The Port ThingMichelle Malkin is
leading the charge against the decision to allow a Dubai-based company to take over operations of several major U.S. ports. She even took the rather startling step of opening up her comments section, which is always risky considering the kinds of hate speech she usually gets from the Left.
As I mentioned while talking with
Jamie Allman and Smash this morning, I'm willing to be convinced that the deal makes sense, and that security will remain tight. But the administration needs to sell its case. It can't just assume that the fuss will blow over.
Dennis the Peasant, who seems like a thoughtful guy when he's not talking about Roger Simon, does a pretty good job of summarizing
the case in favor here.
Lost in all of this is the fact that the government of the United Arab Emirates is exactly the sort of Arab/Muslim government we should be rewarding for their loyalty to us in the War on Terror. The U.A.E. has, in fact, been the very model of the ‘moderate’ Arab/Muslim state we loudly proclaim must take a firm and unbending stand against al-Qaeda and the Middle Eastern Fascists we are fighting.But unless the administration makes its case forcefully and quickly, the deal is going to founder. There's an old story about Tip O'Neill's first run for office. After he lost, he was dismayed to find out that a friend had not voted for him. When he asked her why, she responded, "You never asked me for my vote."
Update: Uh-oh. If Frank Gaffney's not on board (read down to the end of Michelle Malkin's post) then I'm not either.
And
Jimmy Carter's a supporter of the deal. Question: Which of the big liberal blogs will change their opinion?
