Bush bites back on Ports issue

President Bush has responded to critics of the port deal, and has an interesting perspective on it. His view is that it is CRITICAL to allow this deal to go thru to prove to the world that a non-terrorist Middle Eastern country can get a fair shake. His view is that failing to allow this to go through is telling allies in the Middle East that Americans view all Arabs the same way. Essentially, he is saying failure to let this go thru is racism.

"It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world," Bush said...Bush, who has never vetoed a bill as president, said on the White House South Lawn: "This is a company that has played by the rules, has been cooperative with the United States, from a country that's an ally on the war on terror, and it would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through."

I am not yet convinced, but I have to admit he has a strong point. There are two sides to winning the war for the hearts and minds of the Arab world: (1) crush the centers of terrorism, and (2) prove that there is a place for Muslims in a Westernized world.