Port Retort

President Bush is taking a lot of flak for threatening to
veto
the UAE ports deal. Normally, I would be on the side of the critics but the degree of Bush’s resolve here is pinging my radar. I may be wrong and wildly off base but I’m being reminded of Reagan’s resolve in selling AWACS (Airborne Warning System and Control) planes to Saudi Arabia. For those who don’t remember, this was a key precusor to asking for a quid pro quo in which the Saudis increased oil production. The result was having the price of oil drop, which meant far less hard currency for the Soviet Union. For more, look in any volume of recent history under the heading, "Winning the Cold War." As long as there are security safeguards in place, Arab allies are a good thing, yes?