Portgate PRE-Mortem
By Doug Edelman (03/01/06)
Sure, like many others my initial reaction to word of the Dubai Ports World deal was a jaw-dropping, head-scratching "What the F---?" But I have learned that things are rarely what they appear at first blush - and if Schumer and Hillary are vocally against something that my first instinct is to oppose. there's likely to be much more to the story. Therefore, while I have written extensively on Bush's MISHANDLING of the POLITICS of the deal (there can be no debating that the Bush Administration is completely tone-deaf and color-blind when it comes to foresight, anticipation of or handling of Public Opinion). I had not taken a position in print on the deal itself before now, as I wanted first to obtain some facts and details.
Having now had opportunity to acquire and reflect upon a certain amount of data on the subject, I now state publicly that I am unopposed to the deal going forward - though I am strongly supportive of a thorough and transparent review of the deal. I believe that the OBJECTIVE observer's fears and objections will evaporate under the light of scrutiny. But the public must be CLEARLY, THOROUGHLY and HONESTLY informed along the way.
Some facts recently pointed out by my friend and fellow writer Jamie Allman at http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/12563.html:
1) We're not selling our ports. We're not hiring Arabs to protect our ports. We're not replacing longshoremen with Middle Easterners. Dubai Ports World took over the British corporation that handled the job of essentially writing checks to longshoremen.
2) The United States has Middle Eastern friends and Middle Eastern enemies. The UAE is showing itself a friend. The United Arab Emirates has allowed the United States unlimited use of its Al Dahfra air base for spy plane and other military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United Arab Emirates is currently helping train Iraqi security forces as we continue to try to relieve the burden on American troops.
3) The United Arab Emirates was the first country to sign on to the Container Security Initiative. UAE port workers also help load and unload U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf Region.
4) The United Arab Emirates is located extremely close to Iran. Iran hates the UAE and the UAE hates Iran. We like that. We're glad we are friends with the UAE.
5) Some have claimed UAE ties to the 9/11 attacks. Yes, two of the 19 of the hijackers came from the UAE. but nine months before the attacks the UAE (in cooperation with the CIA) held one of them for questioning because his activities raised their suspicion. It was the U.S. that let him go, not the UAE.
6) As for money ties to 9/11, yes, money DID go through the UAE banking system, but this was NOT with the aid or complicity of the UAE government. Money went through Florida Banks too. was the State of Florida somehow complicit?
7) Some claim another reason to oppose the UAE company is because the UAE had recognized the Taliban. But so did the United States under President Clinton! In 1996 the USA established diplomatic relations with the Taliban. In 1997 a Taliban delegation came to Houston and took in the zoo and the NASA Space Center.
The fact is that there are numerous very good reasons to let this deal go forward, and few, if any, substantive reasons not to. UAE has NOT shown itself to be an enemy or a threat, but rather has been one of our most helpful allies in the War on Terror.
The Left sensed blood in the water and political hay to be made, as the kneejerk questioning of the security implications, coupled with Bush's dysfunctional P.R. machine, created a seemingly easy target. Strange alliances formed too - like Senator Schumer and Michael Savage doing a cheek-to-cheek political tango on the air. Bush's Veto threat then brought the whole feeding frenzy to a water churning fever pitch. But when the smoke clears and a thorough public vetting of the deal takes place, the political opportunism of the Left (as well as the islamophobic overreaction of the right) will be left clearly evident.
It IS in our interest to foster our friendship with a west-friendly Arabic nation. It is NOT in our interest to display such distrust of a friendly Arabic nation that there seems no motivating benefit in befriending the west at the risk of inviting the antipathy of those Islamic regimes which hate the West and all western culture and values.
Dubai is a modern, westernized oasis in a literal and metaphorical desert of 7th century Islamic Jihadism. They desire to have closer ties and better relations with the US. Should we really SHUN them rather than EMBRACE and encourage their investment in western civilization?
Is the Port Sale Deal Dead? Let's not write the obituary just yet. I think reports of its death may be premature.
Copyright © 2005 by Doug Edelman
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