."

...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-28-clinton-ports_x.htm

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Hey Bill, did your adopted father, George Bush, ask you for this favor?

[saracat]

6. Very misleading title on article!

"He added that Mr Clinton supported his wife’s position on the deal and that “ideally” state-owned companies would not own US port operations."


So really, Clinton does NOT support this sale.He advised them to do the 45 day investigation, which he was obligated to tell them to do as it is the law. Big whup.

[0007]

12. Huh?

Mr Clinton’s contact with Dubai on the issue underscores the relationship he has developed with the United Arab Emirates since leaving office. In 2002, he was paid $300,000 (€252,000) to address a summit in Dubai.

[emulatorloo]

24. see my post #22 - doesn't sound as sinister as article tries to make it

Quite frankly that article is written in a misleading way. IMHO

[0007]

36. I agree!

[IndianaGreen]

17. The headline is misleading

Clinton was not involved in the Dubai deal, he merely advised UAE on accepting a 45 day delay.

[progressivebydesign]

8. I reread the article. Total bullshit hack job. Rove's been busy!!

Clinton gets paid to speak at a function in Dubai, and they mention it as though he has financial TIES to UAE, AND.. the mentioned Hillary as "mrs." when she is a Senator. AND.. he SIMPLY told them to submit to the full process, he did NOT put a good word for them, or help them other than offer advice over the phone. This is more crap from Rove & Co. and their PR offensive. This article is a piece of crap, and the headline you used on this article is ridiculously MISLEADING! (geee.. how long until some DUers here start calling Senator Clinton a "pig in a pantsuit"? cuz it seems like attacks on the Clintons are becoming the norm). Reading that article, as I have, you would have KNOWN Bill Clinton did NOT help them...

[opihimoimoi]

10. Very clever these underhanded Pubs....very clever.

:sarcasm:

[progressivebydesign]

11. you forgot to add your 'sarcasm' icon.

The article was a hit piece. Clinton answered questions and gave them advice to go through the full process.

[opihimoimoi]

19. Mahalo=thanks

[0007]

14. I agree it is total BS!

[wordpix]

43. "Repiglicans aren't responsible for DP World deal, CLINTON's responsible"

[nolabels]

60. The Clenis strikes again

http://www.leonardrossiter.com/Film.html

[peacetalksforall]

9. Isn't the delay a phony action? They are suppose to close the sale

tomorrow or Friday. How do they reverse a done deal unless they've added an addendum (or whatever it is called)?

Why are the British selling out our assets, anyway. Were they just used as a foot in the door for the sell-out of our country?

[wordpix]

44. I believe you're right. A congressman said this week that deal will go

thru first, investigation will be completed after. What BS.

I can't remember who the congressman was who said this but he said it twice and emphasized it.

[emulatorloo]

13. RIGHT WING HACK JOB EOM

[IndianaGreen]

15. Did Big Dog get $300,000 from UAE, yes or no?

I wouldn't be surprised if the Clintons are triangulating on this issue!

[opihimoimoi]

21. much more.....300 G don't buy shit these days

:sarcasm:

[emulatorloo]

23. see my post below - the magic of google . . . n/t

[emulatorloo]

22. 2002 Clinton "UAE: CLINTON IN DUBAI: ECONOMIC POWER TO UPROOT POVERTY"

I have no idea what he got -- OP's linked article says he addressed a summit in 2002, and here is what google turned up. Sorry, it does not sound sinister as article seems to imply.


http://www.jordanembassyus.org/01172002006.htm

Jordan Times
Thursday, January 17, 2002

Queen Rania, Bill Clinton to address Dubai charity gala

DUBAI (AFP) — Her Majesty Queen Rania and former US President Bill Clinton will address a gala dinner in Dubai on Thursday hosted by a charity organisation that aims at harnessing technology to help underprivileged children, organisers said Wednesday.

The Science, Technology and Arts Royal Summit (STARS), which held an inaugural fund-raising dinner here last October whose proceeds went to Afghan children, had also planned an inaugural annual “Oscars” ceremony for the IT industry at the time, but postponed the event because of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

A spokesperson for the organisers told AFP that Clinton would be attending Thursday's gathering, as would Queen Rania, who is involved in STARS' activities through the Jordan River Foundation, which she heads.

