The (Almost) Showdown at the DP Corral: Or Saved by Dubai

Like the dashing hero in an old cinema cliffhanger, it seems the President’s friends in Dubai have swept in and rescued him from his perilous perch between a rock and a hard place. Otherwise President Bush would soon be facing a very difficult decision.

Congress was ready to pass a bill to stop the Dubai ports deal. And, Bush, apparently very attached to this deal despite the displeasure and discomfort of the American people, threatened to veto the bill. But this legislation was attached to a bill funding hurrican relief and the Iraqi war. So the President was in a lose-lose situation. And there were plenty enough votes in Congress to override his threatened veto, if indeed it had occurred.

Congress is, of course, was responding to the outcry of the American public against the Dubai ports deal. It’s an election year, and the incumbents want to keep their jobs. Nonetheless, it was refreshing to see a bit of dissent and debate between these two branches of government again.

Now, like a spoiled king, Bush is berating Congress, and the American people, for damaging relations with our allies in the Middle East.

But Bush brought all this chaos upon himself. Since 9/11, much of his “war on terror” actions, for example the holding of detainees at Gitmo and the domestic spying program, have created an aura of cultural profiling; casting suspicion on anyone with Middle-Eastern backgrounds or connections.

And the inconsistencies in intelligence before and since the Iraq invasion, the controversies regarding hurricane relief and the aforementioned NSA program, and other recent Administration snafus have Bush’s approval ratings plummeting. It seems like the Keystone Kops are running the country.

At best, the President has a creditability problem. Even the White House information on the possible ports acquisition by the Dubai company changed several times. At first, we were told the White House knew of and support the deal. Then we were told, the White House had only just learned about it when we did. Then we were told the White House had studied the deal, in private of course, and approved it. It is the behind the scenes wheeling and dealing, coupled with the Administrations penchant for secrecy and “spin” that killed the ports deal.

Bush and his minions, by word and deeds, have conditioned the American public to believe that all terrorists are radical Muslims, and most of them are training and plotting in areas of the Middle East. So after over four years of such insinuations, and repeated requests for our vigilance in our efforts for national security, the reaction of the American public is as sadly understandable as it is revoltingly, overtly bigoted.

Not all Muslims or Arabs are terrorists. Neither are all terrorists Muslims or Arabs.

Still, let’s face it, we were reacting to the ingrained image of a terrorist, our boogeyman du jour--the very image Bush has worked hard to keep in our heads whenever he wants to pass a controversial bill or prop up his sagging poll numbers. He has typecast the Arab world in the role of global villian. And he has preached fear of this villian to the American people.

And now he becomes a victim of his own success, and the squashing of ports deal for Dubai.

And let’s not forget our friends from the United Arab Emirates. There are still questions about how and to whom the US ports business will be “transferred.” Some wise politicians and reporters have noticed that DP World’s brief statement only noted that the US ports portion of its recent acquisition from Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., the British firm will be transferred to an American entity. And they caution that continued diligence and scrutiny are necessary until the details of this latest transaction are known.

I’m sure DP World, the Dubai company in question will be adequately compensated for it’s efforts. Perhaps they’ll even receive some kickback from the American firm that will acquire this portion of the business.

Because this is business after all, and we know Bush and company look out for their big money friends. And the Bush family and friend are in oil business, and have lots of oil business friends in OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia, and Dubai. Surely this cozy relationship was behind the Presidents unwavering support of this deal. That’s the main reason he’s now scolding America about it. And he surely won’t let his friends down, especially after they’ve helped him out of this tight jam.

It might have been interesting to see whether Bush would have chosen the Dubai deal over the hurricane relief and war funding. It would have been a moment of truth. And truth is something we sorely need from this Adminstration.

Sadly though, we can’t expect the Truth when they so diligently avoid it--or are so gallantly rescued from it.

We’ll just have to stay tuned to see what fine mess His Resoluteness gets us into next. My guess is, we won’t have long to wait.