Common Sense or Racism

On the CNN news site, one security expert threw the issue of race into the debate over the port operations sale to the United Arab Emirates.

A port security expert, meanwhile, told CNN that fears that the agreement will reduce U.S. security are based on “bigotry” and that “shameless” politicians are creating an issue they think will resonate with the public. Kim Petersen, head of SeaSecure, a U.S.-based maritime security company, and executive director of the Maritime Security Council — which represents 70 percent of the world’s ocean shipping — told CNN, “This whole notion that Dubai is going to control or set standards for U.S. ports is a canard … is factually false.”

There is no amount of lipstick that is going to make this pig look good and the Bush administration has no one to blame but themselves. They say they are doing everything within their power to secure this country and make us safe, then they approve the sale of operations of major ports to Dubai. This is a a country that by a U.S. law enforcement admission still supports Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and is responsible for trafficking nuclear components. If this combination doesn’t raise flags at Homeland Security, they are clearly crazy or brain dead.

As for the reckless charge of racism by the security expert, it is just plain common sense to be wary of a country that has had a history with terrorist activities. While the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) has made strides to stop terrorist activities, there have been recent articles such as one in U.S.A. Today stating how Dubai was a hub for terrorist activities and money laundering. You wouldn’t hire a known thief to guard your possessions or a convicted pedophile to babysit your children. Why should this be any different?

The U.A.E. currently controls a large number of ports in the Middle-East and Europe. If we hand over control of our country’s ports, we will potentially have the U.A.E. running the operations of ports on both sides of the shipping route. Any group could potentially infiltrate the sea ports, but unless we are looking to create a terrorist cruise line why make it easier for them?