This is NOT a "purchase", there is no transfer of ownership of real property at any of these ports. What there will be is a change in service providers for some contract services at those ports. From a security standpoint, the US Coast Guard and US Customs will continue in their roles in securing the facilities and screening incoming cargo. Also, port workers will still be US longshoremen (which is why you haven't heard the union screaming). The UAE company will simply take over the contract work previously handled by the British contract firm. Notably, this UAE company already runs the operations at several key overseas ports, so they would be running things at both ends where cargos originate from ports they already operate.
So, while I think the situation is unwise, it isn't primarily from a security aspect or ownership aspect that I think it so, but from an aspect of where the profit from port operations will end up. The UAE is a haven for ME money laundering operations with terrorist ties and you can bet that port operation profits will find their way to terrorist-held accounts.
<SARCASM>
Of course, there's always another angle to this: echoing the stance of the Bush White House on illegal immigration, maybe this UAE firm is simply doing a job that US companies aren't willing to do?
</SARCASM>
Actually, the British firm will continue to do all of the work. P&O will still exist as a wholly owned subsidiary of the UAE firm.
Thanks very much for the information. I want to have all the facts before I decide what I think about this.