Coastal Extremes – US Outsourcing Ownership of American Shipping Ports

In our nation’s most recent episode of Executive Branch Malfunction, the star of the show has managed to finagle a business deal that considers the selling of control/ownership rights of several high profile shipping yards along United States coastline. The potential ‘buyer’ a corporation based in Dubai (an island in the UAE), Dubai Ports World would control the ports of New York and New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Miami, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana.

I think they should also get a special parking spot for a transatlantic tankership at 1600 Penn. Ave’s swimming pool.

Anyway, the deal has triggered security concerns among some members of Congress and the public. Rightfully so, 2 of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks on NYC, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC were from the UAE, not to mention large portions of the money which funded the terrorist attacks in 2001 came through banks in Dubai and other locations in the UAE. Generally you don’t want to negotiate business with someone that laundered money for Osama bin Laden. I think you really need to loosen up the shiny blue tie, oooh it is shiney George and re-evaluate your decision.

Let’s think about this for just one second Dubya. You want to sell the ownership rights to several ports (those things that largely control much of the textiles and material imports/exports on our soil) to an alien corporation which has ties to a terrorist group that attacked our country you were so sure could never be attacked. Well it happened, and it happened because we weren’t prepared, YOU let our guard down and we assumed we were safe. Little did we know that only 5 years later you would consider extending an invititation to yet another such catastrophy.

The paradox is this, President Bush is facing serious doubt that he can keep our country safe, and our enemies at bay hence he appears to be grasping at straws. This isn’t a bar fight in Dallas where you can slap a guy around and make him chase you outside for your buddies to take care of him. We are dealing with national security here. Just because you have something to prove does not give you the license to go creating potentially harmful situations so you can get credit when they get cleaned up. i.e. 9/11
RUNNING A COUNTRY DOESN”T WORK THAT WAY. YOU EITHER GOT IT, OR NOT!

I hope that the resistance that Bush has met on this proposal will be enough to stop him before he opens our borders to more terrorism, and I am glad that high-profile democrats are stepping up to prevent such an idiotic maneuver.

New York State Senator Charles Schumer held a press conference with family members of those killed in the 9/11 attacks to denounce the business proposition.

“Outsourcing the operation of our largest ports to a country with long involvement in terrorism is a homeland security accident waiting to happen,” Schumer said during the press conference.

North Carolina Representative Sue Myrick sent President bush a formal letter on February 22 confirming that she too was in staunch opposition to the proposed deal. Her letter was frank and to the point. In her letter she wrote, “In regards to selling American ports to the United Arab Emirates, not just NO–but HELL NO!” To see the letter click here.

Having some family in the business of international shipping I was admittedly oblivious to the immediate security concerns related to such a business deal. I immediately thought of how much more expensive business for my family members would be now that a foreign corporation would be controlling fees, taxes and operating costs for many seaport business. I hadn’t even considerd how vulnerable our country would be to even more deadly terrorist attacks and security risks.

It’s a no brainer Prez, or maybe not. After all, someone might want to look into how Halliburton (that multimillion dollar oil corporation that VP Cheney fronts) will be affected by this deal. Dubya might have a 20 guage full of birdshot aimed at him for motivation.