Lately there has been some concern about DP World ( Dubai Ports World ) taking over six ports in the US. The concern in this case is the fact that DP World is an Arab company based in Dubai and partly owned by the government.
On the one hand, letting a company where one of the 911 Hijackers came from control six strategic economic interests in this country on the surface sounds stupid.
There is however another side to this. From a diplomatic standpoint however, we don’t have to, but should thank Dubai for all the intelligence they give us. Throwing them this bone would certainly help relations.
The British also approved this deal and I don’t see Tony Blair letting the deal go through without weighing this out.
Some other points:
1. The ports are already leased (not owned) by a British company
2. This is a financial transaction. DP World is buying the British
company.
3. Dubai is an ally of the US. Yes, terrorists came from there, Tim McVeigh was born here. Right?
4. Port security is not in the hands of the British. Nor will it be in
the hands of the Dubai Government or even DP World. It is however in the
hands of the US Coast Guard by law. That doesn't change.
5. Custody of the containers is managed by the U.S. Customs Service by
law. That doesn't change either.
6. Diplomatically Dubai is an ally and has provided us with a lot of
terror info. This is a little payback.
7. For all you leftists out there, the same unions and their outrageous
pay for little human thought will still be around. Nothing changes there
either.
My opinion is that I would not have let it go through at all however, the intelligence and keeping our ally happy is something to consider.
From a public relations standpoint, George W. Bush is blowing it. The rationale for this deal should be explained a little better. To paraphrase J.C. Watts on CNN the other day: [If they don't explain themselves pundits like us will imagine why]
It’s true. Like a lot of issues if the administration does not explain their actions the left will simply dream it up.