Why Dubai Ports should succeed...
The events that unfolded in Washington DC over the past few weeks have left me stumped!!! By denying Dubai Ports the rights to maintain American ports despite the fact that it had passed all the specifications and had the best tender on the pretext of "national security", the USA has lost the last shreds of dignity that it had retained, after deposing the existing regimes and ensuring civil war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Blocking the deal is wrong, because Dubai Ports is one of the most repectable companies in the world in its field. Dubai is one of the few Arab states that support the USA in its struggle against terrorism. And, more important, Dubai is probably the only state to boast of a cosmopolitan appearance with a huge expatriate community, and a substantial no of Americans themselves. This act of denial goes against the very essence of "free trade" and "liberalisation", the very words that officials of the USA spout constantly whenever they are on a tour to the numerous Third World Nations.
The senators who have milked this "situation" for all its worth have to be blamed. In an attempt to induce Islamophobia among the people, they have alleged that allowing an Arab corporation to take "control" of their seaports could lead to a "problem of national security" [in other words, terrorism].
I hope the Ruler of Dubai is not offended by such irresponsible statements. And I will continue to hope against hope that Dubai Ports gets the deal eventually, because I dont want to even think of the consequences of this latest snub against the Arab world.
