To say that the announcement of port management to the United Arab Emirates caused a firestorm would be a major understatement. Not only are the "usual suspects" up in arms, many of the President's own party members are also full of fire and brimstone.
Are they all justified?
Color me ignorant. Doug of Bogus Gold also pleads ignorance, and captures the issues well.
But I particularly like this post in Larry Kudlow's blog today.
This whole brouhaha surrounding the Bush administration’s green-light to a United Arab Emirates company slated to manage six major U.S. ports has nothing to do with protecting homeland security. Allow me to give it its proper name: Islamophobia.
This UAE company-Dubai Ports World—is just a commercial administrator. They are not in charge of security. That responsibility remains tight in the hands of our U.S. Coast Guard and Customs Officials. Moreover, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, (a multi-agency panel which includes seasoned representatives from the departments of Defense, Treasury and Homeland Security) has looked it over and has vetted the deal.
None of the Administration’s eager critics has furnished a scintilla of evidence showing the Administration hasn't done its due diligence. Add it all up, and I think what you’ve got here is a bi-partisan pack of protectionist politicians. Throw in some xenophobic anti-Arab feeling and you get our current state of affairs.
Like I said; much of this is unknown to me, so tough to make firm judgments. Still, my guess is that Kudlow's comments are right on the mark. Islamophobia. And if we don't accept the fact that not all Muslims are radical jihadists, bridging the gulf between our cultures, religions and nations will be just that much more difficult.
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