Gen. Tommy Franks tripped up by GOP talking point on port deal

February 28, 2006

In White House Scramble to Defend Port Deal, Is Support for Israel Being Left Behind?

The White House's "Jewish Public Liaison," a staffer in the Office of Public Liaison, is today circulating a serially misleading set of talking points relating to the Dubai Ports World purchase of American ports.

Perhaps most telling of all of the deceptions is this statement they include from General Tommy Franks, the former CENTCOM Commander under Bush and a featured speaker at the 2004 Republican National Convention:

"I personally believe that we have had no greater ally in seeking a resolution of problems in the Middle East, the Palestinian issue, the Israeli issue, than we have found in the United Arab Emirates." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 2/22/06)

NO GREATER ALLY???

UAE is seeking peace with Israel?

Snip...

(UPDATE: Here is evidence that the UAE is helping to pick up the slack in the Palestinian Authority's budget since Hamas' victory; this funding undermines the effectiveness of international pressure on Hamas to end its terror campaign and recognize Israel.)

http://njdc.typepad.com/njdcs_blog/2006/02/in_white_house_.html