TAKE A BREATH! LOOK AT THE FACTS!

There’s a lot of bantering today over the deal for Dubai Ports World (DPW) to take over port operations in many American ports. It’s hard to find a Washington politician, Democrat or Republican, who isn’t vehemently against this deal.

Folks, this is strictly a political issue, there is no security concern here – the Democrats invented this issue because they’re looking for a method to portray Bush – the man who has pursued global terrorism with an unprecedented focus and zeal – as being actually “soft” on terror. Dems also think this might be a way to turn their political misfortunes around – as most of them now know they’re going to be consigned indefinitely to the back bench unless they can beat the Republicans on the number one issue in America today – security from Islamofascism.

Republicans like Bill Frist are phoning in to support the Democrats on this issue, only because they read the polls too and are afraid the Dems might actually get a foot in the door.

Okay, so let’s stipulate here that handing over major port-operations to an Arab country at a time when we seem to be at war with, and hated by, the entire Arab world – well, let’s just stipulate that that doesn’t sound like a very good idea. However, let’s calm down a moment and look at the facts here.

First – you guys know that I am a RABID ANTI-ISLAMO-FASCIST. I believe in utter ruthlessness in dealing with these guys and all options are on the table in my book when it comes to dealing with them. I personally believe that every terrorist we catch should be tortured just for general principle – but that’s me. I have no sympathies for these guys so when I tell you I think this DPW port deal is not a bad thing – I ain’t sayin’ it because I love terrorists.

Let’s look at the facts folks – and I’m going to put forth a series of arguments that have to be taken in their entirety. Some of these arguments, taken individually, can be debated to one degree or another – but taken in total – they illustrate to me that this DPW deal is not a bad thing.

POINT ONE: President Bush came out firmly today in support of this deal. I believe his quote was … “The UAE has played by the rules, they have cooperated and are an important ally in the war on terror … it would send a terrible message if we did not allow this transaction to go forward.” Lest we not forget … the number one enemy of terrorists is not the U.S.A. – it’s George W. Bush (personally). The man is hated globally by Islamo-fascists – which is precisely the reason I love him so much. So this is not a guy who would throw terrorists an opportunity. Additionally, President Bush has been taking a lot of credit for the fact that, since the sucker-punch of 9-11, the Islamo-fascists haven’t been able to lay a scratch on the United States. What this means is that – IF THE TERRORISTS EVER DO GET ANOTHER HIT ON US – President Bush will take the entire blame. So I don’t think Bush would support this deal if he thought there might be a chance that American security would be compromised. But don’t take this argument on it’s own – move on to …

POINT TWO: If DPW takes over port ops in American ports – they aren’t going to start importing Arabs in to run them. In fact, the same faces you see running our ports today, will be running our ports after DPW takes charge of them. Don’t take this argument on it’s own – move on to …

POINT THREE: DPW has been providing port ops for our Naval vessels in Middle-Eastern ports for years – without incident. “What about the USS COLE?” You say? Well, DPW wasn’t even peripherally involved in that incident, and besides – the COLE wasn’t tied to a pier when she was attacked – she was anchored in the open harbor when she got hit. The fact is, DPW has been providing port operations for our Naval vessels overseas for years. I’ve worked with these guys personally and they are a professional outfit. Don't cling to a racist stereotype which depicts these guys as dusty camel jockeys - these are professional people who operate on a global scale. They are international capitalists. If they had any inclination to aid terrorists I think that inclination would have already manifest itself as an attack on a large Naval combatant like say, an Aircraft Carrier moored overseas in some place like Jebel Ali. But we saw none of that – not even during the most tense parts of the Afghan and Iraqi wars. But don’t take this argument on it’s own …

POINT FOUR: DPW has benefited in spades from Capitalism. If they give any aid to a terrorist attack – it’s going to seriously attack their bottom line. Capitalism is a beautiful thing – the love for money will make a company turn away even from its parent government’s principles in favor of making money. Witness Microsoft and Google in China. But don’t take this argument on it’s own …

POINT FIVE: The United Arab Emirates is the “red light region” of the Arab world. Ever been there? Nothing can’t be had for a price – it’s a capitalist’s playhouse. It’s also the adult Disneyland of the Islamic world. The UAE is on old Osama’s list for elimination. In Islamo-fascist circles, the leadership of the UAE is detested as sub-human, worthy only of one’s utter contempt. To them, the leadership of the UAE is WORSE than the U.S.A. because the UAE has turned away from Islamic principles and has aided the enemy – America. The UAE has no reason to help Islamic terror – doing so would mean their own downfall – their own very painful and … **permanent** downfall. Don’t take this argument on it’s own …

POINT SIX: Stopping this DPW transaction would drive a wedge between the US and an important ally in the war on terror. That’s exactly what Osama Bin Laden wants – I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to oblige him. Don’t take this argument on it’s own though.

POINT SEVEN: DPW has extensive experience operating ports overseas where the terrorist threat is much greater than here in the U.S. These guys are experienced and do business professionally. Think about it - after seeing what happened after hurricane Katrina do you really want a New Orleans outfit running the Port of New Orleans? No? Well, that's essentially what you're saying if you're against this DPW deal.

FINAL POINT: DPW won’t be taking over port security – that remains in the hands of the Department of Homeland Defense (DHD). The Dems acknowledge this, but also say that DPW will learn our security modus operandi if they take over our port ops. My response to that is that DPW already knows our security modus operandi – because they operate massive numbers of foreign ports and they have seen our security operations with respect to our Naval ships visiting those ports. They already know how we do business – they don’t need to be physically present in the U.S. to learn them.

As I’m writing this – Bill O’Reilly is on the television and has just come out in support of the DPW transaction – he’s bucking popular American sentiment and he’s just re-earned my respect for him. He even included a couple of arguments in his editorial that I left out above – arguments on how it would simply be an empty gesture of racism to block this deal. He’s right.

It’s important to analyze the facts of this case – and not get caught up in the political hysteria that currently surrounds this issue.

Take a breath folks – this is not a bad thing.