Fear the Fear

I definitely agree with The Nation's assessment of the Dubai Ports World deal:

It's hard not to cheer as the DP World fight blows a big hole in what's left of the Bush Administration agenda, but we must realize that by framing the Dubai deal as a national security threat, Democrats are paradoxically reinforcing Bush's master narrative of a permanent and all-encompassing "war on terror." They are also dangerously enhancing the equation of Islam with terrorism that Bush so deftly exploited to launch the Iraq War.

Democrats should see the panic over the DP World deal as an opportunity for a truly nervy rudder-turn--challenging the toxic premises of Bush's national security policy and confronting the obsession with secrecy that led to the consummation of the deal out of sight of Congress. The Dubai Ports World scandal is a scandal--but mainly because it is the latest chapter in this Administration's ongoing, sweeping betrayal of the public interest. Playing to fear is a mug's game that only Bush can win.

[UPDATE] The Economist has an article on what Dubai could lose if the Dubai Ports World deal falls through, which points to the fact that they want to be good citizens and good business partners:

Yet the backlash in America is a slap in the face for Dubai: a member of the United Arab Emirates, it is trying to do what many western capitalists have long advised—invest in building world-class businesses before the oil runs out. For Dubai, that day is only about ten years away. It has already developed its economy to the point where oil accounts for just 7% of GDP. Under the leadership of the ruling al-Maktoum family, Dubai has made a series of huge investments. Just its most advertised projects amount to well over $50 billion.
[...]

A new company, the Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, was recently unveiled. It will mastermind a $15 billion investment in aircraft manufacturing and aviation services, including Islamic aircraft-financing. It will be based next door to the new Jebel Ali airport, which will eventually have six runways and the capacity to handle 120m passengers a year. One runway will be dedicated to cargo aircraft, which will load and unload at the world's first “logistics city”. The new airport is adjacent to DP World's giant Jebel Ali Port, now one of the region's busiest container terminals.

As Dubai's boosters point out, the emirate is well situated midway between Europe and the booming markets of Asia. Can its strategy work? It will take more than first-rate facilities, which is why a liberal business environment is being fostered, alongside an openness to foreign labour. Already some 80% of Dubai's 1.5m inhabitants are expatriates, ranging from Bangladeshis working on building sites to Americans hired as top executives. But the strategy of turning Dubai into an international hub for transport, tourism and international business would be threatened if America decided that Dubai is also a hub for terrorism. That is why, ultimately, Dubai's security concerns are just the same as America's. It cannot afford any compromise on the issue, because that would destroy its dream.