The issue of whether American flags or the flags of foreign nations fly over American ports has suddenly become a political lighting rod. The fact that support or rejection of the deal with Dubai cuts across party lines only serves to muddy the issue with the average American.
We here at Flagstuff.com are firmly in the camp with those who believe only American flags should fly over American ports. I won’t pretend to be an expert on all the ins and outs of port operation, but after hearing most of the main arguments on both sides, it seems pretty clear cut.
To begin with, all the talk about free trade is just a red herring. That argument is coming primarily from those, the President included, who pay lip service to national security but who really don’t place a premium on national sovereignty. They use feel-good terminology like “globalization” and “global economics” while opening our borders and exporting jobs.
Proponents of the Dubai deal issue dire warnings of economic protectionism. But keeping foreign management out of U.S. ports has virtually nothing to do with free trade. Regardless of the managing entity, our ports will continue to operate in the same way – no restraint of trade – no additional tariffs. In the case of Dubai, Bush is using our ports as a political and diplomatic tool.
Even more cynical is the charge of racism. Let’s be exact in our definition of racism, taken here from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” In the case of Dubai, or any other Middle Eastern country (excepting Israel), we are dealing not with a race, but with a religious idealogy, namely Islam, that has a stated goal of the destruction of infidels. That’s us folks.
But the most compelling reason to rid our ports of foreign control and firmly plant the American flag where it belongs, is one-and-the-same issue as border control. In an age when the rules of engagement have shifted radically, we need to control what and who comes in and out of this country as best we can.
Politically, the President’s attempt to involve Dubai in our ports management may have looked good from a foreign policy standpoint. You know, send a message to other Middle Eastern countries that we’re really not as bad as they think we are. But from a domestic standpoint, it’s nothing but a minefield, and bad policy as well.
It doesn’t matter whether 5% or 25% or 50% of the containers coming into our ports are checked. We have determined enemies who are well aware that one of the most fruitful ways to ship large amounts of bad stuff into the U.S. is via container. Since it’s just not feasible to open and search even the majority of containers, let alone all of them, it’s only a matter of time until we are attacked with something that can be traced back to one of our ports.
The upside to a deal with Dubai is negligible. Appeasing Middle Eastern governments with lucrative financial deals will ultimately not benefit the United States one wit. The downside however, will be disasterous. If and when we are attacked with some material that wiggled it’s way thru port security, both Dubai and the American politicians who supported the deal will be held accountable. That’s why Congress was so quick to scotch the deal.