U.A.E. Port Thoughts

I awoke this morning fresh listening to the news updates and a thought came to mind:

1. Has anyone considered the World Trade Organization's possible influence on the decision to allow the U.A.E to take over six of our major ports? All politics aside we are moving rapidly toward a better globalization of the world market place, and if we ( U.S.) are allowed to set up shop in other countries why can't the same be done for others?

2. Now, let's consider the security risk at hand. We do not have a viable security plan in place besides the Coast Guard and private company security.The main factor is making money; time spent checking every vessel and goods container is money lost. What is our buffer right now for security? Money. A rich tycoon nation like the U.A.E can afford to take on such extreme cost required to meet the security demands of our ports. Terrorist will try our weaknesses whether the owner is eastern or western. Do you think Saddam-like or Bin Ladens' people give a damn about whose standing guard?

3. I am torn, too, by the very notion of a foreign country running our ports, but it has nothing to do with what foreign country.