Calls for Change in Port Decision Likely to Be Heeded

When Republican governors, like Robert Ehrlich of Maryland and George Pataki of New York, and conservative commentators, like my friend Hugh Hewitt, disagree with a decision made by this President, they're likely to be heard by the White House.

All of these and others have voiced concerns about the Bush Administration decision to allow a company based in the United Arab Emirates to operate ports in this country. Hewitt says:

The idea that an Arab country with an active al Qaeda organization, even when that country is a strong ally of the US as the UAE is, can be trusted to operate a border facility of enormous complexity and thus vulnerability cannot be sold to the public or defended as a thoroughly vetted for security concerns...[the prospects of al Qaeda infiltration are too great]...

It is a long war, and even our allies in the Muslim world have to understand that homeland security will interfere with the otherwise ordinary flows of commerce.

The Bush Adminsitration needs to back away from this deal as quickly as possible.

This President, known for decisiveness and for not looking back, will perhaps, be loathe to reverse himself. But, hearing his friends and most ardent supporters express their belief that the port decision must be reversed will probably cause the President to do just that.

In fact, I think that politically, the President can turn such a reversal to his advantage. "My fellow Americans," he can say, "while we believe that there would be no threat to homeland security if the acquisition proposed went through, we're also pleased that after four-and-a-half years, our citizens have responded to my calls for vigilance and that you remain vigilant about the threat of world terrorism. After the events of September 11, 2001, no President could be more aware of the malice of the terrorists than I am. I've heard your concerns and I share them. I have therefore decided that we will allow only American firms or firms from countries with whom we are closely allied to operate the ports of America."