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The Bush administration is right on this one...
This is a legitimate business deal completed with honest means. That cow was already out of the barn as the ports were controlled by the British. The Dubai Government had no direct connections to 9/11 beyond the connections of any of the countries where the terrorists resided over time.
National security (and everything else) has and is being sold down the river by the elites in the US. At least with this company the ports will get the needed dollars to modernize to help prevent terrorism. Meanwhile, good American union member dock workers will continue to do their job.
People are raising the smokescreen of xenophobia and racism once again on the left and the right. IT doesn't shock me, but it disgusts me.
The UAE are our allies... Allies... I live very near (stone's throw) from a military base here in the UAE. Just a few weeks ago, I bumped into a squad of FRENCH soldiers. What were they doing? I found out from them that they were there training Iraqi police officers. I also bump into many American soldiers around the UAE as well. In all seriousness, without the UAE's unwavering support it would have been almost impossible for the US to have carried out war on Iraq. The ports here are that important to regional trade and logistics.
I personally don't agree with that war, but the UAE has constantly been at the side of the US. Should a crisis come to a head in Iran, the US will have to proceed with its UAE ally.
The UAE is not Saudi Arabia... not even close!
I can leave my house today, go to church or mosque with the poorest of the poor here. Sit in their homes... and you know how much danger I am in from terrorism. Almost zero... nada... Not only that I could leave my keys in the car with the motor running and when I come back the car would be there.
Did you know that the UAE is now moving very quickly towards Democracy? Did you know that women have full and equal rights here? Did you know that women voted in recent elections and were elected to local councils? Did you know the UAE Finance Minister is a Woman? Did you know the vast majority of the country (almost 75%) are expats? Under 25% are actual citizens? Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world and within the next decade will boast the tallest and second tallest buildings in the world. Add to that, the tallest hotel (Burj al Arab) and hugely vibrant economy and you have one of the more interesting and sometimes strange places in the world to live. Less that 1/2 of GDP is now dependent on oil. Tourism, trade, and industry take the lionshare.
Before you close your mind, why don't you try to understand that the Middle-East is not a monolith and that if you truly know this place you can discard virtually everything you read or thought you knew.
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