My major point of contention in this deal is not that the company is UAE owned but that it is NOT USA owned.
A private company in Britain has managed major ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. Now, a UAE-owned company called Dubai Ports World is buying the London Company, which will put Dubai Ports World in charge of the U.S. ports. I wrote about the effort to repeal the Jones Act (Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 requiring that all cargo moving between U.S. ports be carried in ships which are U.S.-owned, -built and -crewed) in the 90’s. What I believed then still holds true for me today. We need to stop the outsourcing of our country to the highest bidder.
We are not considering who gives us tech help, who made the shirt we wear; we are discussing a major method of transportation of goods, services, and military supplies for our country. There is an inherent danger in this decision. Call me an alarmist if you wish, but, control of our ports is essential to our economy, security, and military capabilities. Our ports are vital to our economy and to the international economy. That makes them top terrorist targets. We do not outsource military and law enforcement operations and duties. Why hand our port operations over.
As far as the UAE and Dubai go, I do not know much about their country. Dubai is the second largest emirate and commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates. The capital of UAE is Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate; the other members of the federation in addition to Abu Dhabi and Dubai are Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Known until 1971 as the Trucial States, each of which had separate treaty relationships with Britain, the seven emirates came together to establish a federal state officially entitled Dawlat al Imarat al Arabiyya al Muttahida (State of the United Arab Emirates). Each of the component emirates of the Federation already had its own existing institutions of government and to provide for the effective governing of the new state, the Rulers agreed to draw up a provisional Constitution specifying those powers which we re to be allocated to new federal institutions, all others remaining the prerogative of the individual emirates. The new federal system of government included a Supreme Council, a Cabinet or Council of Ministers, a parliamentary body, the Federal National Council and an independent judiciary, at the peak of which is the Federal Supreme Court.
Here are a couple of pictures from The Dubai International Convention Center web site. I can not come to know a people by looking at pictures and web sites but it is a start to understanding.
If only I could recreate in such a place
Here is a flash presentation with a map from the site.
The DP World team is set to explain that the P&O business controls only the leases of container terminals at the ports. It says security at the ports is mainly the responsibility of outside bodies, including the US Coast Guard. News FT.com
All Arabs are not terrorists. All American’s are not like Timothy McVeigh. Regardless, it is not in our countries best interests, to allow our ports operations be handled by a foreign country. It is a legal failure that needs to be dealt with.
Thank you!