Speakers, who will focus on the use of technology to improve children's lives, will also include STARS Chairman Amr Dabbagh, she said.

Dubai, a Gulf trading hub, has launched a multibillion-dollar campaign to also become the Middle East's tourism, leisure and e-capital.

In 2003, the emirate is to host the annual board meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

Clinton will also be addressing a three-day Saudi economic forum focusing on the implications of the Sept. 11 attacks that opens in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Saturday, organisers said.


------------------------------

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1493/is_200201/ai_n6666311

UAE: CLINTON IN DUBAI: ECONOMIC POWER TO UPROOT POVERTY
IPR Strategic Business Information Database, January, 2002

At the Science, Technology and Arts Royal Summit 2002 (STARS) held recently in Dubai, under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister, former U.S. President Bill Clinton expressed the need for a global economic and technological alliance against evils, which he said served as a ground for terrorism and destruction. "I believe in order to realize the vision that we are here to celebrate tonight we all have to change," he said. According to Khaleej Times, as the world is trying to recover from the September 11 attacks on ...

[opihimoimoi]

25. Looks above board to me...

[emulatorloo]

26. yeah - weird that the ft.com article is so "mysterious" about it --

Why don't they just come out and say what it was. Basically written to make the reader assume the WORST.

[MrPrax]

32. Why wouldn't Clinton ...

want to do biz with this member of the UAE royal family



I rem her from the G8 Make Poverty History summit roundtable on CNN--Bono, Sachs, Clinton, Geldoff, the whole crew... what a hottie!!

[IndianaGreen]

51. That's Her Royal Highness Queen Rania of Jordan

and she did not get a speaking fee for what was to be a charity fund raiser.

Queen Rania is a Palestinian and she is a very decent person.

Thanks for your sexism!

[MrPrax]

59. Wow...

Crazy world isn't it when folks sporting a 'Karl Marx' avatar are running to defend the honour of monarchs, neo-cons, rock stars and dixie-crats...crazy fucking world.

Yeah, sexism is THE most important problem facing humanity today :eyes:...

Whatever...did you get your Make History Poverty elastic band to wear around your wrist--I mean if you don't wear it, then people might think your FOR poverty!

[SOS]

61. LOL!

First you imply that Clinton attended the 2002 UAE dinner so he could be in the company of the Queen of Jordan. An absurd implication.
Then you proceed to misidentify Queen Rania. UAE royal family? You're not even in the right country.
Then you say IG was defending the honor of "neo-cons, rock stars and dixiecrats" because you can't tell the difference between a UAE charity event in 2002 and the G8 summit held in Edinborough, Scotland in 2005.
You got the countries, the people, the events and the years wrong.
And Queen Rania is quite progressive as far as royal family members go. Although since you have no idea what country she is from you may have missed IG's point.
If you can find a post where IG defends a neo-con, please post a link. (Good luck!)

[MrPrax]

62. Contraire...

Hardly absurd observation to think that the Big Dawg might NOT be motivated by 'personal relations'--shall I post photos of Clinton with Belinda Stronach? What is the motiviation there? OR do you just think that being a sleaze and embarassing your partner is just 'partisan' rhetoric and not a fatal character flaw

Nope---wrong I was referring to the tasteless Global Initiative Event hosted by Clinton and carried on CNN in junction with the G8 conference
Transcript can be found here at Wolfie's World Bank

You seem so observant--I guess you missed that one...but feel free to read the collected wisdom of 'former leaders', neo-cons, rock stars, republicans and fake monarchs...

Some good quotes:

Clinton: So, the difference in now, I would say, and 1970 when people were talking about this, or even in the '80s and '90s, is we really do know what works.

But later: So we need to have this sort of entrepreneurial spirit. One of the reasons I wanted to have this conference is to figure out what we can do, regardless of what governments are doing but the governments need an implementation strategy.

LOL...

