Regarding "Thwart the port deal" (Editorial, Feb. 21), Salaheddin Mustafa,
AAF Executive Board
The editorial board could have saved plenty of space by using one sentence
instead of 13 paragraphs to convey its message: "BOO!!! The Arabs are coming to
take over our ports and to destroy our country."
But in an attempt to thwart the inevitable cries of racism the board adds the
qualifier, "While no one should equate Arabs with terrorists." But that is
exactly what it does.
The board could have added some factual context:
Reminding the public that security is and will continue to be the domain of the
federal government, not the port manager.
A good percentage of our ports are run by private foreign firms and
foreign-government controlled firms.
While some 9/11 terrorist financial and operational planning occurred in Arab
countries, the majority took place in European countries.
Dubai Ports manages ports all over the world, including in Germany, Australia
and Hong Kong.
A good percentage of the containers coming to our shores originates from these
ports.
Regardless of who manages the port facilities, the issue of safeguarding and
inspecting 100 percent of containers still remains. The editors instead
took a "strong on security" position and piled on just like nearly every
politician. After all, which politician or editor would not want to say they
fought the "Arabs" by denying them the chance to harm our nation? Tapping into
the growing anti-Arab and anti-Muslim fear is a tactic the Bush administration
has used well. Now because of this success everyone is using it.
Salaheddin Mustafa
Clifton, Feb. 23
The writer is a member of the American Arab Forum's Executive Board.
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