So again, if we refuse to allow DP World to take over these leases, who is going to run these ports? American companies are not interested in doing it. Based on my information, the other players in this business are based in Hong Kong (Communist China) and Singapore (the Singapore company was outbid by DP World, IIRC). If the Congress gets it's way, not only will those other companies be shut out, all foreign operators already doing port operations in the US (COSCO in Long Beach comes to mind) will have to be bought out by the feds (the headlines there; "There goes Bush, growing the government again!"), unless they write in exemptions (there the headlines will be, "Bush is selling out to the ChiComs!" ). And just how will Congress justify that?
So it comes down to nationalizing all of our ports, or shutting them down. Which is it going to be?
I think it's a false dichotomy, but given the choice between putting P&O management temporarily under the aegis of a US corporation or even a US agency, or approving the transfer to the Emirate of Dubai, I vote for the first alternative.