Republicans bitch-slap Bush

House Republicans sent a clear message to President Bush yesterday:

In an election-year repudiation of President Bush, a House panel dominated by Republicans voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to block a Dubai-owned firm from taking control of some U.S port operations.

By 62-2, the Appropriations Committee voted to bar DP World, run by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports.

Bush has promised to veto any such measure passed by Congress, but there is widespread public opposition to the deal and the GOP fears losing its advantage on the issue of national security in this fall's elections.

"This is a national security issue," said Rep. Jerry Lewis, the chairman of the panel. The California Republican said the legislation would "keep America's ports in American hands."

Republicans and Democrats working together for the same purpose: the security of our nation. Ah, doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy? I can just see Tom DeLay and Charles B. Rangel singin' "kumbaya" together. Well, maybe not. But it is nice to see the fact that our lawmakers are working (mostly) toward the same direction for a change. Even if it's for different reasons.

I was thinking last night, if Republicans had been against this Dubai deal from the start, Democrats would have pounced on the chance to play the race card against them, claiming racism, intolerance, xenophobia and Islamophobia. But now, since Dems took that position out of a knee-jerk opposition to anything Bush agrees to, they find themselves on the right side of an issue for a change. Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day!

I've heard the arguments for and against the notion of Dubai managing several of our ports. But even after hearing them all, I still think it's a bad idea. I do think it's a good thing that this issue has come to light. Until recently, I had no idea that we allowed foreign companies to be in charge of such vital points of entry into our country. Captain Ed is a half-step ahead and asks some obvious questions:

Now what do we do with the ports under the control of Saudi, Chinese, and Singaporean operators? Do we kick them out -- and if we so, who then replaces them and in what kind of time frame? Do we bar any state-owned entity from port management, regardless of nationality? That's my main objection; a state-owned company represents the interests of the state before the interests of business and profit, and we will not have an opportunity to react quickly enough if their state interests suddenly change to hostility towards the US. That seems like a rational prerequisite to securing our ports, and DPW fails in that regard, unless they partner with outside investors to establish an American subsidiary that would find its motivation in ensuring safe and secure business transactions.

I just hope the subsequent discussions and debates will result in some common sense policy. (h/t: Michelle Malkin)