Finally, a voice of reason and not a hate-all-of-islam reaction. The UAE won't be in charge of security at the ports. UAE is a close ally of the U.S. and is very western. To blame them in any way for 9/11 is like blaming the U.K. for Richard Reed, the shoe bomber. Or we should blame America because that's where Padilla, the dirty bomber comes from. Someone will likely blame UAE for funding terrorists through their banking system. If that is the case, Switzerland needs blame as well as U.S. banks for doing what they do - efficiently handling money for customers. The main reason I think Bush is right on this is because it is the Democrats howling the loudest on this. They have been consistently negligent on security issues, and now they have again shown a double standard. People really need to look at the details instead of trying to piss off one of the few, needed allies we have in the region.
Ask Hitlery and her ilk why the ChiComs were allowed to take over West Coast ports during the Clintoon years..I smell hypocrisy!
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Americans in the United Arab Emirates should exercise a high level of security awareness. The Department of State remains concerned about the possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.
Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with caution.
In addition, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of the objects to local authorities.
Vehicles should not be left unattended, if at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times. U.S. Government personnel overseas have been advised to take the same precautions.
In addition, U.S. Government facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services from time to time as necessary to review their security posture and ensure its adequacy.
One donkey calls to another over a crowded barn yard and refers to the other donkey's call...as 'the voice of reason"?
Okey dokey...if it makes you feel more comfortable...
Exactly what do you think port-terminal security is? They will hire their own civilian security personnel, and they will work alongside our Coast Guard and Customs inspectors. They will see how the Coast Guard security operates, they will discover what gets inspected, how it's inspected, what containers don't get much scrutiny, etc.
They will also know what's in the containers of every ship that enters and leaves the ports, and they will know their destination. This includes ships that leave with military hardware being shipped to other nations. This information would be literally invaluable to al Queada, whom will almost certainly find a way to install a few operatives into this huge operation being RUN by Dubai. In the middle east, especially in Dubai, money is king. One of these "friendly" sheiks who now owns P & O will sell us out, just like Saudi and Turkey sold us out by refusing airbases for the Iraq War, count on it.