Like a lot of Americans and politicians in Washington, when I heard that a company from the Middle East was getting permission to operate one of the largest cargo terminals in New York Harbor and terminals in Philadelphia, Baltimore and other big US ports I went ballistic.   You’ve got to be kidding, I thought?  Are we going to let the inmates run the asylum?  Then I settled down and reviewed the facts.  The more I looked, the more I liked the idea.

Dubai Ports World, an international company started in Dubai, UAE, has paid $6.8 billion to acquire a British firm, Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.
P & O Ports North America, a subsidiary of the British firm, currently operates the US ports.  If the deal is completed the ports would essentially be operated by Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the Dubai Ports Authority, part of the Government of Dubai.

For me Dubai isn’t just a spot on the world map.  I’ve traveled there twice and have close friends there, both Arabic and Indian.  Dubai is one of seven kingdoms (Emirates) that compose the United Arab Emirates.  The UAE is by far the most secular Muslim country in the Middle East and Dubai is unquestionably the most progressive of the seven Emirates.

Dubai’s Historical Support of Freedom

To build my case for Dubai Ports World let me first discuss the history of kingdom of Dubai.  Decades ago the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid, against the advice of his family and advisors, opened Dubai for foreign investment.  Because Dubai has virtually no oil, Rashid realized that Dubai needed to stake it’s long-term future on international investment and commerce.  He transformed Dubai into a free-market economy and created a friendly tax environment that attracted investors from Europe, America, and all over the world.   In Dubai only 10% of the population are native Arabic people, known in Dubai as “locals”.  The other 90% have come from all over the world to develop and sustain the rapidly growing economy of Dubai.

Over the past thirty years these expatriates have built huge skyscrapers and established Dubai as a world-class city of commerce.  Visiting Dubai is like touring in any progressive western city.  Shopping means Abercrombie, Starbucks, Victoria’s Secret, IKEA; you name it, they’ve got it!  You can walk the streets of Dubai day and night without worry of crime.  It is a thoroughly modern and wonderful city.  Most of the “locals” in Dubai dislike traveling to places like Saudi Arabia and Iran, judging them to be restricted and dull.  They would much rather spend their vacations in Europe or the United States.  On the other hand, freedom-loving Muslims from all over the Middle East flock to Dubai to enjoy the nightlife!

When Sheikh Rashid first started opening Dubai’s borders to international investment, one of his family elders expressed concern, saying, “The westerners will plunder our economy and steal our money”.  The Sheikh, in his ultimate wisdom, told his elder to go down to the Dubai airport.  “When you see the British carrying one of the buildings they have built here in Dubai back to England on an airplane, call me at once!” he said.  Unlike most Middle Eastern countries that have tried to distance themselves from Western ideas and culture, Dubai has embraced Western attitudes and freedom.  This is why Dubai stands out like a shining jewel in contrast to her backward, unprogressive, fundamentalist neighbors.  If there is any Middle Eastern kingdom that is worthy of our business, it is Dubai.

Dubai’s Business Acumen

One of the best-known businesses of Dubai is Emirates, the state-owned airline.  This is the finest airline I have ever flown.  Their equipment is new and they spare no expense on their customers.  Even the coach section of the aircraft has a television for each person, located on the back of the seat in front.  They serve alcohol on their flights and you might be surprised to see how many Muslims take advantage of that fact.  Their flight crews are 100% British.  No other nationality need apply!  Emirates Airlines flies to many destinations in Europe and Asia and even has a non-stop flight to New York.  Funny how we haven’t seen any protests over that!  I know of no terrorist incident that has ever occurred on an Emirates flight.

Two months ago the government of Dubai signed a contract to replace their Airbus fleet with $19,000,000,000  (that’s 19 billion dollars, folks) of new Boeing aircraft.  I wonder how many American jobs that will create over the next ten years.  Isn’t it unusual that these alleged terrorists from Dubai would spend that amount of money supporting the US economy?  It’s even more curious that they would spend $6.8 billion to acquire the rights to operate ports here.  If their purpose were to destroy us wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper to just put a dirty bomb in a suitcase?

