Mr. President, Why Veto Now?
Bonnie Alba
February 27, 2006
Pres. Bush didn’t know about it. Defense Secretary Rumsfield didn’t know about it. Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff didn’t know about it. Well, who did know about the United Arab Emirates-owned DP World company contract to control six U.S. port terminals? There were six cabinet departments involved in the panel’s decision process.
We are told this is just normal business, nothing to do with the “War on Islamic Terror.” No little red flag, no little itch or discomfort in the minds of our leaders, no gout suddenly paining the big toe --- nothing to produce just a twinge of hesitation? Not normal! Did it not occur to them that possibly this isn’t quite the right time in our history to contract an Arab-owned company to run our ports?
What most disturbs me is Pres. Bush’s reaction. For the first time in his presidency, he threatens to “Veto” any endeavor to block this port contract. VETO? There is more to this deal shrouded in darkness than we are being told.
Pres. Bush told reporters Friday: “...The more people learn about the transaction that has been scrutinized and approved by (note the next phrase) ‘MY government,’ the more they’ll be comforted that our ports will be secure.”
Bush is now the global Emperor of the United States Empire --- it’s no longer the “peoples’ government” but “MY government.” After 9/11, this president told the American people, “go about your business,” we will protect you.
A Little Bit of Historical Review***
I think of Pres. F. D. Roosevelt and how he might have responded. After Pearl Harbor, would he have agreed to a Japanese corporation contract to run our Pacific ports? Would he have allowed the United Hitler Corporation to run our Atlantic ports? Some would say there’s no comparison? History will be the judge.
During the Cold War in the 1950s every community in the nation practiced civil defense drills, dug shelters, stored water, canned goods --- just in case of bomb attacks. The people were involved in their own defense preparations. To date, no one has nuked America.
The reason for today’s “go about your business” is the knee-deep-in-debt government requires active consumers, not shelter diggers. Yes, keep borrowing and spending, buying all those foreign products, don’t save because you might not spend. By the way if our booming economy produces, where are all those “made in USA” products?
Of Empires and Money***
There’s a book floating out there that our government would like to stamp “DO NOT READ.” The “Empire of Debt” by Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin provides a broad, historical view with sharp insights including humorous bites of men’s foolishness and follies. With empires, economics and currencies in mind, they present a clear image of many past empires. According to them, the U.S. is just one more empire marching to its own tune and conclude that the U.S. Empire is a “peculiar” one. Instead of conquering other lands and peoples and riches, this empire wants to spread democracy around the globe.
This peculiarity is backed up by Pres. Bush’s recent state of the union message stating that U.S. policy is to encourage growth of democracy in every nation and culture with the “ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.” Forget the costs.
This is not the whole truth. Knowing I sound cynical and seeking revelation, I point you to a recent speech (Feb. 15) on the House floor by Congressman Ron Paul from Pres. Bush’s own state of Texas. Entitled “The End of Dollar Hegemony,” Paul orated the historical view of the “almighty dollar,” highlighting economic reasons we are now fighting in Iraq and threatening future invasions of Iran and Syria.
The present port crisis has raised citizens’ awareness to the contradictory attitudes of the Federal powers be they red or blue, right or left, republican or democrat. The aroma is not pleasant. Maybe Paul’s speech raised awareness levels in the minds of some of our congressmen.
Truth is hard to bear when we don’t want to hear it --- our government is counting on us to continue to be “good consumers” so they can keep borrowing and spending against our children’s and grandchildren’s futures. Unfortunately the U.S. Empire can no more halt our heads-on course into future wars and more debt than we could stop Hurricane Katrina from doing damage to our continent. In reality, we are deluding ourselves. We are rushing towards an oncoming train of bankruptcy derailment.
After the dust settles, the port contract will probably go through. As Bonner and Wiggin point out, George Washington cautioned us long ago --- “Avoid foreign entanglements.” Sadly we don’t listen to the dead.
