Q: Are UK citizens upset that their ports are also affected?

[stevietheman]

I'm just wondering if anyone has seen any reports to this effect.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. No, we're not

2 large ports are affected - Southampton, where the container terminal operation is 50% owned by P&O; and the London Gateway Port project at Tilbury, which is now being developed by P&O. A question was asked in Parliament if the development would be affected, as the answer was 'no', and no politician has said they're worried. P&O's partner in the ports says they are unconcerned.

The UK OKed the purchase from a security point of view:

"It's immaterial who owns anything here as long as the ports themselves meet the security requirements. And if they don't meet them, then we have power to do something about it," the TRANSEC spokesman said.

He said there was no "issue of principle" involved in giving the United Arab Emirates-backed firm management control over important container terminals.

TRANSEC sees no security issue in Dubai Ports bid

As well as interests in those those ports, P&O is the largest cross channel ferry operator, but this has not been seen as a problem either.

[JCMach1]

2. No problems at all... the British understand the difference

clearly between the UAE and Saudi Arabia... something which many DUers are having difficulty with.

Besides, they vacation here all the time... they know the place.

[stevietheman]

3. I guess the British people haven't much learned of it then...

I'm sure most of them would be as aghast as Americans are.

And the idea that Americans are having trouble distinguishing between UAE and Saudi Arabia is an odd statement.

I have no confusion here, and given all the facts about UAE, I am overwhelmingly opposed to this deal.

[BooScout]

4. The Brits know about it.....

Frankly I think Americans are over-reacting to it and their xenophobia is showing.

[stevietheman]

6. If what you say is true, then the Brits are grossly underreacting...

and I will submit that most Americans are opposed, not for xenophobic reasons, but rather due to evidence presented about past UAE government behavior with regards to terrorism.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. If you want the reaction of some British DUers

we discussed it in the UK forum when it first appeared on DU - including a comment from a former P&O employee.

[Armstead]

5. Please elucidate to us dumb Americans the difference

Two countries controlled closely by a small handful of members of heredity ruling families, with historical ties to Islamic extremist groups, who are ostentatious about their wealth while the hard work of the country is done by dirt poor immigrants (and slaves).

The Saudis claim to be our friends and allies in the WOT too.