I was just being sarcastic, Beyond.
I think that the biggest problem with UAE taking over the Brits contract of controlling several ports was the IDEA of a Mid-East Company taking it over, especially in light of the War on Terror against Islamic Extremists. The argument wasn't that a foreign company was taking over because some 40% of America's ports are run by froeign companies. There are just not enough American companies who are in the position to do it. It wasn't about the security because the Coast Guard and other Federal Agencies providing the security wasn't going to change just because the name on the contract changed. The people working on the docks would be the same people working there no matter who bought the contract - zero turn-over.
Was I for the deal - no, but I wasn't totally against it, either. If all the security checks are done, the same checks done with all the other foreign companies that run other ports, then I feel relatively comfortable.
I also agree with the argument that there is different degrees of friendship - the UAE is our friend and partner in the War on Terror, but that doesn't mean I HAVE to entrust them with running my ports. I don't quite trust China, either, but no Chinese Islamic Extremists are trying to eliminate/kill us.
In regards to 'it all boils down to money' - if there are NO American companies who are in a situation to run the ports, what are you gonna do? Shut down the ports until one comes along? No!
I also think the GOP congressmen took the UAE deal to distance themselves from Bush, in a political move, whose numbers had been dropping.
As far as your comment (the only problem with this economy is that it's based on profit, not ethics, country loyalty or keeping it in the family.) - BINGO! We were sold out with NAFTA, we were sold out when we allowed companies to moce their factories to places where they could get slave labor at low wages, gave them a 'No Import tax' agreement to bring their goods back into this country to sell their goods at 'high' prices to the Americans they refuse to hire to do the work, and we are trying to make Illegal Immigration OK, allowing illegals to skirt the system, show others you don't have to work to get into this country legally, and hurt us even further with jobs taken by illegals while our tax dollars are paying for their free medical, SS, etc......The only ones benefitting from all that is the top dogs making the money and the congressmen whose palms are being greased to ensure it all keeps going on! $MONEY$, not ethics, morality, national pride, patriotism, etc! Good call on that one!