Daylight Come and Dubai Going Home

(Washington) The political firestorm over the Dubai Ports World deal has just lost its kindling. The United Arab Emirates company announced that it would divest itself of all American holdings. The issue had appeared to be destined for a showdown pitting Congress against the Bush administration.

Painted by the mainstream media and the Democratic leadership as a national security breach, the issue of an Arab company taking over management of major U.S. port facilities struck a chord with the American public. Overwhelmed by the negative public response and the perception of growing laxity towards national defense, Republicans in the House took action to stop the deal by adding a measure to a do-or-die funding bill for the war. The President has been adamant in stating he would veto any attempt to stop the UAE deal. Well, he doesn't have to now. Dubai Ports World is mounting up and moving on out.

The perception that the Republicans are strong on national defense has been eroded.

(As an aside, the fact that the Republicans haven't taken a proactive posture towards illegal aliens flooding the country hasn't helped. The namby-pamby amnesty fix is seen by most Americans for what it is -- a band aid. A band aid that President Reagan tried in the 1980s. It didn't work then and it won't work now, particularly because U.S. border integrity is no more secure than New Orleans levees.)

Nevertheless, many Republicans are less solid in their support of the administration. They don't need a mismanaged political issue costing them votes come November.

I blame the media for starting the controversy. Average citizens had a match lit under them by alarmist reporting. There was and is no reason for alarm, but the public, who diligently go to work every day and usually don't concern themselves with mundane issues like the letting of government or private contracts, became incensed by largely inaccurate, above-the-fold stories that Arabs are buying U.S. ports. There was no reason for alarm. Foreign countries involved with U.S. ports is not new.

I also blame the Bush administration for not anticipating the possibility of the Dubai deal turning into a political football. They should have seen it coming and acted to stave off any alarm. My note to President Bush, if something (anything) happens that makes the Democratic Party look like it has even a passing interest in national security, you screwed up.

H/T: The Jawa Report

Tags: Dubai Ports World, UAE