Dubai Ports Deal

Dear Friends,

Some of you have written to ask about my thoughts about the Dubai Ports Deal.

There are the obvious questions about the Bush Administration's involvement with oil and Middle Eastern corporations and governments. But, for me, one of the most important issues this raises concerns the general subject of foreign ownership of resources.

As part of the "debt forgiveness" deals, we often insist that debtor countries allow our corporations to privatize key elements of their economies -- for example: electric, water, sewerage, gas, and oil facilities and even their prison and educational systems -- and we usually insist on the right to station our military troops in their countries.

Yet, we do not permit the Chinese to buy into one of our oil companies and object to a Dubai company purchasing facilities at some of our ports. This should make us probe very deep into ourselves and our motives.

What does it mean to be a democracy?

What does it mean to espouse "justice and equality for all?"

How do you feel about it yourself?   Drop me a note.

John Perkins

Visit the John Perkins Collection at the Global Dialogue Center

Comments

[Elle Bee]

You state:
As part of the "debt forgiveness" deals, we often insist that debtor countries allow our corporations to privatize key elements of their economies -- for example: electric, water, sewerage, gas, and oil facilities and even their prison and educational systems -- and we usually insist on the right to station our military troops in their countries.

Yet, we do not permit the Chinese to buy into one of our oil companies and object to a Dubai company purchasing facilities at some of our ports. This should make us probe very deep into ourselves and our motives. <<<

Is it really about our "motives", or is it more about who benefits from these prohibitions?

Legislators are trying to make it illegal for people to go to Canada (or order from Canada) and purchase their medicine - the exact same medication they were prescribed in the US. Why? Because US pharmaceutical giants stand to lose big money.

This current administration would like nothing more than to privatize education - thereby eliminating public schools and its funding. Who stands to benefit from this? Those private firms who will reap the dollars building these schools, selling their food in them - and hiring the "appropriate" teachers. Who do you think wants that voucher money?

After Hurricane Katrina, who was awarded reconstruction contracts for the dammage? Small, independent firms in Louisiana and Mississippi? No. Halliburton was called in, and with them they brought foreign workers from Mexico to do the work (until enough stink was made...).

I could go on.

We have begun to cannibalize ourselves, our own people in the name of profit. It isn't about an "american" agenda. It is about a corporate profit. Corporate profit knows no nation.