Dubai Ports World is one of the most efficient cargo loading companies in the world.  US ports are not well run.  Many American companies got out of the cargo handling business years ago, burdened by union contracts and unwilling to make the needed capital investments to efficiently unload containers.  The British and others entered our market and have been running our ports ever since.   The result has been more efficient cargo handling, saving American consumers billions of dollars.  If you want to learn more about Dubai Ports World, you can go their website at:  http://www.dpiterminals.com.

Port Security vs. Port Operations

One of the reasons to oppose engaging a Dubai-owned company to handle port operations is that this will create a national security risk.  There’s one big problem with that argument.  Dubai Ports World is purchasing the rights to operate the port, which means that they will load and unload cargo.  It is the responsibility of the US government, not the port operators, to provide port security.  Right now our government inspects only 5% of the cargo entering the United States.  If Americans really want port security they should ante up the money to allow the US government to inspect each and every item entering the ports.  If the US government isn’t providing adequate port security it doesn’t matter whether a Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Christian, atheist, German, African, Dane, or American is unloading the cargo, there will be a problem.

Political Considerations

It is my personal position that no political consideration imaginable creates an acceptable reason to compromise our nation’s security.  Because the government of Dubai has allowed us to inspect cargo within Dubai since 911, because Dubai has been our strongest Middle East ally in the fight against global terrorism, and for all of the reasons mentioned above, it is my conclusion that the Dubai Ports World deal will not compromise our security.  Period.

If that is the case, and I believe it to be the case, our failure to approve the Dubai Ports World contract can lead our friends in Dubai to only one conclusion; that we suffer from irrational Arab phobia.  We will become the Western equivalent of cartoon rioters.  That’s not a good signal to give our allies in the Arab world, especially one as solid and supportive as the kingdom of Dubai.

When all of his 14th century-thinking neighbors told Sheikh Rashid to stay away from the Western world and it’s influence, he was bold enough to tell them that they were mistaken and he was willing to take the heat.  History has proven him correct.  Now our politicians are being asked to be as open minded and bold as Rashid.  I hope they have the wisdom to ignore those who wallow in Arab phobia.

Sachin Patel grew up in Ankleshwar, a medium-sized city in the state of Gujarat. As a teenager, Sachin admired his Uncle, who was the managing director at a large chemical plant. Sometimes Uncle Kamlesh would introduce Sachin to Americans who were visiting India on business. Sachin was always impressed with these visitors from the United States. They would tell him stories about their homeland and they always had some sort of fascinating new technology, like a Sony Walkman or a digital watch. It was as if these Americans came from another planet where there was unlimited wealth and a treasure trove of neat gadgets. These Americans had everything, thought Sachin. What a country in which to live!

Because he was an average student, Sachin didn’t have the test scores to get into a Medical or Engineering school, so he was destined to a lesser occupation. He joined the Indian merchant marine as a deck hand on a container ship. This was a physically demanding occupation for which Sachin was not well suited. One sunny afternoon, while his ship was docked in the Port of Chicago, he simply walked ashore. His American dream had begun.

Instead of the easy life that he expected, he found life very difficult in America. The streets were not paved of gold and people weren’t as friendly as the men who had visited his Uncle in India. The 2,000 rupees he had in his pocket didn’t buy much here and he soon ran out of money. He found work “off the books” in an Indian restaurant on Devon Avenue in exchange for room, board, and some meager pocket change. His boss was an Indian from Delhi who had absolutely no affinity for foolish young Gujarati’s. At the restaurant Sachin worked harder than he had his entire life and his reward was bare subsistence. He often longed to be back in India where, even living under his parent’s roof, his life would have been better.

These Americans were insane, thought Sachin; always chasing the dollar. They had no time for tea and chat. Even the Indians he knew who lived in America spent precious little time with their families. Sachin remembered the many hours he and his family enjoyed each other’s company on the veranda swing. Just when Sachin was at his psychological bottom some light unexpectedly entered into his life. One afternoon while running errands for the boss, he stopped in a small store to buy a Pepsi. A young Indian girl came to the counter and asked him what he wanted. He could hardly answer. Her beauty was overwhelming! She had medium brown skin, long hair, a perfect figure, and a smile that melted his heart. She was a year or so younger than he but she was also a Gujarati and her name was Smita.

