Why Don't We Just Give Them Our House Keys?

Everett, as a host community to Distrigas and Excelon, has a vested interest in port security along the Eastern seaboard, and this story hits just a little too close to home. The news coming out of Washington in the last few days is not only disturbing, but completely disconnected to this country's hopes and fears in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001.

Last week, Dubai Ports World of the United Arab Emirates bought the port management company, London- based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which held the rights to the ports of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans. Dubai Ports World is a state-owned company of the United Arab Emirates.

Homeland Security Chief, Michael Chertoff is right on board with the sale. The Boston Globe reported that "Chertoff defended the security review of Dubai Ports World of the United Arab Emirates, the company given permission to take over the port operations. Chertoff said the government typically builds in ''certain conditions or requirements that the company has to agree to make sure we address the national security concerns." But Chertoff declined to discuss specifics, saying that information is classified."

Specifics surrounding our security are classified? Let us get this straight: A United Arab Emirates owned firm has bought the shipping management rights to 5 major ports on the Eastern seaboard and one on the gulf, and Homeland Security is okay with this. What? While this country is currently as much an "ally" as an Arab country could be, the Emiratis are essentially minorities in their own country. A quick review of the population statistics of this country reveal that Emiratis make up less than 20% of their country, not to mention the fact that the United Arab Emirates, a country in the Persian Gulf, has had a front row seat to a very unpopular war in the region, as both Iraq and Iran share the Gulf waters with the UAE. While the UAE isn't exactly a hotbed of Muslim fanaticism, who is to say that that won't change? This is a region in which people have rioted and killed over cartoons. Did we mention that two of its nationals helped hijack the jets on September 11, killing thousands of people. And specifics surrounding our security are classified?

Are they kidding? Why don't we just give them our house keys?

This is supposed to be a government for the people, and by the people. Do you get the sense that in the quest for oil and wealth, we're really just collateral damage should the unthinkable happen again? Call your Congressional representatives today - don't wait.

Our population statistics came from this site:
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcuae.htm