I have yet to find a single reason to get worked up about the port deal with Dubai.  Every country has its issues.  America gives rise to plenty of its own terrorists and terrorism money laundering.  We’ve allowed other businesses from other countries to run port operations for us.  We’re not talking about letting Dubai be responsible for the security of the ports; we’re only talking about a business from Dubai being responsible for loading and unloading cargo from ships.

Considering our own government checks less than 5% of all incoming cargo at these ports, it matters not who’s running the actual work.  They can’t possibly endanger us any more than we are endangering ourselves.

Also note that the work will still be performed by good ol’ American union members.  The only difference is that the top of the food chain for their work will now be based in Dubai.

If we are to let the Arab world know that we harbor no ill will toward them as a whole and understand that Islamic terrorism is no different from other terrorism (meaning not representative of the whole), this would be a good place to start considering our failures on so many other fronts in that war against public opinion.

Sure, the UAE has a terrible record with regards to human rights (including a significant crackdown on gays), but our country has no better record given the last several years.  We torture people, we murder and maim, we reduce the liberties of our own citizens, we pass laws to keep minorities suppressed and to negate hope of equality, we spy on our own citizens, we attempt to control the flow of information and lie about so many things both large and small that the truth is increasingly nonexistent…  Dare I go on?  Who are we to point fingers at anyone about human rights given our track record of late?

Honestly, I can’t find a single reason that the deal should not go through.  It does not jeopardize national security in any way.  It does not support terrorism any more than any other business transaction supports terrorism (sure, it’s in there, but laundering and financial support of terrorists is happening all over the globe and in every conceivable business arena whether you care to admit it or not).

By not letting the deal go through, all we’re really doing is giving Arabs another reason to think we hate them.  If that’s the point, more power to the naysayers.  If it’s not, shut the hell up and let business move forward.

Oh, but some 9/11 hijackers came from Dubai.  Well, Timothy McVeigh came from America, so we shouldn’t let American companies do the work either.  Oh, but some of the 9/11 financing was laundered through Dubai.  Well, some of that financing was also laundered here in America (or have you forgotten all the frozen funds in our own country?).

We do business all the time with terrorists (directly and indirectly).  In this case, we’re talking about doing business with a country that has had a few unfortunate incidents tied to terrorism.  Remember, America has those very same ties, as do most other states on the planet.

All the hoopla over the deal is hot air that does nothing but create more negative impressions of America in the Arab world.  There is no logic behind blocking it.  There is no reason Dubai can’t be welcomed into the free market here in America like other countries have been.

Since our government sees fit to inadequately fund security for these ports, and since Dubai poses no more a risk to us by handling port business operations than they would by running McDonald’s franchises on every street corner, what reason is there to stop the deal?  None.