[hedgetrimmer]

there are plenty of US assets for the UAE to buy that does not involve critical infrastructure or defense related companies

Yes, but they don't want those.

[muawiyah]

The reason UAE wanted the management contracts for a handful of terminals (all owned by state governments and therefore BEYOND Congressional jurisdiction) was to enable shipping companies in which they hold an interest to have priority in unloading.

I did a quick analysis of the deal and it looked like UAE was going to make a profit of $100 per day per terminal at most!

This was a chump change deal insofar as profits on terminals were concerned. The real money is made getting the ships in, unloaded, reloaded and on their way again.

A casino is not an adequate substitute.