[CharlesWayneCT]

It's not blackmail. You turn on your friends because you don't like everything they do, you undermine them, you can end up with something much worse.

In 1980, President Carter took the Shah to task over civil rights issues. He put so much pressure on him that he was overthrown, putting Ayatollah Khomeni in power. Was the Shah bad? Yes. But by undercutting him, we now have the biggest threat the world has ever seen -- a muslim fanatical country with huge oil reserves, billions of dollars, and the ability to make nuclear weapons.

History suggests that if we stab our friends in the UAE in the back, the terrorists could overthrow THAT government and we could end up with another Iran. That's just a likely outcome.

The people who run our ports now are the SAME people who will run our ports when the DP World company purchases the O&P company.

US Subsidiaries -> O&P -> DP World -> UAE.

Whatever clearances are needed are owned by the people who will still be their next month.

Whatever "outsourcing" exists already exists, and has for years. There is NO CHANGE here. And in fact there is no outsourcing of security. The leases of port management are not for the security -- that is done in our country by public entities.

Which work with foreign companies in foreign ports to inspect our containers before they come here -- the majority being inspected by the UAE DP World company.

In other words, this company that people don't trust to own the company that owns the companies that manage the ports is already responsible for inspecting containers that come into our country, and has been for a while.

Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Excellent analogy to Carter and the Shah. Thanks

[Californiajones]

Our President's main charge is to protect and defend us.

If it is all messed up with who is maintaining security on the ports, then we all need to understand it and be vigilant. Bush's reluctance to explain and articulate reveals a sort of post Cold War mentality of secrecy. You go off to WalMart and have babies. We in the government will fight the secret war on terror.

Doesn't work in an open society. Bush is on stage and he needs to remember there is no such thing as secrecy in the internet age. Can't run the White House like the secret seventies era CIA like his Dad did.

[Feiny]

I was absolutely against this deal until reading posts like yours. I admit to forming my opinion before the facts were in.

[prairiebreeze]

Which work with foreign companies in foreign ports to inspect our containers before they come here -- the majority being inspected by the UAE DP World company.

In other words, this company that people don't trust to own the company that owns the companies that manage the ports is already responsible for inspecting containers that come into our country, and has been for a while.

Bump to the top, Charles.

[meandog]

It's not blackmail. You turn on your friends because you don't like everything they do, you undermine them, you can end up with something much worse. ...

Enlighten me, how could it be worse? Currently, we have something on the order of 5,000 illegal aliens streaming daily across our borders. Currently, less than 25 percent of merchant ships are thoroughly checked. Currently, American companies own less than 10 percent of our merchant fleet. And, now, the president wants an Arab country with documented ties to our Al Qaeda enemies to control access into our ports. Sorry, but I cannot back Bush on this issue and I will actively campaign for those who oppose him should he insist on his stupidity. Rather than the ultraconservative "Clymers" on FR who swallow every thing this administration puts out, MY COUNTRY COMES FIRST!