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Lautenberg's 'Devil
and Dubai' Comments Prompt Outrage
Jeff McKay
Correspondent
(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Frank
Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, has angered Arab-Americans with
remarks comparing the Middle Eastern emirate of Dubai to the devil.
"Don't let them tell you that it's just a transfer of title," Lautenberg
told longshoremen at the Port of Newark on Monday. "Baloney! We wouldn't
transfer the title to the devil, and we're not going to transfer it to
Dubai," the senator said.
Lautenberg's comments drew applause from union members, who oppose a
Bush administration deal allowing a Dubai-owned company, located in the
United Arab Emirates, to manage some of the terminals at six major U.S.
ports.
However, some believe New Jersey's 82-year-old senior senator crossed
the line.
"Mr. Lautenberg's overheated language is just plain destructive," said
an editorial in Thursday's Bergen Record newspaper. "Sen. Frank
Lautenberg owes the Arab-American community an apology," the newspaper
added.
Arab-American and Islamic-American groups also weighed in.
"This is a flagrant example of demagoguery and hate-mongering," said
Aref Assaf, president of the American Arab Forum, at a State Assembly
hearing in Trenton.
The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee called the comparison of
Dubai to the devil "unacceptable" and "of a larger trend of bias
rhetoric and backlash surrounding the debate over port security."
"The concern we have is that if an ally of the United States like the
U.A.E. can be smeared in this manner, simply because it's an Arab
country, then our relations with the broader Arab world may be
irreparably damaged.
"It is not just wrong, it is unconscionable for the U.A.E. to be
described using language such as a "rogue" government with "ties to
Islamic fascism," said James Zogby, president of the Arab American
Institute.
On Thursday, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations
accused Sen. Lautenberg of racism and called his statement comparing
Dubai to the devil "unacceptable."
"All Americans should be concerned when a top political official
compares a staunch U.S. ally with the devil. The U.A.E. has long and
strong ties with the United States," said Ibraham Hooper, spokesman for
the the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"Inflammatory rhetoric such as the statements made by Senator Lautenberg
can only harm relations between the U.S. and its ally, Dubai, which has
been on this nation's side in the war on terror."
Hooper told Cybercast News Service he believes America will look past
the Lautenberg comments and Congress will approve the Dubai Ports World
agreement.
"With President Bush's strong support I believe some version of the deal
will pass. However, there may be some modifications as it travels
through Congress," said Hooper.
Lautenberg appeared at the Port of Newark with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
He later admitted he might have "overdramatized" the situation, but he
called the furor over his remarks a "bum rap."
In related news on Wednesday, a federal judge blocked New Jersey
Governor Jon Corzine's request to allow a full investigation into the
Dubai Ports World deal pertaining to the Port of Newark.
The judge also denied Corzine access to classified documents detailing
security concerns.
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