Silver Lining?

I must admit that I don't have enough facts to say one way or the other if allowing Dubai Ports to operate 6 of our ports is a good or bad idea.

I know that is not a typical Fu2man stand on an issue this big, but let's look at a few things before passing judgment.

US lawmakers urge review of Dubai Ports deal

Let's start by agreeing that our ports have long been reported as very vulnerable to a terrorist attack.

And allowing a United Arab Emirates-owned company to operate them is probably not in our best interest.

But remember, the ports are currently operated by a British company.

I know, they are allies of ours, but is that possibly why our ports are currently the most vulnerable areas for terrorist attacks?

That is not to mention that The US Government is responsible for port security, whether it is operated by Dubai Ports, or the current operator, P & O.

Analysts and port sources doubted the takeover of British company P&O by Dubai Ports World would have any impact on security. They cited multiple layers of screening and protection involved in global shipping, particularly among such major operators.

Granted, I would be one to error on the side of safety, and say NO to the UAE, but is there a silver lining in this?

It seems to me that the if Dubai Ports is allowed to operate these 6 ports, it just may kick the Bush Administration in the ass to step up port security to the level it should have been all along.

I only hope that the US/Mexico boarder will have a similar bombshell that will kick them in the ass to do something about that. I guess the tunnels from Mexico to the US that were used for drug and human trafficking wasn't a bombshell.

At any rate, port operators are not in charge of security, that is up to Homeland Security.

So far, it seems they have dropped the ball.

This is their chance to pick it up and go for the end-zone.

Or, fumble and lose the game for The United States.