Australia: Exercise extreme caution in the UAE because of terrorism

[PhilipShore]

Baltimore Sun
Green light for port transaction raises red flags
February 22, 2006

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.thomas22feb22,0,3415014.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

ARLINGTON, VA. // The Australian government recently issued the following alert to its citizens:

"We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the United Arab Emirates. Commercial and public areas frequented by foreigners are possible terrorist targets."

The United States has approved a business deal that would turn over the operation of six major American ports to a company that is owned by the UAE, the very country Australians are to be wary of visiting. The obvious question is: If it is dangerous for an Australian to travel to the UAE because of terrorism, isn't it even more dangerous for a company owned by the UAE to own the rights to American ports where terror might be directly, or indirectly, imported?

There have been some dumb decisions since the U.S. was attacked on 9/11, including the "welcoming" of radical Muslim groups, mosques and schools that seek, by their preaching and teaching, to influence U.S. foreign policy and undermine the nation. But the decision to allow the sale of port operations in New York; Newark, N.J.; Baltimore; Miami; Philadelphia; and New Orleans to a company owned by the UAE may be the dumbest of all.