Long before Sept 11, I was of the mind that we needed, as a country, to do something dramatic to curb the ability of so many dictatorial islamic regimes to deflect the anger and unhappiness of their own populations toward the United States, instead of at their own corrupt governemnts.
After September 11th, I knew that we were faced with only two choices. We would have to (1) Kill a billion muslims, or (2) Try to fundemantally change them by changing their forms of government, and thus at least some of their ideology.
UAE is not what any of us would really consider to be a "freindly" nation, no matter what business they already do here in America, and no matter how much money they gave to Katrina victims. If this was Norway, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
That said, we haven't decided that it's time to kill them all either. DPW is a business. I am a believer that international business ties make the world a safer place. After all, what business would want to destroy thier own cash cows, unless they are all truly insane?
We have to ask ourselves, do we, as a nation, beleive that ALL muslims are terrorists? If the answer is no, not all, then we should support this transaction. Otherwise, we are doing an injustice to the free market, and a majority of the UAE, who are most likely just people trying to make a buck. If the answer is "yes", then pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan and spark up the nukes! Because, we're just wasting time and strategic advantage.
But, I don't believe that. I couldn't support Bush, or the idea that spreading democracy was at all a practical solution if I did.
Therefore, I fully support the idea of tighter security requirements on DPW, and more Homeland Security involvement at the ports. To do otherwise would be criminally negligent. But, the deal should happen.
After 9-11 we had many options open to us. Not just two. We don't have to wipe out a million Muslims. I supported PresBush`s efforts in the WOT, first in Afghanistan and then Iraq. I believe the US military should keep a base of operations somewhere in Iraq and Afghanistan on a long term basis. But I'm of the opinion that trying to force western democracy on the Islamic world, is an effort in futility. Other then our great friend and ally Israel, half of the ME hates America and everything we stand for. The other half isn't too thrilled with us either. Jihadists and Islamofascists want to destroy western civlization. These people are barbarians, who have no humanity. They don't care about mankinds future. They care only about their fundamentalist religion and radical spread of terrorism.