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Political Cartoons
The Dubai Ports Controversy
By Cartoon: RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch
Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain
Mar 12, 2006, 09:40 PST

© RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch

The Dubai Ports Controversy

Recently, a deal to turn over the United Arab Emirates through the sale of port operations to Dubai Ports World brought up serious questions of the risk of foreign involvement in key U.S. operations. Similar to the recent concern over an attempt by the Chinese to control a portion of U.S. oil supplies through a corporate purchase, this deal with a Middle East firm to control our port operations triggered a wave of concern throughout the United States.


Questions to Ponder
  • Can the United States allow foreign companies to control major corporations or key business operations in the United States without putting us at risk?

  • Should all major corporate sale transactions have to be approved by a Congressional vote?

  • Are people overreacting? Is there actually a low risk factor on deals like this?

  • Is the acquisition of U.S. corporate assets a strategy being used by foreign countries to insinuate themselves into U.S. operations, so they will have control of key operations in the event of war at a later point in time?

  • Was the Dubai Ports deal needed to help the U.S. update port operations?

  • Has the United States fallen critically behind on port operations, and what effect will that have on costs, security, and future commerce?

ClassBrain Learning Links

CFIUS Welcomes Dubai Ports World’s Announcement to Submit to New Review
A statement by The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regarding the Dubai Ports deal.
Source: CFIUS

State Files Suit to Block Dubai Port Deal
Information on the lawsuit filed by the State of New Jersey regarding the Dubai Port Deal.
Source: Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey

White House: Port deal should have gone to Congress earlier
This article takes a look a what Congress' role should be related to corporate deals that have a significant impact on U.S.commerce or security.
Source: CNN

Port controversy leads to check on ownership of domestic firms
The Dubai Ports controversy has brought up questions about the ownership of other U.S. entities including those in the aviation community.
Source: AP, Chicago Tribune

What the ports controversy says about Washington’s “war on terror
This article takes a look at the Dubai Ports controversy and what it says about the current workings of the Federal Government.
Source: Socialists Web Site

The Real Significance of the Dubai Ports Controversy
This opinion article is one of many thoughtful looks at the Dubai Ports deal within the blogging community.
Source: Edge Perspectives with John Hagel



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