Yeah you read all about Wolfie, Bono, Jeff, Captain Courageous, monarchs etc that...don't read any of the Peoples' Summit stuff or bother with what these guys http://www.ifg.org/ have to say...the newly minted defenders of the Poor never talk them either, so your in good company.

UAE or Jordan--who cares, being a Progressive and in love with Democracy, I don't generally keep an eye on what FAKE royal is wearing on what jersey--they're kinda contempible, unless your a Conservative.

BUT BUT a funny story on the monarchy of TransJordan...oh go google it

[cmkramer]

65. Actually

That would be Her Majesty.

[daleo]

29. I am guessing a speaking fee, for a private engagement

A popular ex-president can get plenty for that. I believe Clinton was in my humble town a few weeks back and tickets were several hundred dollars apiece.

[IndianaGreen]

52. It was a charity fund raiser

Queen Rania of Jordan did not get paid!

[IsItJustMe]

20. Need much more proof. Measure twice and cut once man.

I'm not gonna sell Bill out that quick.

You got anymore background sources dude?

[Boo Boo]

27. I think what will eventually come out is that there are strategic

concerns in this matter. The Navy has, and wants to maintain, access to the port(s) in Dubai. I'm guessing that this is the key factor driving the deal. We need the cooperation of Dubai in order to maintain our strategic posture. This is sort of the capitalist equivalent of marrying some sheik's daughter.

Regardless of whether or not this makes strategic sense, it's obviously highly unpopular with voters of all stripes. The Dubai deal, taken in the context of the flooding of New Orleans, is a potent weapon against Herr Bush. The two taken together badly damage the public perception of Bush as being strong on national security.

Will the fact that Clinton and Carter have lent support to the Dubai deal be enough to sway public opinion? I don't think so. Will Democrats that are actually up for election in '06 resist the urge to capitalize on this? I wouldn't. First things first---screw Bush, then worry about where we put our ships.

Would Republicans let something like this slide? No frickin' way.

[Mr_Spock]

28. Bill is actually involved in this sort of thing huh?

I had no idea.

[Sensitivity]

63. Dubai is one of few places following wise policy for development

-- globalization, diversification, strategic planning -- Pres. Clinton goes around the world promoting

[HuffleClaw]

30. erm, advising a 45-day investigation is NOT 'helping dubai'

but you've gotta appreciate the desperate spin if only for its comic value. CLIIIIIINTOOOOOON ! ! ! !

[rpannier]

31. I don't care if my mother negotitated the ports deal

It's a bad idea.

[truthisfreedom]

34. looks like he's planning ahead for Hillary. "advising" a 45-day delay is

completely against bush's plan to ramrod it through, and gives the Dems virtually unlimited time to make hay out of this debacle.
methinks Bill did what was best for his wife. methinks he still feels guilty about the fat girl with the leaky mouth.

[Rose Siding]

38. Exactly. And this spin is to counter remarks he made yesterday, suggesting

that all ports be under US control.

[mac56]

35. Any way you slice it -

Clinton's "involvement" in this is just gonna drive the Freepers crazy. Turn them even more against this deal.

To quote Nelson Muntz: HAAAA-ha!

[JNelson6563]

37. This is a medieval tactic

Have a member of the family in each camp, whichever side wins, there's someone who was on the "right" side of the argument and the family avoids complete ruin.

Evolution is dead.

[stepnw1f]

39. The Article is Propaganda SPIN

and the title is totally misleading... another RNC tactic to get the heat off of them and to blame dems again. Jesus they are so transparent. Somebody inform Mediamatters so we can debunk this shit right away before it spreads like a virus.

[FlaGranny]

40. That are not THAT transparent, it seems, because

some fall for it, hook, line, and sinker. Some are always eager to assume the worst about the Clintons - even some DUers.

[stepnw1f]

41. Very True

I should have been more specific.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[superconnected]

45. Knew it. see I always knew there's corruption, total corruption at the

higher levels, BUT, my only consolation was that Clinton didn't toally sell out America like Bush did - ie sept 11, 2001.

Now it's clear that Clinton is selling out America with Bush.

Thanx clinton you fucker. I voted for you twice and Gore once.

