The US Ports Under UAE Control
Monday, February 27th, 2006 -- J. DoeYou would think that since I now live in a state so close to New York City where the twin towers were, and with a busy port to be now under the ultimate control of the United Arab Emirates, I would be against the Homeland Security deal of allowing them to control the ports, but I’m not.
There are good arguments both for and against allowing them to have ultimate control, but in the end I have decided that there will be no harm in this deal. Many people are arguing loudly either pro or con this argument, with the con argument winning I think.
For those people who have not been following US news, Dubai Ports World of the UAE will acquire Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. (P&O), which is a British firm.
P &O Steam Navigation Company now currently run the US ports. It still will. Exactly the same unionized longshoremen will be physically operating our ports. Security will be managed by the United States Coast Guard, although they too are probably affected by the many new laws Homeland Security has created to prevent terrorism, so security might actually get tighter. The only real change is where the profits are going. Profits will now be routed to the UAE instead of England.
The UAE operates other major ports around the world, including Hong Kong, so its not like this type of arrangement is new to the international shipping industry.
I do not think the US should refuse to have any business with them because many of the terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center lived there for a time. Some of those same terrorists also lived in Florida too. Should we ban Florida companies from control of the ports too? No. I also don’t think the whole UAE government is a bunch of Islamofascists waiting to blow up the US either.
They have supported us since September 11, which is more then I can say for our European allies like France, Italy or even Britain which controls those ports now. Just because the terrorists flew into the US from Dubai does not make Dubai a terrorist haven. And just because they took in Michael Jackson doesn’t mean they want to screw everyone in the US either.
Right. UAE is one of the most oppressive, religion-ridden government in the world. They stone adulterous women. They publicly whip or cut hands and nose as punishemnt for common crimes. A country in the hands of an filthy rich oligarchy that oppresses and keeps in misery its citizens. Funny, they are actually no different from Iran, except they’re friends with US, and with the president. And sure things they helped with 9-11. Although in a different sense.
So, good for them.
I assume the UAE does follow Sharia law, thus meaning that adulterous women are stoned….and all the other things you said, HOWEVER most Arab nations also follow Shari’a law and have unfair laws like these and all nations do business with them anyway. I think it is better to do business with these human rights violating nations rather than isolate them and let them grow more extreme in human rights violations.
So, yes, I agree with you: Good for them.
I say let the UAE run the ports. They deserve a HUGE reward for taking Michael Jackson off our hands.