"Unfortunately, the Arab country involved happens to be one of our strongest and oldest allies in the region. And the fundamental reason for terminating the deal was the belief that we couldn't trust that ally. We essentially spit in their face. It's going to hurt us in many strategic ways and will have a significant impact on CENTCOM planning for future operations. "
History does not support you.
Can we have been any better allies to SA? We bailed out their a** in Gulf 1 with our blood and treasure. We bent over backwards (huge mistake!) to respect their warped sensibilities. Remember Pres Bush the Father having Thanksgiving dinner off shore? Our troops Christmas there? Our female soldiers in full burkha gear?
We put up with all their cr**, they invested here, set up their Wahabbi terror supporting charities and Wahabbi clerics and materials in schools, Mosques and prisons here. Took over University ME Departments. Basically had free run. Did it matter?
Did they then turn around and ask us to leave their country at Bin Laden's urging?
Then why isn't your post about the UAE? The fundamental problem with most of the arguments against the port deal, is that they fall apart unless they are supported with examples outside the UAE. The fact that we've fallen all over ourselves to save France's butt on numerous occasions doesn't stop them from stabbing us in the back whenever they can. However, that doesn't mean we stop supporting Great Britain.
"Did they then turn around and ask us to leave their country at Bin Laden's urging?"
That is a factually incorrect statement. Bin Laden and Saudi Arabia are sworn enemies. That is not why they asked us to stop military operations from their country.