The PR machine of Dubai Ports World has been in full swing, with company executives taking to the airwaves to convince the American people that the U.A.E. company truly has American interests at heart.  First, the company claimed it was not owned by the government of Dubai, even though it is, and even though the Emir of Dubai chairs the company's Board of Directors. Second, the company claimed it 'volunteered' for a 45-day security review, but it has refused to delay the deal. Tomorrow, unless Congress takes action, DP World will take over P&O.  Most disturbing is the fact that DP World has essentially used its influence to hijack our national security process.

Let us first examine the original P&O - DP World contract.  Review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is purely voluntary. Here, both parties contracted to a CFIUS review. Yet DP World included the following in its contract:

In regulatory papers, the companies said either the committee must agree not to formally investigate the purchase or Bush must not move to block the sale for national security purposes

Read that again. DP World insisted that a Exon-Florio 45-day investigation not be initiated, and that Bush could not block the sale for "national security purposes."  The decision of whether a deal should be blocked because of national security should be made by the President and OUR government, not by the DP World and the government of Dubai. Yet the government of Dubai explicitly demanded that it essentially be exempted from a national security review.

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It's a little unnerving when the base of both parties voices the same opposition to an issue. It's a bit too close to Bizarro world. But where both sides may agree on the broad principle that DP World should not control U.S. ports, our basis for opposition differs radically. Where the opposition in some corners is the result of xenophobia, the issue deserves a more nuanced analysis.  Over at DailyKos, I've been stressing that opposition to the deal should be narrowly focused on the implications of allowing a foreign government--friend or foe--to operate our vulnerable ports.  

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This is my latest letter to the people of Indiana's 6th District  Barry

STOP OUTSOURCING THIS COUNTRY

If you, fellow citizen, agree with my demand, I ask for your vote in the May Primary and the November Elections.

Governor Mitch Daniels has sold one of our roads, and President George W. Bush has outsourced six of the nation's ports to a country with terror links.  

My name is Barry Welsh and I am running for Congress against Republican Mike Pence.