[Morgeruat]

Wanderon while you do raise some good points you also deflect and ignore the issue that it is a state owned and operated business, I do appreciate the enlightenment you've brought to the discussion, a bit more than the computer-chair google-bot quarterbacking the rest of us have been forced to do due to lack of first-hand knowledge, but it doesn't make me feel any better about a foreign arab government directly controlling several ports, while the piers and outlets may be small now it's a foot in the door, and could potentially mean that much more work for the already taxed port authorities to keep tabs on.

As for squandering US credibility in the ME, show a video of a US flag burning in ANY arab country (with the possible exception of some sections of Kuwait) and you'll get roaring applause and likely cries of Allahu Akbar.

The only "credibility," which I'll substitute to goodwill which seems more appropriate in this case, that we have in the ME is with the dictators who want to keep us appeased so we don't turn our attention on what goes on in their countries (Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran in general, Saudi Arabia playing us against wahabbi islam in a desperate bid to keep the populace from recognizing the royal families own decadence and revolting against them, etc etc). With a foothold in Iraq now (which GWB seems unwilling to withdraw we don't need stagin points in the rest of the region as we can stage attacks from the Mediterranian, Persian Gulf, Afganistan or Iraq if need be. {/rambling rant} to sum it up, we have no credibility with Joe Schmoe arab, and we only risk offending those who consistently doubletalk "the great satan" who use us as an excuse to hold onto the reigns of power in their own little dictatorships.