Fox, Henhouse. Henhouse, Fox.

I do not understand the thinking that allows the administration to believe, even in that waking moment between opening eyes and having that first cup of coffee, that it's an acceptable risk--let alone a Good Idea--to give a United Arab Emirates company any modicum of control over US ports. The glaring lack of security in the ports has been discussed endlessly without solution... so the solution is to hand them over to a country that facilitated financing and travel for half of the September 11 hijackers, a country that is one of only three on the entire planet to have recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan?

"After careful review by our government, I believe the transaction ought to go forward," Mr. Bush told reporters who were traveling with him on Air Force One to Washington, according to news agencies. "I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company. I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, 'We'll treat you fairly." '

Golly, could it have something to do with the fact that the "Great British" haven't financed terrorist or military attacks against this country since the War of 1812? They have been kicking the shit out of Ireland for the past 600 years, which pisses me off no end, but that's not the issue here. Could it possibly be related to the UAE's very public support of Osama and the boys? Maybe? Just maybe? And this from Rummy:

"We all deal with the U.A.E. on a regular basis," he added. "It's a country that's been involved in the global war on terror."

Involved in the war on terror... sort of like Typhoid Mary was involved with public health.

I have read speculation that the whole thing is a gambit, a ploy of the Neocon endgame that either positions Congressional Republicans to look like they're standing up to the increasingly unhinged White House, or, for the extreme tinfoil hat camp, opens the gates of middle America to a devastating terrorist attack that will cement the Bush Empire's power for a generation to come. The first possibility? Maybe. The second? Not so much. Follow the money. I'm not sure that anyone has yet publicized the money trails oozing out of the UAE deal, but knock me down with a feather if they don't lead to the goodfellas of the Carlyle Group.

How much longer will the stalwart farmers and ranchers of the red states continue supporting this administration?