People seem to be focusing on the "globalization" and so-called free-trade aspects of the Dubai deal, and have focused on exposing this as a sell-out of our national security.
Sure, there's some truth to this. But the real reason this deal is so important has more to do with imperialism than free trade. And with some recent tv appearances, including Gen. Pace (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) on Fox this morning, its being discussed but not recognized by our supplicant punditry.
First off, let us dismiss the idea that US planners and decision makers support free trade on general principle. They use trade deals as an attempt to project US power and to enrich US corporations that are the planner's means of support. If it were not possible for US corporations to destroy local competition through these deals then they wouldn't happen and we'd be throwing up tarrifs and levies like crazy, just as we have numerous times in the past.
So focus instead on the line that keeps seeping through, and that Gen. Pace addressed this morning - that Dubai deserves the deal because they are a great friend TO OUR MILITARY. The fact that they service our ships, allow us to use their ports to park them, and basically permit us to extend our footprint into a strategically crucial part of the Gulf map that, if ever needed, could be used to either launch missiles, or extend blockades against potential competitors and threats to our control over the region's resources. I believe Hardball had a General or two this week raising the same points.
And the funny thing is, these guys say this stuff and the well indoctrinated pundits don't even think to say, well gee, you mean we are putting our port security at risk in order to, not trade with, but control the world? They know not to make too much of this because its not how Americans see themselves, so its left out. I really don't know any other way to read this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Check out the map above. I wish I knew how to paste it in here, but I don't. But you will notice that the UAE is strategically located right before the key shipping lanes of the narrow Straights of Hormuz, and within easy striking distance of Iran. That's why Centcom is there, that's why the oil-rich monarchies pose no problem for our democracy promotion, and that's why the port deal will go through, as a quid pro quo of our power projection. They are perfectly willing to put US civilians and non-investors at risk for the sake of concentrating power and ruling the world by the threat of or actual use of force.