In computer science, porting is the adaptation of a piece of software so that it will function in a different computing environment to that for which it was originally written.
I recently ported an MS Access database to MySQL. It is lots of fun if you like to dabble in things.
Unfortunately the U.S. Government is dabbling in ways it shouldn’t. It is playing with our ports as well as our safety and security.
Porting the means of access to this country from what should be in U.S. hands to any Muslim owned company is stupid beyond belief. We are moving from an environment which we control to one where the control, or at least influence, is vested in foreign hands.
In the interest of protecting our sovereignty shouldn’t some things just be off limits? Is everything for sale?
Among the recent revelations, company records will be stored outside the United States and Dubai Ports will:
…operate American seaports with existing U.S. managers “to the extent possible.” The company promised to take “all reasonable steps” to assist the Homeland Security Department. (ABC News)
Reasonable is a pretty big concept.
Now I am no protectionist and I believe in free markets. However, I do not believe in having any relationship whatsoever with a people and a culture that is founded upon Muslim beliefs or an Islamic system. They have not proven themselves. They have only proven the negative.
These countries and their people need to earn our respect and trust. They need to change their mode of operation from a nodding acquiescence to terrorism and subjugation to one of freedom and democracy.
It starts with their ability to be honest. Let’s hear the Emir say: “We are responsible for terrorism, not the United States and not Israel. It is not the Jews and it is not Western culture. It is us. We are the enemy and we must change.”
If they should wish to change it cannot be an overnight change either. It is one that must be tested again and again over time.
President Bush has sold out on the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Remember trust but verify. The Soviets had to earn our trust while under constant surveillance.
President Bush has said several amazing things including: “people don’t need to worry about security.”
(Pause for a moment of stupefied silence.)
The administration also calls Dubai a good friend who grants access to our ships and planes. I’m thinking, who cares? If they do not, just use their ports and airspace anyway. If their one tugboat navy and one prop plane get in our way, oh well…
The Australians seem to be getting it right. The land of the laid back and the vegemite is standing up for its values. I’ve quoted a story regarding a speech given by their Treasury Secretary below. When will our Treasury Secretary tell those who do not adhere to our ways to leave?
Per the Salt Lake Tribune:
In September, the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, said the Treasury Department, as head of the interagency committee that reviews such deals, had used an overly narrow definition of national security threats because it wanted to encourage foreign investment.
Yep, that’s our Treasury Department.
In the end, those who run the ports can use their influence (isn’t that what it’s all about) to slip in the one or two people needed to accomplish a terrorist objective. It doesn’t take many people to do such an evil deed.
Here are some excerpts from The Daily Telegraph on Australia’s stance.
Ultimatum to Muslims
PETER Costello last night condemned “mushy multiculturalism” and told Muslims who could not tolerate others to leave Australia.
The Treasurer said the citizenship pledge of loyalty and respect for law should be a “big flashing warning sign” for those Muslims.
Mr Costello departed from economic matters to address Muslim protests following the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed.
He said those offended “must recognise this does not justify violence against newspapers, or countries that allow newspapers to publish them”.
His comment reinforced the stand of Prime Minister John Howard, who this week criticised Muslims who were “utterly antagonistic to our society”.
Mr Costello said Australia was a secular nation and law was set by Parliament under the Constitution.
“There are countries that apply religious or sharia law —“ Saudi Arabia and Iran come to mind,” Mr Costello told the Sydney Institute.
“If a person wants to live under sharia law these are countries where they might feel at ease. But not Australia.”
Calling for enforcement of the values pledged in the citizenship oath, Mr Costello recalled a ceremony he had attended this year at which people from 36 countries became Australians.
He said a state MP told the audience citizenship did not mean having to give up culture or language or religion or opinions, or love of their native country.
“The longer he went on about how important it was not to give up anything to become an Australian the more it seemed to me that, in his view, becoming an Australian didn’t seem to mean much at all —“ other than getting a new passport,” he said.
He called that view “confused, mushy, misguided multiculturalism” which underestimated those taking out citizenship.
“They are conscious that this is not a trivial event. It is a big decision. Becoming a citizen of another country changes their identity,” he said.
…
“Before becoming an Australian you will be asked to subscribe to certain values. If you have strong objections to those values, don’t come to Australia.”
Mr Costello said hardline Muslims born here represented “citizens who are apparently so alienated that they do not support what their own country stands for”.
Amen PM Howard and Mr. Costello. Mr. Costello knows who’s on first.