Readers 'Ashamed of the Reaction' to Port Deal
Feb. 22, 2006 — -- President Bush is facing opposition from both Republicans and Democrats over a proposed deal that would put a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates in charge of six major U.S. seaports -- a sale that opponents say could raise the risk of terror attacks upon the United States. The White House says President Bush was unaware of the pending sale until the deal already had been approved by his administration.
What's your reaction? Here's a selection of the comments being posted on the ABCNEWS.com message board. To join the discussion clich here.
W Bush is right about Arab Company: He is right on the assertion of FREE ENTERPRISE … Toyota, Honda, BMW, Daimler-Benz, Shell Oil, BP Oil … Everyone should be able to bring their capital to America and invest … stop profiling.
-- esoog
Racial profiling? The only arguments against permitting the UAE's company from managing our ports seem to be either Racist or Protectionist.
-- Fannie_Barker68
What About American Control? Personally, I don't care if it's UAE or Britain or France, I don't want ANY foreign nation controlling our ports. That's a recipe for disaster. AMERICANS should be controlling AMERICAN ports. If that makes me an isolationist … so be it.
-- atlantachick
Vulnerable choice? It's not that Americans don't trust the people and government of the UAE, the problem is that this organization would be much easier to infiltrate by terrorist cells.
-- fyrfyter13
Ashamed of reaction They are only enemies to those who have not thought this out. I am ashamed of the reaction in this country to this event. It really embarrasses me.
-- richardforbes75
Keep it domestic For me, the only thing about this I take issue with is that this company is owned by a foreign government, not that it is foreign owned.
-- ShumEchad
Pure economics As the days have moved on I am beginning to see this, instead of giving into my knee jerk reaction. This move makes a great deal of economic sense.
-- sci10
Just Playing Politics?
Political football There are over 30 ports in this country that are managed by foreign countries including China, Japan and many more. They are NOT owned, just managed. It's a non story. It is strictly political football.
-- goinggonebush
To Bush: Explain the deal The White House has failed in their effort to get information out in a timely, less secretive way, when what they should have been doing is allaying the fears that have surrounded this move.
Say No to Veto He hasn't vetoed a single bill yet and he's gonna start NOW with THIS port thing???? Who does he think he's fooling?
-- RobertPaulson1
Shill game The Port Deal will fail. Why? It was a shill game all along. I've been thinking about it, and the Bush administration had to have known the idea of Arabs controlling our ports would not sit well with Americans from every walk of life. Why did he do it?
I have a theory. As Karl Rove says "Everything is politics" Bush knew his Republican Congress was in trouble come November because they were only Rubber stamps of whatever he wanted.
The GOP needed an issue to show some backbone. An issue to point to in November for voters to see they had stood up to the President and were victorious. The Arab port deal was the perfect setup.
-- Crataegus