UAE PORT SALE

Brushing aside objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement.

The President is right on this one, folks.  The sale of Oriental Steam Navigation Co to Dubai Ports World (DPW) should be approved by Congress.  Hysterical claims of our "selling of our ports" and "handing our security over to terrorists" is utter bull. The ports themselves are not being sold, only the management of these ports are. Dubai Ports World is NOT going to take charge of security and customs at these ports; that will continue to be the job of Customs, DHS and the Coast Guard.  Essentially, all Dubai Ports World will be doing is loading and unloading freight in our Ports.

The president on Tuesday defended his administration's earlier approval of the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, despite concerns in Congress it could increase the possibility of terrorism at American ports.

Excluding this company simply because of geography or race is a disasterous move. There is no tangible evidence of DPW supporting terrorism, the company has reportedly an outstanding record, with several Americans well known in the shipping industry in its senior leadership.  Fears of islamofascists using this company to gain greater access to sensitive port security information is unfounded.  Jihadi sympathisers could easily get a job with a British, German or American firm just as easily as with a UAE firm.  Consider this: Several of the 9/11 hijackers worked out of Hamburg, Germany prior to their move to the US. The Philadelphia port has a German shipbuilding company ,Kvaerner, which stepped in after the closure of the Philadelphia Naval base.  No one suggests closing Kvaerner's Philadelphia shipyard due to Germany's connection with the 9/11 terrorists.

"It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world," Bush said.

 The UAE has been a staunch ally for the US, we should not be treating them as our enemy. This nation has allowed the US to base troops and planes on their soil, in additon to providing valuable information.  As far as I know, we are not at war with the UAE, so they are to be treated like anyone else, allowing them to bid on contracts. If they win, they win.  Let us not have our allies rethinking their committment of support in the War on Terror. Terrorists worldwide would appreciate the help!