Port Update—Friend or Foe??

Make that 21 ports. That’s the new, improved number of ports the United States plans on turning over to the United Arab Emirates. As recently as 2004, bin Laden was still using Dubai as one of his bases of operation. Treasonous by this administration? I think so, don’t you?

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is defending a deal giving a company in the United Arab Emirates control over terminals at key US ports. Critics in congress say the deal is a threat to national security. They noted that the UAE served as a base for the hijackers who took part in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US.

The New York/New Jersey port is typical. It consists of a comprehensive set of terminals and services that span the harbor. Once cargo arrives at the port, no time is wasted as services speed cargo to inland destinations. Direct ship-to-rail connections, barge operations, and trucking offer many ways to avoid delays to key markets. Within one day of arrival at the port, goods can reach 105 million consumers.

If the United Arab Emirates turn out to be an enemy of the US, it will have in its intelligence base more information on this country than I care to acknowledge.