Smita’s father Mukesh, owned the store, a small place on Artesian Avenue. He had come to Chicago from Baroda ten years earlier after his wife had died. The store was barely 300 square feet, crunched in between a video rental shop and a Pakistani restaurant. While the store didn’t exactly exude prosperity, Mukesh struggled at the only way he knew how to make a living. What he lacked in financial prowess he made up for in love for his only child. She was his only reason for living and he would have nothing but the best for her.

Sachin certainly wasn’t the best. Not even close. Even if Mukesh had liked Sachin, he would not have approved of him because of his lack of education and dearth of ambition. But Sachin and Smita would see each other on the sly, escaping Devon by taking the bus down to Logan Square. In this predominately Hispanic neighborhood they were relatively inconspicuous. Furthermore, none of their relatives or friends ever came to Logan Square. Once in a while they would meet at Wicker Park, just to establish random destinations for their frequent disappearance.

Whether Smita’s father wished it or not, these two were perfect for each other, or at least thought themselves so. They were inseparable and kept their relationship secret for five years. By then Sachin was working as an assistant manager at a grocery store on California Avenue. He was well liked and with the help of some knowledgeable friends, he had acquired permanent residence status in the United States. He had also put a few dollars aside for savings. He planned to marry Smita some day, if only he could get the permission of Mukesh.

The day finally came when the two of them approached Mukesh. He had already been talking to a matchmaker for Smita and was well along in the process of finding a suitable partner for her. Although Sachin had matured and Mukesh thought of him as a decent boy, Sachin’s request for the hand of Smita was to Mukesh an outrageous proposition. What did Sachin bring to the table? While he had mastered English and was from the same caste, he had no formal education. He had no wealth. There was no way to check out Sachin’s family background or genetic history. What if his relatives had a history of physical or mental diseases? Besides, what kind of Indian family would raise a child who would jump ship and abandon them forever? This match between Smita and Sachin was an easy decision for Mukesh. It took him about 45 seconds to reply with a resounding NO!

Smita and Sachin were crushed, for they had prayed for Mukesh’s blessing. A few months passed and Mukesh introduced Smita to suitor after suitor, but she refused to marry any of them. Mukesh was frustrated. He told Smita that in India there would have been no refusal about it; she would have bent to his wishes. After all, a couple marries because they are suited for each other, not because they love one another. Love, as every Indian knows, is a long-term response that is learned as the marriage matures. But Smita was determined to spend the rest of her life with Sachin. They would meet in a Wicker park coffee shop and sit for hours discussing the situation. Tears would come into Smita’s eyes as she pondered the vast gap between her Father’s wishes and desire to bw with Sachin.

Finally, in the wee hours of a cold December morning, Smita threw two large suitcases into the back seat of Sachin’s old Pontiac. The couple headed north on the Kennedy Expressway and proceeded on the Illinois tollway, crossing the Wisconsin border at Beloit. They had a full tank of gas and kept driving through town after town until they found a place that looked peaceful and promising. As the sun rose and the fog lifted, they found their abode. The sign read “Welcome to Hubbard, Wisconsin”.

Let’s assume that there is another planet that contains human beings.  Let’s further assume that there are several major religions on that planet, each claiming their proportionate percent of the population as members.  Let’s assume that each religion has a founding prophet, long deceased, that is revered and respected by his followers.  Finally, lets assume that most of the followers of each religion love their respective prophet and judiciously follow the teachings of their prophet as much as possible.

All of a sudden, a problem arises.  Some of the members of religion A behave inconsiderately and insult the memory and legacy religion B’s prophet.  Because the members of religion B love their prophet tremendously, they are hurt and angered by the actions of those who have insulted their prophet.  What are the members of religion B to do?

There is only one rational and consistent response available to the members of religion B.  Because they love their prophet they will adhere to his teachings.  They should respond to the situation in exactly the same manner as taught by their prophet.  Any other response would be blasphemy.

If the prophet of religion B preaches tolerance, forgiveness, and love, the members of religion B should respond the same way.  They should approach those in religion A, explain their hurt and disappointment, and ask those in religion A to search their souls so that this situation may never be repeated.  To do anything different would be blasphemy.

On the other hand, if the prophet of religion B preaches hate, revenge, and violence, the members of religion B should respond to those teachings by enacting violence, hatred and revenge on the followers of religion A.  To do anything different would be blasphemy.

