Is it yes or is it no Mr Bilkey?

I'm so confused. First, during the night, I heard a replay of Barbara Boxer's questions to Dubai Ports World's top exec, Edward Bilkey. I watched him cringe, then looking like a deer in headlights before finally confessing that his yes, his DPW/UAE company, in fact, DOES boycott the State of Israel. Here's what Globes (online), Israel's Business Arena reported.

Responding to questions by Senator Barbara Boxer, the Democrat representative for California, Bilkey acknowledged that the Dubai government complied with the boycott against Israel, and that ports in the Gulf states managed by the company also boycotted Israeli goods. But in response to a question from another Democrat Senator, Bill Nelson, Bilkey stated that he had no knowledge regarding the extent of the involvement of Dubai Ports’ parent company in barring Israeli goods from the Gulf states...

In a parallel move, the Anti Defamation League has launched a public campaign to block the entry by Dubai Ports World to US ports. In a letter to US Secretary of the Treasury John Snow, Anti Defamation League national director Abraham H. Foxman said that security considerations notwithstanding, “If Dubai continues to conduct anti Israel activities, this could be the basis for revoking the agreement.”

But several Jewish activists, speaking privately, said that the issue should remain outside the remit of US Jewish organizations, to avoid giving rise to claims that this was a national issue, rather than one related to ethnic issues.

Now I read the following information that indicates something completely different. (Read the full article here.)

Asked in an interview last week with “CNN” reporter Wolf Blitzer whether Dubai Ports World was doing business with Israel while the UAE refused to recognize Israel, Bilkey replied, “One of our very sound customers is Zim line. It's the largest shipping company. And the president of that company is very close to our company and supports us, because we have good relations with all of our clients.

” We handle their operations in a number of ports throughout the world because it's good commercial business for us. They wouldn't come to us unless we did a good job,” added Bilkey.

Blitzer: “Does the emir know this?”

Bilkey: “Absolutely.”

I'd just like a little clarification, wouldn't you?

Right hand, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Left Hand. Left hand, meet Mr. Right Hand.

Mr. Right side of the mouth, I'd like you to meet Mr. Left side of the mouth.

My question: how can Mr Bilkey speak out of both Mr Right side and Mr. Left side simultaneously?

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UPDATE 03-04-06
From Tammy Bruce: Now the Bush admin is "urging" the UAE to end it's illegal boycott of Israel. Gee, if the original investigation cleared all of our concerns, why is the White House making this demand now? Was the boycott okay with them earlier, or were they as "unaware" of this as they claim they were of the deal the deal in the first place?

Dubai Ports World, in the meantime, confirms it does enforce the boycott, but not really. Not everywhere. Not all the time. Sort of like in a pretend way. Full Article Here

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Photo Credit: http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060301-123445-2061r.htm