You won't hear this very often but for once I have to agree with George W Bush. What a joke this whole furore is over the administration of several ports by a foreign company. You've probably heard that Dubai Ports World has been selected to run the ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Miami amongst others. Now mayors, governors and senators are up in arms to prevent this routine transaction and Bush is threatening to veto any legislation coming out of the legislative branch on the issue. But why, isn't this just business as usual?

Seems that having a bunch of Arabs running American ports is tantamount to surrendering in the (groan) "War on Terror" (or whatever the hell they are calling it this week). Yes, Hilary Clinton is claiming to champion security over rationality; I guess if you can't beat Bush you should exceed him. Do you really think that Dubai Ports World is going to truck in workers (AKA terrorists) from the Middle East to work at the Port of New York? Why would they? America is rotting and they'll be able to get all the cheap labour they can handle. They'll probably have some foreign senior management but which vice president of operations plans terrorist attacks in his or her spare time? More likely they'll be doing lines off a mirror in their wood-panelled office.

This is all about subtle racism. Essentially all Arabs are potential and presumed terrorists so they shouldn't have any degree of control over WASPs and other true Americans. Corner stores and cabs are enough for them.

What these hypocrites don't realize is that Dubai is more American than America. Free enterprise, industry, progress, excess: these used to synonymous with the stars and stripes but no longer. The people of Dubai and most of the emirates on the Arabian peninsula aren't interested in fanaticism. It's the almighty dollar that reigns supreme in the sands. Haven't we taught them well; but remember Dubai, oil doesn't last forever.