2006 Bonnie Alba
Comments welcome: tttalba@hotmail.com
Sources:
End of Dollar Hegemony,” www.house.gov/paul/congree/congree2006/cr0217503.htm
Empire of Debt,” Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin, 2006
We are told this is just normal business, nothing to do with the “War on Islamic Terror.” No little red flag, no little itch or discomfort in the minds of our leaders, no gout suddenly paining the big toe --- nothing to produce just a twinge of hesitation? Not normal! Did it not occur to them that possibly this isn’t quite the right time in our history to contract an Arab-owned company to run our ports?
What most disturbs me is Pres. Bush’s reaction. For the first time in his presidency, he threatens to “Veto” any endeavor to block this port contract. VETO? There is more to this deal shrouded in darkness than we are being told.
Pres. Bush told reporters Friday: “...The more people learn about the transaction that has been scrutinized and approved by (note the next phrase) ‘MY government,’ the more they’ll be comforted that our ports will be secure.”
Bush is now the global Emperor of the United States Empire --- it’s no longer the “peoples’ government” but “MY government.” After 9/11, this president told the American people, “go about your business,” we will protect you.
A Little Bit of Historical Review***
I think of Pres. F. D. Roosevelt and how he might have responded. After Pearl Harbor, would he have agreed to a Japanese corporation contract to run our Pacific ports? Would he have allowed the United Hitler Corporation to run our Atlantic ports? Some would say there’s no comparison? History will be the judge.
During the Cold War in the 1950s every community in the nation practiced civil defense drills, dug shelters, stored water, canned goods --- just in case of bomb attacks. The people were involved in their own defense preparations. To date, no one has nuked America.
The reason for today’s “go about your business” is the knee-deep-in-debt government requires active consumers, not shelter diggers. Yes, keep borrowing and spending, buying all those foreign products, don’t save because you might not spend. By the way if our booming economy produces, where are all those “made in USA” products?
Of Empires and Money***
There’s a book floating out there that our government would like to stamp “DO NOT READ.” The “Empire of Debt” by Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin provides a broad, historical view with sharp insights including humorous bites of men’s foolishness and follies. With empires, economics and currencies in mind, they present a clear image of many past empires. According to them, the U.S. is just one more empire marching to its own tune and conclude that the U.S. Empire is a “peculiar” one. Instead of conquering other lands and peoples and riches, this empire wants to spread democracy around the globe.
This peculiarity is backed up by Pres. Bush’s recent state of the union message stating that U.S. policy is to encourage growth of democracy in every nation and culture with the “ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.” Forget the costs.
This is not the whole truth. Knowing I sound cynical and seeking revelation, I point you to a recent speech (Feb. 15) on the House floor by Congressman Ron Paul from Pres. Bush’s own state of Texas. Entitled “The End of Dollar Hegemony,” Paul orated the historical view of the “almighty dollar,” highlighting economic reasons we are now fighting in Iraq and threatening future invasions of Iran and Syria.
The present port crisis has raised citizens’ awareness to the contradictory attitudes of the Federal powers be they red or blue, right or left, republican or democrat. The aroma is not pleasant. Maybe Paul’s speech raised awareness levels in the minds of some of our congressmen.
Truth is hard to bear when we don’t want to hear it --- our government is counting on us to continue to be “good consumers” so they can keep borrowing and spending against our children’s and grandchildren’s futures. Unfortunately the U.S. Empire can no more halt our heads-on course into future wars and more debt than we could stop Hurricane Katrina from doing damage to our continent. In reality, we are deluding ourselves. We are rushing towards an oncoming train of bankruptcy derailment.
After the dust settles, the port contract will probably go through. As Bonner and Wiggin point out, George Washington cautioned us long ago --- “Avoid foreign entanglements.” Sadly we don’t listen to the dead.
2006 Bonnie Alba
Comments welcome: tttalba@hotmail.com
Sources:
End of Dollar Hegemony,” www.house.gov/paul/congree/congree2006/cr0217503.htm
Empire of Debt,” Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin, 2006
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