Letter: We already let others operate our ports

Wednesday, March 1, 2006 | 7:15 a.m.

Over the past week, I've heard, watched and read hundreds of items about the Dubai Ports World takeover of a British corporation, allowing DPW to become the "port service contractor" at six major U.S. seaports. The United Arab Emirates deal is good for America.

We are not selling the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Customs & Border Protection activities nor any other U.S. activity performing security tasks at U.S. seaports. Therefore, the number of containers searched is not an issue in this sale. The United States has about 360 "port operations" on our shores. Approximately 90, or one-fourth, of those are managed by foreign-owned companies. The China Overseas Shipping Co. operates ports on the U.S. West Coast. The Chinese Army is part or full owner of COSCO. Other than Chinese, we have British, Danish, Singapore, Japanese and several other foreign port operators.

To me, the UAE has earned our trust! They have been "vetted" without objection from the responsible U.S. vetting committee. Are we ready for UAE's retaliation if the United States rejects the deal? How, in the future, will the United States cultivate allies on anything, much less a global war? If we can't trust them, why do we trust China?

Why don't you hear of a "public outcry" from Great Britain, Japan or Australia about this port service contract sale? They have port contracts involved in the sale and don't they also have a terrorist problem?

Elbert W. Lemmon, North Las Vegas