Posted on 02/22/2006 12:27:00 PM PST by johnmecainrino
To Arabs, port-deal backlash looks like bias
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – To many in this booming financial center, the American backlash over Dubai running U.S. ports boils down to something simple — and ugly: "This is Arab-phobia," says one Arab security analyst. "I can see no other reason behind it."
As the U.S. secretary of state heads here for talks, many Arabs go further, saying the very basis of American policy toward the Middle East may be at stake: If the United States can't work with a moderate, friendly and socially liberal Arab ally like Dubai, it may not be able to work with any Arabs at all.
"If the American politicians were smart, they would hold Dubai up as a role model," said Abdul Khaleq Abdulla, a political scientist at Emirates University. "Punishing us sends the wrong message."
President Bush said basically the same Tuesday, threatening to veto legislation aimed at blocking the port deal.
"This is a company that has played by the rules, that has been cooperative with the United States, a country that's an ally in the war on terror, and it would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through," Bush said.
Among other things, the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is one part, allows the United States to base U.S. Air Force spy planes and refueling flights here and allows U.S. warships to visit. It also has handed over to the United States terrorism suspects arrested on its territory, including the alleged mastermind of the USS Cole bombing in Yemen.
Nevertheless, U.S. lawmakers still pledged to try to head off the deal. They allege Dubai has been a financial and operations base for terrorists and say that means state-owned Dubai Ports World should be blocked from its $6.8 million purchase of Britain's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which now operates six U.S. ports.
Two of the 19 hijackers who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States were from the United Arab Emirates. Eleven of the hijackers — all Saudis — entered the U.S. on flights from Dubai, a common way for a person to travel from Saudi Arabia to the United States. All the Saudis had been issued U.S. visas by American officials.
U.S. government reports also have said that Dubai, a freewheeling banking hub that operates the Mideast's busiest airport, served as a transit and money transfer center for al-Qaida. The city's port also was used by a Pakistani nuclear engineer to ship uranium enrichment equipment to Libya.
Yet people here point out that the country has created a joint task force with the United States that investigates terror funding and nuclear proliferation. Many believe U.S. lawmakers are unfairly tarring the country for the behavior of two citizens, and note that free-market banks and free ports — including those in the United States — are not always successful in preventing rogue transactions.
Above all, many say the tone of U.S. critics has shocked them: Dubai styles itself as a Mideast Switzerland, steering clear of conflict and focusing on business.
"We don't like the tone of this," Abdulla said. "Many of us see a hint of racism there, disguised as security concern."
U.S.-based private intelligence firm Stratfor noted that "the government of the UAE is about as pro-American as you can get" in the region. "If the United States can't do business with the UAE, then the United States cannot do business anywhere in the Islamic world," it said.
Stratfor also said "a British company previously was managing the (American) ports, and there are plenty of jihadists traveling on British passports these days who are at least as dangerous as anyone in the UAE."
The Emirates foreign minister thanked Bush for his support, saying he was relieved the president had spoken out forcefully. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is certain to face tough questions when she arrives for talks Thursday.
Rejecting the deal would not only tarnish relations between the UAE and Washington, but also set the wider Arab world — including other moderate allies like Jordan — on edge, said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst with the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center.
He called the opposition to the deal "Arab-phobia, Islamophobia ... I can see no other reason behind it."
Alani and others said the deal makes sense from economic, strategic and security standpoints, and comes with plenty of precedent in the global cargo industry, where major U.S. terminals are already run by companies from Britain, Japan and Denmark. He noted the UAE and United States are also in the midst of negotiating a free trade pact.
Dubai has emerged in recent years as the Perisan Gulf's most glittering city, a cosmopolitan tourist destination for Britons, other Europeans, Asians and Arabs alike. It is best known for building resort islands shaped like palm trees and the construction of what is expected to be the world's tallest skyscraper, but it has also diversified into a major banking center.
Arab investors who pulled their capital out of the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks — fearing asset seizures under the Patriot Act — want to reinvest, Alani said. But anti-Arab sentiment in Congress will push those funds to friendlier markets in Asia and Europe.
"This is a major long-term investment," Alani said. "If it's going to be undermined for unjustified reasons, that will tell Arab investors and governments to keep away from the United States."
It hasn't a damn thing to do with multiculturalism. Please don't mix the fear metaphors being bandied about. What a fearful bunch of losers we are becoming.
And there's a rule on FR. If you can't spell Israel you have to sit in the corner and write "Nascar sucks" 100 times.
I have always been under the impression that it may be Dubai's and UAE's oil money but it Palestinian professionals who keep the country running.
I disagree. Even President Bush tossed out the "you're just biased against middle easterners" tactic, in an attempt to drive off the Senators who are writing legislation against the port takeovers. Apparently, Bush knows how this "bias" stuff tugs on the multi-cultural heartstrings of many Americans.
"And there's a rule on FR. If you can't spell Israel you have to sit in the corner and write "Nascar sucks" 100 times."
LOL, no thanks on that one, I'd rather write "Bush is a fallable man and he can make mistakes" 100 times to the bushbots.
How many in here remember when Iran was our ally? I vivedly recall training with thier pilots, so now look at them. In a perfect world this deal may pass the smell test, but right now it reaks to high heaven, praise to jesus my savior, Lord or Lord, king of Kings. As for Mo-Ham-Ed (Pizz be unpon him)
The UAE is our closest Arab ally in the ME, and to snub them gives credence to the hubris argument that allegedly got us into this mess in the first place. Dumping them just because they’re Arabs is the corporate equivalent of the Japanese internment. IMO, this will push moderate Arabs towards the head-chopping kooks who call themselves muslims.
Currently the Brits are running those ports. In case anyone hasn't been paying attention, the UK is being overrun with muslims. There are over one MILLION muslims in London alone. How do you know there aren't islamokazis seeking their 72 virgins in the company that's currently running the show?
We need all the friends we can get. I say let them run the place—while being under a microscope. Remember Reagan? Trust; but verify.
In reading more I can't say I disagree with you. But I have to say, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....
I agree with the gipper though.
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