What's next, Kerry the billionaire is in on Dubia too. Carter came forward and said he supports it.

I expected the Clintons to have their seat secured on Carlyles board over a year ago, with their actions.

Trust no one.

[saracat]

46. Did you actually"read" this article? CLINTON DOES NOT SUPPORT THE PORT

SALE!

[superconnected]

49. I'm not getting how he actually doesn't support it.

I want to get that though.

I would prefer that.

[saracat]

55. He was only being diplomatic. Diplomacy is something this Admin doesn't

know about. He praised Dubai while saying the fact that we need to control our own ports is an issue. No sense insulting Dubai but we don't need to do this deal as it isn't in our best interests. Get it?

But he said the adequacy of port security under foreign management is a legitimate issue.

"I don't think there is any question that this (state-owned Dubai Ports World) is a reputable company," Clinton said. "And there is no question that the United Arab Emirates is a good ally of America. But all of us are feeling that we want to maintain the maximum control we can over our national security. This is one area where we have really failed."

[superconnected]

56. ah thank you.

I see now.

[jasmeel]

47. Bill Clinton advises Dubai as Hillary attacks its US ports deal

What's going on with this story? Is this more of the it's ok because Clinton did it spin? It seems like it. It doesn't change my opinion of the port deal though.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060302/ts_alt_afp/usuaeporttakeover_060302151101

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former president
Bill Clinton has privately advised Dubai officials how to address US political concerns over a controversial ports deal, as his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, publicly attacks the deal.

Dubai Ports World bid to takeover Britain's P and O, which runs terminal operations at six major US ports, has triggered a political firestorm in the United States.

Senator Clinton has voiced vigorous opposition to the 5.7-billion-euro (6.8-billion-dollar) takeover, saying it threatens US national security.

She is attempting to push legislation through Congress that seeks to block the deal, partly on the grounds that DP World is foreign-government owned.<snip>

[shoelace414]

48. and amazingly enough, Bill Clinton isn't President, Bush is.

[Dover]

50. The BIG LIE is that there was ever a significant terror threat

to this country to begin with. The war on terror has always been a sham, as is the office of Homeland Security and Border Control.

The 'port deal' is just more evidence of how successful their fear mongering campaign has been. They have completely shifted people's reality, exploited Americans by appealing to their fears about security and have reshaped racial/religious opinions of the Muslim world (not long ago the USSR used to have the 'evil empire' status). This fear and INsecurity sells everything from foreign policy and war to Hummers and duct tape. If they ever needed proof of that, this port deal should assure them that while we might be intellectually independent and liberal-minded,
they still can manipulate us on an emotional/instinctual level (the reptilian brain as their propaganda wizards call it).

At the same time they apparently have convinced American citizens that the government simply must
tap THEIR phones and read THEIR mail to ward off these imaginary boogiemen. The truth is that the multi-national elite have more to fear from a rising up of the common people than they do from the players in that exclusive club of elites that are happily carving up the world and its resources. If you examine their activities and the pattern of decisions made (which might baffle those who have bought the lie), an extraordinary clarity and consistency can be seen about their
actual agenda.

It's only confusing and hypocritical if you assume the perspective that YOU are inside this circle looking out, rather than outside looking in.

The only thing to fear is fear itself.

[IndianaGreen]

53. CNN reporting that UAE donated $500,000 to Clinton Library

What did the Bible say about money being the root of all evil, or was that a Bing Crosby movie?

[Megahurtz]

54. I wonder how much money he's getting out of this.

Fucking Sellout.:grr:

[AlGore-08.com]

58. Okay, so what would have happened if they didn't accept the delay?

What would have happened to the deal, if anything?

What, if anything were the Dubai officials proposing instead of submitting to the investigation?

[6000eliot]

64. Are they really going to try to blame Clinton for this mess?

[cantstandbush]

67. Clinton was only giving good advice so that the American people

could find out what is going on. It seems to me that he advised them to do what everyone else said was the real problem with this deal...no real review.

[goforit]

66. Money talks over values!!!...........Way to suck up Bill!

Go to hell Washington!!!