Today's Political Rant

A lot has been written and said about the contract that was set up for a company from United Arab Emarates to conduct port secruity for major cities in the US.  I honestly don't have any information about the reputation or reliability of this company for providing this security.  UAE has been a great ally in the past and I'm not aware of any situation that would make me doubt them as a location for a company that provides this security.  This rant has NOTHING to do with the company that was chosen.  I don' t know enough of the facts to really make a judgement on that. 

 

I have no problem with a foreign country providing security for our ports.  If the due dilligence is done and the best company for the job comes from Dubai, then so be it! 

 

If that is the case, what the hell am I ranting about?  George W. Bush, of course!!! This could have been a win/win situation for all involved.  Had Mr. Bush been honest and forthcoming when this deal was in the works, an effort could have been made to educate people and congress as to how the choice was made to pick Dubai Ports for the job.  The transition could have been smooth and we could get on with more pressing issues regarding port security (like why only 5% of all containers are scanned before entering the country). 

 

Instead of doing this, the Bush administration decided to try and sneak this deal through while no-one was looking.  That instantly raised the curiosity of the Democrats in Congress as well as the Republicans and the American people. We're instantly concerned about the deal that seems to have been done behind closed doors and Congress (especially the Republicans) do all they can do to investigate the deal. 

 

Instead of being open and forthright at this point, the Bush administration tried to push this through and make like it is no problem for a foreign country to take over our port security.  That may be the case, but since the process started with concealment and deceit, no-one believes him.  People want to dig more.  A huge effort is mounted to stop the sale.  Dubai Ports finally pulls out of the deal and is PISSED OFF at the US.  I don't blame them.

 

Is the problem solved?  Nope!  Our ports are no better off now than they were a week ago.  We still seem to have inadequate security at our major ports.  The vast majority of containers still make it into the US without being adequately inspected. 

 

What's worse is that we've now agrivated a valuable ally and trading partner.  The US needs foreign investment in order to offset our trade and federal deficits.  We REALLY need foreign investment.  We just got rid of a great source of investment and may have put an end to future investment from Dubai. 

 

Everyone has lost as a result.  We've got decreased security, decreased foreign investment and we come off looking like assholes. 

 

Thanks President Bush.  It looks like you're really earning those approval ratings.

 

Rant over.

 

Pete