Political Error

If nothing else, this is, politically, a huge tactical error. The overwhelming population in the U.S., I'm sensing, is strongly against the ports being run by the UAE.

Dubai firm would be 3rd-largest ports operator The proposed acquisition of British company Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. by Dubai Ports World would turn the Middle Eastern company into the world's third-largest ports operator.

The public has security concerns about this arrangement, and rightly so, as do some in the Bush administration.

Security fears about infiltration by terrorists Several Bush-administration security officials expressed concerns yesterday that terrorists could infiltrate seaports through a United Arab Emirates company that is vying to manage six U.S. ports.

Bush is presumably sticking to his guns on this issue and I think is a big mistake to do so. This is where his stubborness may come up to bite him in the rear end. How ironic it would be if his first veto ever of a bill in 6+ years in ofice would be overridden by the legislative branch.

Bush vows ports deal will stand President Bush yesterday vowed to use his first-ever veto to strike any law that Congress passes to block a deal allowing an Arab state-owned company to operate six major U.S. seaports, amid growing bipartisan efforts to thwart the plan for security reasons....