port deal with the uae, III
I defended the deal as being, all things considered, okay for security (since no changes would have been made) and good for business. Sadly, however, I think this analysis of the news that the Dubai company in question participates in the anti-Israel boycott is dead-on, and that my defense will have been in vain.
It’s too bad, because I think that economic liberalizations and a move toward free markets is one of the fastest ways for a country to become more liberal generally, especially in a region badly in need of liberalism. As long as destroying Israel is more important than that, however, it will never be.
UPDATE: Now comes this, by way of LGF, that Dubai Ports World may have been tacitly doing business with Israel.
Neil on
02.28.2006 @ 23:15
To me, the ports controversy was not about which foreign country’s business operated the port, but WHY a foreign business is doing so. I’ve gradually come to accept free trade as a positive process, but this strikes me more along the lines of common sense. Having a Toyota factory in Illinois (or wherever its US headquarters is) is bad enough, but the idea that a company from a foreign country is able to hold influence over one of our ports is incredibly disturbing.
03.01.2006 @ 08:09
It’s not at all disturbing; in fact, it’s quite routine. Several foriegn countries lease port space in America and have for years. I have no problem with it. I don’t even really have a problem with DPW, but it’s illegal to do business with a company who boycotts Israel.
03.01.2006 @ 22:38
I was watching MSNBC last night and I discovered an interesting aspect about the deal: zero U.S. companies bidded for the right to operate the port. The UAE company was actually the highest bidder, and even Bill Clinton had spoken with the company about taking the necessary steps and scrutiny in order to obtain the rights (ironic given Sen. Clinton’s lambasting of the decision.) I was heretofore unaware of that, and it changes my perception on the government’s role… although fundamentally I still have a problem with a foreign company operating something as crucial as a port of entry.