Threats Will Get UAE Nowhere

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The Arab community in the Middle East is threatening an economic backlash against the US if the Dubai Ports World deal fails:

To many in this booming financial center, the American backlash over Dubai running U.S. ports boils down to something simple -- and ugly: "This is Arab-phobia," says one Arab security analyst. "I can see no other reason behind it."    

Many Arabs go further, saying the basis of American policy toward the Middle East may be at stake: If the United States can't work with a moderate, friendly and socially liberal Arab ally like Dubai, it may not be able to work with any Arabs at all. (Emphasis mine)

"If the American politicians were smart, they would hold Dubai up as a role model," said Abdul Khaleq Abdulla, a political scientist at Emirates University. "Punishing us sends the wrong message."    

Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris said Arab investors may pull money from the United States because of the country's opposition to Dubai's takeover of American port operations. (Emphasis mine)

This is the absolutely wrong way to convince the American public to go along with this deal. In fact, threats like this will only make the American people even more angry about this whole situation. Forcing us into the ports deal when we're not ready by threatening economic retaliation will get the Dubai ports deal nowhere fast.

As citizens of this country, we have the right and the obligation, to ask our senators and congressmen to thoroughly investigate this deal to make sure there aren't any national security risks involved. And we have the right to ask this without threats of retaliation from foreign governments.  Our government's first priority must be the safety and security of our citizens, not the economic interests of foreign nations.

Update: Michelle Malkin has another good, comprehensive post with more information regarding the ports deal, including this snippet:

And now this: "Bush would accept slight delay in ports deal-Rove."

Comments

[Debbie]

Great post. I had not heard about these threats. They better watch out, we might move all our military ships out of their ports. No wait, we might need them there if we go after Iran. Nah, our ships can go anywhere to get the job done!
Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

[Baggi]

Bah, how is it you allow yourself to be tricked by the MSM?

Seriously, read the headline again, then read the article again, and tell me where the UAE has threatened any backlash. An Egyptian and "Arabs" and a guy who happens to go to Emirates University is not the UAE.

Sheesh.

[Kim @ Up North Mommy]

I'm aware the UAE didn't make those threats, that random Arabs did. My point is threats of this kind on the behalf of the UAE will only hurt the UAE.

If you had read my post you would have picked up on that.