Hate-mongering killed the Dubai seaports deal
BY AREF ASSAF
Daily Record op-ed 3/12/2006
Fear, politics and racism against Arabs, not real security
concerns, killed the Dubai port deal.
Doubtless, political pundits will spring up many lessons from the thwarted deal.
For Americans, the pains of Sept. 11 are still too fresh and real to forget the
assault on our collective national senses of security.
Collective punishment of 300 million people for the crimes of 19 terrorists has
been justified as the price for security, which always has been the
responsibility of the United States government.
Fear politics overcame any sensible approach, which would have allowed an
Arab-owned company to operate some of our seaports. It made no difference that
Dubai has proven to be a strong ally of the United States, almost to the
detriment of its existence.
Not only do politicians seem to hate Arabs, but also, the average American seems
to hate everything Arab or Muslim. For Arabs, the United States has two
standards of conduct: one applies to Arabs only, and it is based on distrust,
disrespect and xenophobia. The other applies to the rest of the world, where
mutual interest prevails. Osama bin Laden, whose hate for moderate Arab
countries far exceeds his hate for America, now feels vindicated for attacking
America's hypocrisy and its disdain for everything Arab.
I was particularly offended when U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. compared
Dubai to the devil, implying it could not be trusted. This slur was one of many
unfortunate statements he employed to ignite anti-Arab, anti-Muslim sentiments.
Those statements did not come from a seasoned statesman carefully measuring his
words and pursuing matters with a reasoned tact, but from an ill-advised
politician seeking to foster animosities and prejudicial sentiments.
Sadly, Lautenberg and other hate-mongering politicians capitalized on "hate-the-Arab"sentiments
not only to outmaneuver President Bush but also to harm our relations with
fledgling modern societies in the Middle East.
Security of our shores begins and is verified on the shores of our trading
partners and allies. If we trust Dubai with our nuclear-powered vessels,
thousands of troops and hundreds of jet fighters, then I think we can find a way
to trust it with our ports.
Even if an American-owned company operates the ports, we will continue to rely
on Dubai, for it controls many of the world's largest ports from which
U.S.-bound container ships originate.
As a New Jersey constituent, Lautenberg's grandstanding shames me. My hurt is
further deepened by his arrogance and disregard for our reasonable demand for an
apology.
As to add insult to injury, other prominent politicians who have joined in the
anti-Arab rant have yet to distance themselves from Lautenberg's slurs.
Such rhetoric only adds fuel to backlash against Arabs, the great majority of
whom are desirous of our friendship and support. Our war on terrorism has been
dealt a severe blow.
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Aref Assaf is president of the American Arab Forum and a resident of Denville.
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