Freedom Toast

[rain_gryphon]

Bush folds up like a Frenchman.

"They ought to look at the facts and understand the consequences of what they're going to do. But if they pass a law, I'll deal with it, with a veto." -Bush, Feb 21

"Our emphasis is on not trying to draw lines or issue veto threats, it's on how we can work together and move forward." - Bush spokesman, today

In an angsty sort of way, the whole thing was rather entertaining. I was urging people on OhioFur this morning to phone or write their Senator and demand an immediate up or down vote on the issue. It was very obvious watching C-SPAN that the popular pressure for a vote was having an effect.

Comments

[derechodragon.livejournal.com]

Given that I have not been following debate on this issue (such things only serve to make me angry, which I don't need), even though I am anything but a Bush supporter, can you give me a synopsis of why the UAE port deal is A Bad Idea, beyond the knee-jerk "OMG ARABS NOOOOOOOO!!!!" response I would expect? Why does uber-patriot let's-kick-Arab-ass W think this is so important to allow to go throw?

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Bush has always been sympathetic to the Arabs. That's been one of his weaknesses all through the war. He's not at all about "let's-kick-Arab-ass" and never has been. He's extremely religious, and is apparently incapable of seeing sincere faith as a force for anything but good. When he speaks of Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance, he honestly means that. This is why I (and a lot of others, evidently) don't trust his judgement on this issue.

What made this blow up like it did was the fact that he rammed it through quietly, then tried to present it as a fait accompli, without allowing for public debate or discussion. There's probably little to no real risk in allowing Dubai to operate our ports. Had the matter been openly discussed from the beginning, I have little doubt but that an agreement acceptable to all could have been reached. Given Bush's trusting nature vis a vis the Arabs, and given his personal friendship with the Sultan, his assurances that there was no risk didn't carry a lot of weight.