Monday, February 27, 2006
500 U.S. Warships Docked in Dubai
Former Navy Secretary, Sen. John Warner said Sunday that the United Arab Emirates, home to ports operating company slated to take over dozens of U.S. shipping terminals, hosted hundreds of U.S. warships in 2005.
"We are using facilities in the UAE today, docking over 500 ships, American warships, last year," Warner told NBC's "Meet the Press."
The former top Navy man noted also that the U.S. is "using their air fields to perform support missions for both Afghanistan and Iraq."
Sen. Warner said the U.S. was dependent on countries like the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait "to give us the support to fight this war on terrorism."
We cannot mess this deal up," he urged.
The Virginia Republican said that while heightened concern over port security was legitimate in a post-9/11 world, he reminded: "Also in our hearts are the men and women of the armed forces. We need to continue to give them the support they need to finish this battle."
Saying that "the utilization of the facilities in UAE and the other Arab areas" is "absolutely essential," Warner posited: "If the UAE felt that they’re being mistreated and were to pull back that support, where would it shift?
"We know not," he added.
Former Navy Secretary, Sen. John Warner said Sunday that the United Arab Emirates, home to ports operating company slated to take over dozens of U.S. shipping terminals, hosted hundreds of U.S. warships in 2005.
"We are using facilities in the UAE today, docking over 500 ships, American warships, last year," Warner told NBC's "Meet the Press."
The former top Navy man noted also that the U.S. is "using their air fields to perform support missions for both Afghanistan and Iraq."
Sen. Warner said the U.S. was dependent on countries like the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait "to give us the support to fight this war on terrorism."
We cannot mess this deal up," he urged.
The Virginia Republican said that while heightened concern over port security was legitimate in a post-9/11 world, he reminded: "Also in our hearts are the men and women of the armed forces. We need to continue to give them the support they need to finish this battle."
Saying that "the utilization of the facilities in UAE and the other Arab areas" is "absolutely essential," Warner posited: "If the UAE felt that they’re being mistreated and were to pull back that support, where would it shift?
"We know not," he added.
