y immediate reaction is to be in accord with what is likely to be a majority in the House of Representatives on the current issue in D.C., about the takeover of P&O, the United Kingdom based operator of ports, by Dubai Ports World. DP World is largely a government owned operator of ports. Through its acquisition of P&O, several American ports including New Jersey, New York and Miami would come under their control. I'm exploring the thought that maybe there is a tinge of paranoia in my knee-jerk response. I hope not.
The Bush administration is obviously defending the takeover. The President has made it clear that he was unaware of the whole transaction until his administration had accepted the project. Do you believe that? I don't. Or, if it is true then I would ask, between exercising, resting, cutting brush in Crawford, and giving speeches galore, what does he do? In his five years in office President George W. Bush has never vetoed a bill passed by Congress. Yesterday, with the Republican and Democratic leadership teaming up over the administration's decision to allow a Dubai company to acquire the UK company that runs facilities at half a dozen US ports, he threatened to take a stand. Even many of Mr. Bush's staunchest defenders are objecting to the deal.
Would the deal open US ports to exploitation by terrorist groups? The company will not be managing port security. The security will continue to be controlled by the Customs department and the Coast Guard.
Dubai is one of the seven emirates in the UAE federation. It is the most dynamic of the city-states that occupy the east of the Arabian peninsula. They already own vast quantities of US assets as well as dollar assets held off-shore. The deal has been vetted by an inter-agency committee. What should matter is not so much who owns the ports, but how they are managed.
In another time I would probably have welcomed their investment. Two of the original 9/ll killers called Dubai their home. Their relationship to Iran is troubling.
Yes, I am probably over protective, somewhat short-sighted... and a little paranoid. I hope the deal is not consummated.