United States Port Security?
This will most certainly be a difficult topic to broach here. Port Security... Here's my take on the whole issue: I agree with the President that we cant deny this UAE company (read UAE government) the purchase of this property and business simply because they are an Arab nation. That would be and is indeed racial profiling and outright racism.
That being said I do not at all believe that ANY foreign company or nation should be running or otherwise have such a large holding on any US interests, especially when they are of such great importance to National Security. The potential for abuse and corruption is far to great no matter what nation or company in question. Power and money corrupts.
I think the crux of this issue as far as Americans is concerned is complacency and lack of education. I for one had no idea that foreign nations and companies had such large holding on American interests. Not until is was brought to the forefront of the news. It would probably never made headlines save for the fact that the company and government in question was Arab, and caused quite a bit of concern.
How many of us actually knew or know how many foreign nations and or companies have holdings such as the ports within the continental United States?? If you did some research the answer may be quite surprising for you. Having said that, I return to my original point. We should never make decisions or refuse commerce and capitalism based on nationality or ethnicity. That is definitely not the American way. In that regard the President is correct and this deal should be allowed to happen.
However, and this is a big however, NO FOREIGN COMPANY or GOVERNMENT, should have been permitted to acquire these kinds of holdings in the first place. Certainly the British are our steadfast allies and good friends, but the United Kingdom is undeniably a nation with is own share of terrorist activities, and has been for years, thusly no less a threat than the UAE. It would only take a small amount of corruption, and well placed payoffs in the right hands to cause a major disaster, whether the people paid were Arab, British, or American for that matter.
I am a firm believer in free trade, capitalism, and freedom, however none of these things should circumvent national security. The cost would be far too high. Additionally it strikes me that being that this company is not a private firm, but a part of the UAE government, this would place them in a far more unique position then the British firm that formerly operated the ports. That is a position of have diplomatic priviledges for members of the staff of this company.
Again I say the risk of abuse and corruption is far to great. Remember folks, it would only take one attack, one time, with one small nuclear device in a major US port to absolutely and permanently change the world as we know it. A world that hasn't yet completely changed and adjusted from the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.
That being said I do not at all believe that ANY foreign company or nation should be running or otherwise have such a large holding on any US interests, especially when they are of such great importance to National Security. The potential for abuse and corruption is far to great no matter what nation or company in question. Power and money corrupts.
I think the crux of this issue as far as Americans is concerned is complacency and lack of education. I for one had no idea that foreign nations and companies had such large holding on American interests. Not until is was brought to the forefront of the news. It would probably never made headlines save for the fact that the company and government in question was Arab, and caused quite a bit of concern.
How many of us actually knew or know how many foreign nations and or companies have holdings such as the ports within the continental United States?? If you did some research the answer may be quite surprising for you. Having said that, I return to my original point. We should never make decisions or refuse commerce and capitalism based on nationality or ethnicity. That is definitely not the American way. In that regard the President is correct and this deal should be allowed to happen.
However, and this is a big however, NO FOREIGN COMPANY or GOVERNMENT, should have been permitted to acquire these kinds of holdings in the first place. Certainly the British are our steadfast allies and good friends, but the United Kingdom is undeniably a nation with is own share of terrorist activities, and has been for years, thusly no less a threat than the UAE. It would only take a small amount of corruption, and well placed payoffs in the right hands to cause a major disaster, whether the people paid were Arab, British, or American for that matter.
I am a firm believer in free trade, capitalism, and freedom, however none of these things should circumvent national security. The cost would be far too high. Additionally it strikes me that being that this company is not a private firm, but a part of the UAE government, this would place them in a far more unique position then the British firm that formerly operated the ports. That is a position of have diplomatic priviledges for members of the staff of this company.
Again I say the risk of abuse and corruption is far to great. Remember folks, it would only take one attack, one time, with one small nuclear device in a major US port to absolutely and permanently change the world as we know it. A world that hasn't yet completely changed and adjusted from the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.
posted by Josh at 9:12 PM
1 comments
