I've been hitting a few of the other boards/blogs, and here's what I come away with:
1--The MSM and Dems aren't telling us the difference between port OPERATIONS and port SECURITY. We are NOT giving up security of the ports to this company.
2--By airing this in public it's letting Iran know that the UAE is our friend (Fifth Fleet HQ in Dubai, anyone?) and that Iran better not count on Arab blood being thicker than dollars when the chips are down (thanks, BillW--Rightnation).
3--UAE's position is critical. We've got Iran cut off on either side and Russia sure isn't about to help militarily. They don't want to lose our support with their battles with the Chechens. With the UAE support, we've got the Iranians effectively surrounded.
4--The UAE has pumped billions OF THEIR OWN MONEY into securing the Straits of Hormuz. Less than 30 percent of their income is based on oil. Most of it is actually shipping.
5--Over 500 companies do business in the UAE, including government entities like NASA. Red herring, anyone? Give this link a lookie...
http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/press_room/marketofthemonth/UAE/UAEOverview.html
AND
http://uae2.gsfc.nasa.gov/
AND
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/uae.html
6--Looking at the management of this company, I see a lot more British names than Arab ones....
7--Does anyone else see more Dems getting their panties in a wad over this than Republicans? Had the RINO's looked at the deal and the details therein they would have realized this and not been so fast to rush to the cameras for a sound bite. But this IS an election year, after all. (Scandal of the week, perhaps?) Don't put it past them!
8--Can you imagine the irony if CAIR, et al, started whining about "profiling" shipments from the ME through these ports?
9--Another point from BillW on Rightnation--if the unions now have another company to deal with in negotiations, ya think that might throw them a curveball and improve ECONOMIC security (preventing another shutdown like we had two years ago)?
10--The economic situation in the UAE is opposite that of most ME nations. Their unemployment is pathetically low (2.4 %) and they need to keep income from shipping and finance (again, less than 30 percent of GDP is from oil), therefore they MUST keep everything above board.
11--If we take a double standard in this (British company = good, UAE company = bad), we risk far more harm than good in the GWOT.
12--UAE is NOT Syria, Iran, or even Saudi Arabia. It IS possible for democratic Arab states to exist. UAE is proof.
13--This was a BUSINESS decision, not a political one. Do we (being the President or Congress) have the right to interfere in the free market when no laws are being broken and none of the players in this effort are on any sort of terrorist watch list?
Just a thought
Do you feel that the difference is really that significant? Would you feel comfortable with Iran operating the ports if the US was still in charge of security.
Of course, the UAE isn't Iran but the point I'm making is that that operations are still an important item to consider.