Posted on 02/25/2006 9:30:52 PM PST by Cornpone
WHAT IS TAKING place in Washington over the proposed takeover of container operations at six major ports in the US by a UAE-based company is nothing but a reflection of the real mindset of American politicians influenced by Israel into seeing Arab and Muslim countries as a security risk to the US after the Sept.11 attacks.
We in the Arab World have to draw our own lessons from the affair.
The UAE is involved in this particularly dispute. But there is no doubt that such deals involving any Arab or Muslim country would draw the same objection from American congress members.
Notwithstanding the sweet talk that American politicians give to us, it is a high probability that any other Arab-owned company would face rejection in the hypothesis that it secures a similar deal in the US.
The facts of the current dispute are clear:
Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the government of the emirate of Dubai, has signed a nearly $7 billion agreement with Britain's P&O to take over the shipping company's port operations around the world. The agreement is awaiting formal approval by a British court.
Under the agreement, DP World will also take over P&O's container operations in six major US ports that the British company had been operating for years. It is a natural transition of operations from one commercial entity which is bought by another.
US security agencies and departments will continue to be in absolute control of security at all ports in the US, including the six involved in the DP World agreement.
Nothing changes whatsover except that DP World will handle all incoming and outgoing containers, which are subject to routine scrutiny by US Customs and security officers from various agencies at the point of final entry and exit.
DP World will have no role whatsoever in any security aspect of the port. It is entirely an American affair.
There should be no hitch in the take-over if all these factors are taken into consideration by critics of the deal. Instead, they are citing "security concerns" and pointing out the UAE had recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the 90s.
What the critics are overlooking or deliberately ignoring is the excellent track record of the UAE.
The UAE was among the first in the Arab World to sign up in all measures aimed at tightening security and adopting anti-terrorism measures as suggested by the US following the Sept.11 attacks.
The UAE does not have a record of engaging itself in any extremist attacks or harbouring militants. On the contrary, the country has said it remains on high vigil and alert against extremists.
The UAE is among the leading voices of moderation in the Arab World and it has always followed a positive approach to Arab, regional and international issues.
If anything, the UAE, like Jordan, is known for advocating dialogue to resolve conflict, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere.
The UAE has signed bilateral extradition agreements with others and is also following its obligations under them without fail.
It is ridiculous at best to suggest that the UAE has links with extremism simply because extremist suspects happened to pass through the country on their way somewhere else.
Isn't primary that had the UAE had any inkling of their real intentions while they were present in UAE territory, then they would have been arrested and questioned?
Well, US security and intelligence agencies had tip-offs about an impending attack ahead of Sept.11, but they failed to take preventive action; so how anyone could blame others where they themselves had failed?
The key factor in the dispute over the DP World deal is that a commercial entity from an Arab Muslim country, seeking to build itself as a major player in the international market, is facing bitter opposition to a key project that would catapult it towards its strategic business objectives.
Indeed, not everyone critical of the DP World deal might be inclined to oppose it because of inherent hostility towards Arabs and Muslims.
They might indeed have concerns that they might see as genuine when seen from their perspective. That is where they needs to realise that the DP World-P&O deal as given clearance after a careful intelligence and security reivew.
There is a security system in place in the US, and that has vetted the deal. That should put to rest any "security" concerns, unless of course American congressmembers do not trust their own security arrangements.
If the latter is the case, then they should have no trust in their government either. That being not the case, the obvious conclusion is that Jewish-dominated political and business circles supported by vested interests are mobilising themselves against any effort by any Arab country to emerge into the international market and thus gain an influential role in world affairs whether it wants it or otherwise.
It is heartening to see that the Bush administration committed itself that the DP World takeover would go ahead although after a brief delay.
I'd say that's about 100% too many, imho. If the reason is labor unions, than we need to address that, but union or no, I think there are some things that should not be in foreign control, and our shipping ports are one of them.
Security will be provided by the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security, as usual. Nothing has changed.
Heartening but not surprising...he doesn't turn his back on our allies.
How much help can a country be of 2.5 million, sitting on ~125 square miles, 80% desert. One Sheik gets the contract.
I wonder who he's paying protection money to?
Just when is enough enough for these Sheiks? I've gotten the feeling, since 9/11 we've been had by these guys.
Another example of sheer ignorance. If you want to debate... than debate, but if you're gonna make comments like that, DU is where you need to go
"He could do that even if this deal were canceled"
Bingo..that is my point! If we really want to protect this country's ports..it will have to come from NSA wiretaps..Gitmo 'scrutiny'(lol)...and hard assed policies and laws. The republicans should get to work on some real answers to protecting our ports and not mamby pamby reactions to well founded alarm bells going off in their constituents heads!!
Follow the political agenda of people who are pushing this fabricated non-crisis.
The Bush Library in Texas recieved a one million dollar donation from the UAE. Don't know what Clinton got but the Chinese were probably pretty generous to him.
Bingo... you don;t have a point. You have an opinion that flies in the face of all facts that have been repeatedly posted here.
The fruits of the lie are starting to bear fruit.
I thought reaction was "nothing but a reflection of the real mindset of American politicians influenced by Israel."
I stunned at the ignorance of world events being displayed on these threads.
Wow! He didn't even wait until he finished the first sentence to blame Israel.
I see that, and way back in this thread I asked the poster why he added the (port sale)? No reply, yet his page says he's a military man.
Do some research on just how much support Dubai has given us since 9/11. Unlike many of the countries in the Middle East, Dubai recognized that all 9/11 did was to wake up a sleeping Lion and they took our President seriously when he said "You are either with us or against us"
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