Port Deal is Dead



I note from the newspaper headlines today that the "Port Deal" (that is, the deal whereby a Dubai company will take over the operation of 6 American shipping ports) is dead.

You can say what you want about this: that the company in question is exemplary, the country in questions (UAE) is an ally, that we should not paint all Arab countries as terrorists and should encourage our allies by providing equal opportunity for them. All true, but....

What were they thinking to let this deal get to this point in the first place? In spite of Bush's power grabs and rhetoric, he is not a dictator, and this is not a dictatorship (edging closer all the time, but thankfully, not there yet). And how stuff plays in Peoria still matters in this country.

Congress is vulnerable, and I think many representatives have woken up to the fact that there's an election soon, and this deal is political poison for them. Good! If there is no other way to force Congress to have enough spine to stand up to Bush and Co, an election seems to focus their attention wonderfully.

Posted: Sat - March 11, 2006 at 12:35 PM        


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