Above, is a painting of Jesus Christ, clearly portrayed as a gay man.  Artist Becki Jayne, who claims to have been challenging mainstream religious beliefs since 1993, painted it.  Jayne’s art is available from the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, 127-B Prince Street, New York City.  Her website is: www.beckijayne.com

As a Christian I find Becki Jayne’s painting offensive.  I don’t think her portrayal of Christ as homosexual is relevant or factual.  I think she’s a nut and I don’t appreciate either her art or her message.  In my opinion this painting is an insult to Jesus Christ and to Christians.  But how would Christ admonish his followers to respond to Ms. Jayne?  I’m not quite sure, but I know that he would not admonish them to go down to Prince Street in New York City, burn down her gallery and threaten her life.

Circulating on the Internet is the now infamous cartoon, supposedly representative of the prophet Mohammed, published last September in the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten.  Mohammed the prophet is portrayed as a terrorist, with a round bomb tucked into his turban.  Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scholars know that this characterization of Mohammad is false.  The drawing is an insult to the prophet Mohammed and to Muslims.  How would the prophet Mohammed admonish his followers to respond to the artist who created the drawing and the newspapermen who published it?
Does the prophet Mohammed preach hate and revenge as has been played out in Syria and Lebanon where his followers have torched Danish embassies?  Would Mohammed condone the violent anti-cartoon demonstrations that have been held in Asia, Africa and the Middle East including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran?  Would Mohammed delight that the 12 cartoonists whose work touched off the firestorm are in hiding, frightened, and under police guard.  Would Mohammed want Iran’s best-selling newspaper to launch a competition to find the best Holocaust cartoon?  Or, would Mohammed condemn the violent protests while also urging respect for religion.

Muslims appear undecided about the teachings of their beloved prophet Mohammed.  Those who practice violence are either blasphemers or they correctly reflect the teachings of Mohammed.  The world is waiting for an answer.  It will not wait patiently much longer.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about Iran and it’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Last October Iran’s President called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”  In December of 2005 Ahmadinejad further distanced himself from the realm of rational human thought, expressing doubts about the Holocaust and calling it a “myth”.

Far more important than the statements of psycho-President Ahmadinejad is the threat of Iran becoming a nuclear power.  Germany, France, and Britain recently introduced a draft resolution asking the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for violating terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  The rational for the draft resolution cites Iran’s “many failures and breaches of its obligations” (under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty) and “the absence of confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes resulting from the history of concealment of Iran’s nuclear activities.”

There is little doubt in my mind that if Iran had a nuclear weapon and the ability to deliver it, that bomb would be on it’s way to Tel Aviv as we speak.  The political pundits have been asking what the options are for Iran.  Should we use diplomacy through the UN?  Should the US consider a military option?

Does anybody remember MAD magazine?  The main character shown above, Alfred E. Newman, was known for his famous saying:  “What?  Me Worry?”  Alfred never worried about anything and frankly with respect to Iran and its development of nuclear weapons, I feel just like Alfred.  I’m not worried in the least about Iran developing a nuclear weapon.  I don’t care if the International Atomic Energy Agency refers Iran to the United Nations Security Council or not.  I don’t care if the UN Security Council acts with regard to Iran or not.  I’m not losing any sleep over Iran because a nuclear-armed Iran does not exist, nor will it ever exist.

One word explains why Alfred and I aren’t worried about Iran.  That word is “Israel”.   You can bet your bottom dollar that the Israelis have plenty of informants in Iran.  The Israelis know precisely how far along Iran has progressed toward becoming a nuclear power and before Iran gets that far the Israelis will launch an air strike and destroy Iran’s capability to enter the nuclear club.  Furthermore, the Israelis will launch air strikes as often as they deem necessary.

Israel has been threatened with destruction by many of its backward neighbors since its establishment in 1948.  You can take it to the bank that the Israelis aren’t going to entrust their security to anyone, not the United States and especially not the United Nations.  When the proper time comes the Israelis will take care of business in Iran and they won’t be asking permission from anyone.

In a world full terrorism, tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, and global warming, Alfred and I are glad we don’t have to worry about Iran!