Much ado over DP World

[JCMach1]

DEAR readers, I am witnessing some heated debates on the American television channels these days over a matter of great significance here: namely, of DP World gaining control of six major US ports, among others, through its acquisition of the London-based P&O. While the issue is taking many strange twists, truth, it appears, is a casualty.

These channels were following up on the calls made by the New York Senator Hillary Clinton and some others for Congressional intervention to stall the deal. These Senators want the matter reviewed and decided by a bipartisan committee. At another level, some of those who lost their family members in the Sept 11 incidents are also being prompted to move court with a view to obtaining a legal stay and block the deal. Some company in Miami is also taking legal recourse to keep the Dubai firm off the US.

TV anchormen, being journalists themselves, should know everything about the talk they are hosting. It will not do if they bring in experts from both sides for the debates. One expert says the US should not allow this, while another expert says, "There's nothing wrong, go ahead"...

For, if security is the issue, what no one is explaining is that DP World or Dubai will have nothing at all to do with security aspects at these ports. It is a commercial deal, pure and simple. The works that the Dubai firm would do are in respect of management of the facilities in the US ports, among others around the globe. It has nothing to do with security. Security will be America's own job at those ports.

To DP World's credit, there are no two opinions about the competence of the UAE firm to undertake a vast global operation of this kind. "It could be perfectly qualified to operate the ports around the world", admits none other than Senator Chuck Schumer, who was among the first to raise concerns over the DP World forays into the US shores. Those concerns are, he says, based (only) on matters of US internal security.

The problem, prima facie, is that the Senators and others who are raising a hue and cry over the Dubai moves are, deliberately or otherwise, confusing people about the role of an international port operator like DP World. They do so by ignoring the fact that matters of security at these ports will be firmly in the hands of the US security personnel and US systems...

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/comment/2006/February/comment_February20.xml§ion=comment

[cornermouse]

1. Khaleej Times in Dubai?

Well duh.

[acmavm]

2. Here's the other thread on this subject...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x470304

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[acmavm]

3. I see you're from the UAE. Does this mean that you're not American?

Are you feeling that this is personal? Do you not think we have a right to demand that we control all aspects of entrances and exits to our country?

What's your story? Because you really need to fill in some blanks before you start telling us we are wrong to demand control of the ports in this country.

[Dirty Hippie]

8. I believe the poster

is an American living in the UAE.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. It does appear that...

the ports having been run by a Danish, then a British firm for years has upset no one, nor do several airports being run by a Dutch firm, nor the other European and Canadian firms running things here.

But let just one Arab get his finger in things and all hell breaks loose.

[alarimer]

6. A company from a country that has ties to terrorism

and 9/11. Two of the hijackers were from Dubai and some of the money came through Dubai banks. That alone makes it dangerous to run our ports. The Dutch are not terrorists; terrorist were not funded through the Netherlands or through Great Britain. Enough said.

[WhiteTara]

9. I think a clear difference is that those

were companies and this is a government

[Demeter]

5. I Resent Outsourcing Such An Important Security Task

And it's wrong, no matter which foreign country it is.

[alarimer]

7. So do I

Only American companies need apply. But Dubai has obviously ties to terrorism, unlike, say, France.