Friday, February 24, 2006

Reasonable Businesmen

From the CEO of Dubai Ports World:

"The reaction in the United States has occurred in no other country in the world," the company's chief operating officer, Ted Bilkey, said in a statement. "We need to understand the concerns of the people in the U.S. who are worried about this transaction and make sure that they are addressed to the benefit of all parties. Security is everybody's business."

Now this Arab, Ted Bilkey, evidently is not the kind of Arab you've seen on TV lately. Seriously, I can't imagine how this corporation could be more reasonable and understanding. They are giving us time to check them out, and if they are open and forthcoming this should allay the fears of all but those who are politically motivated.

My understanding is that their government has been an ally in the war on terror. Our naval vessels use their ports and our military aircraft use their airports. True, the government recognized the Taliban prior to 9/11 and two of the hijackers were from this country, but the UAE has since been one of the few friends that we have in the region.

Besides, we are not turning the job of security over to these people. That job will still be in the hands of the United States Government and the people working the docks will still be Americans.

Why spit in the eye of an ally unnecessarily? We shouldn't discriminate against good people just because their name is Achbar, Mahmoud, or Ted.

Update:
Thanks to AICS at The Logic Lifeline, I have this by Krauthammer to recommend:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-2_24_06_CK.html
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1 comment:

All_I_Can_Stands said...

Chris,
As I understand it: the UAE recognized the Taliban, 2 of the 19 highjackers from 9/11 were from the UAE, some of the money for 9/11 was routed through UAE banks and after 9/11 the UAE banks have not always been fully cooperative in the process of freezing assets of terrorists.

The UAE gets a steady diet of anti-Americanism every day from Al-Jazeera TV. Even those who are allies, those from that part of the world could more easily be controlled by threats to their families, etc.

Finally, when DP World takes over there will be a transfer of security information they did not have before.

Krauthammer has a good piece you can read from realclearpolitics.com that both shows this is a stupid decision that we are now hearing that both Bush and Chertoff did not know about until after it was sealed. There would be too much damage if the deal were reversed.

I think he is right and that reversing it at this point may actually increase the chances of danger than if we let it go through.

I hope heads roll at the Treasury department that approved this.

2/24/2006 9:29 AM

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