Dubai World Port

I have been meaning to write on the issue of the sale by British company P&O to a Dubai Company, Dubai World Port, contracts to operate 6 U.S ports, for a week or so.

Sometimes, for me, politics is about gut feelings; from the moment the left and the horse poop Republicans made this a bigger story than needed, I never could jump on the bandwagon that this deal was so terrible to invoke the tantrum of 2-year olds . Let me explain my thoughts:

1. This is a deal between two companies, both foreign, to manage and run ports in the U.S. The U.S would MAINTAIN ALL responsibility for security;

2. President Bush has shown exemplary leadership on the War on Terror and protecting the homeland (remember NSA surveillance; an actual response to the attacks on 9-11; fighting the terrorist in the Middle East and not at home). So why would he or the administration support anything that would uncut national security?

I did think a 45 day review process should have been in place; DPW has agreed to push the closing back 45 days to allow further review. And after the review, Congress should climb back into a hole and let the deal proceed.

In my heart, I could not oppose this deal and under cut my President. So, why you ask? In addition to the two items I mentioned above, I also listened to those who I consider more "in the know" than me. From that I have considered the follow (note NO ITEM CONSISTS OF JIMMY CARTER'S SUPPORT or BILL CLINTON'S SUPPORT):

1. We hear how terrorism is a result of a poor underserved class of people. Maybe (though I'll admit a danger lies here) jobs can be created in the region because of this deal;

2. A number of DPW employees are American or have American ties, this includes its general counsel;

3. UAE is an ally on our war on terror. Many of our Naval ships are located at a port in the UAE;

4. As Tony Snow discussed recently on his radio program, the UAE is located close to an important base in Iran and;

5. Again as Tony Snow has argued, and I agree, did we not host a number of the 9-11 hijackers in AMERICA? Does that mean we can not do business with those American cities? How about our European friends: Didn't the 9-11 hijackers have a stay in Hamburg, Germany? Oh, how about our support of Osama Bin Laden in the 80's or Saddam Hussein? Maybe we shouldn't do business with ourselves because we have support and supplied terrorists in the past!

The point is, no country is perfectly clean, no country ever will. I think there is some truth, though not 100% racial profiling, that this is an anti-middle east; anti-Muslim position to not support the deal.

I've attached an Opinion Journal editorial supporting the deal (title link). It makes good sense and a better argument than I could make.