Dubai Ports Deal Dead: OFFICIALLY!

News at this hour (1:50 PM, Thursday, March 9) is that Dubai Ports World (company site here), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) company involved in the controversial deal to purchase the leases of a handful of loading and offloading terminals at six U.S. seaports announces that they will sell that portion of the deal to another investor.

So, while we still allow a strategic competitor like China to operate port terminals, the UAE, a strategic ally, who has supported us in the war on terror with miltary facilities, intelligence on Al Queda and economic investment will be turned away.

I FULLY realize that this is a contentious issue for conservatives who are wary of foreign ownership of strategic assets like port terminals. But my own conclusion, based on exhaustive research and an appreciation for the strategic dimensions is that the hysteria that led to this outcome is a mistake. And worse, it is being manipulated by Democrats to our detriment!

Forget for a moment, that the UAE is understandly upset with the way they have been treated in the American media and may very well cancel contracts with large U.S. companies, like Boeing (more on that from "The Hill" a US Capitol insider's newspaper) that will have a bottom line for American jobs and the economy.

But consider this: Will we now have LESS intelligence and cooperation from the UAE that would result in attacks on Americans leading to the loss of life?

And what we do not know at this point is what company will replace Dubai Ports World as manager of these few terminals? Additionally, from a security perspective does it really matter? After all, there are thousands of containers loaded overseas, all by companies not owned or operated by American firms. Could those same firms represent a security threat?

That leads us back to where this whole controversy started. It doesn't matter WHO operates the port terminals. It matters more WHAT is being brought into these ports. And it REMAINS the responsibility of the United States Government, NOT a port terminal operator, to assure that these imported containers are safe.

P.S. Now that this deal is dead. What new Democrat manufactured hysteria will rise to take it's place? Stay tuned!