Dubai Ports

I have put this off long enough. For years liberals have preached, sometimes blatantly and sometimes quietly, that conservatives are really racists because of the lack of support of such programs as affirmative action. I have never believed that such a thing is true of my conservative brothers. I am not so sure anymore.

The blockage of the Dubai Ports taking over six American ports by Congressional Republicans was one of the most disgusting and xenophobic action that I have had the misfortune of living through. Using the shield of national security, Congressional Republicans and Democrats blocked the deal without knowing any of the security considerations about the case.

Dubai Ports is owned by the United Arab Emirates, one of our most important allies in the War on Terror. Before 911, the United Arab Emirates was an ally of Afghanistan. This, along with terrorist money being funneled through the United Arab Emirates, is the reason why the Congressmen balked at this deal. After 911, however, the United Arab Emirates has been an irreplaceable ally in operations against Iraq and Afghanistan. They have allowed us use of their ports and airfields. Being an ally of the United States has made them highly disliked in the Middle East. And how do we repay such a debt? We deny them a contract on our ports that we allowed our ally Britain to have which has nothing to do with security.

This has also made me question the people of this nation. In a recent survey, only 17% of Americans believed that Dubai Ports World should have been given the contract. 63% believe that they should not be given the contract. The only consolation is that the College Republicans at my school, The Catholic University of America, made a group on facebook called "Conservatives Sane on Dubai." This is a group of Republicans that are against the ridiculous xenophobia that has gripped our country. I have been for profiling in some cases because Arabs make up the largest majority of the terrorists. But what we have done to our ally is unforgivable and criminally reprehensible. Moral of this story: Not all Arabs are terrorists. Case closed.

For another take on this deal, look to Kurticus Maximus.

May the force be with you.