Port Nonsense

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by jaguar

Any of you been to the UAE? Know anything about it?

Yeah, we're screwed no matter what happens.

We could allow UAE manage P&O and allow them to hold all the port records offshore and inaccessible to US courts or we could piss them off, have them dump the deal, and really screw everything up.

It is not clear how much of Dubai’s behind-the-scenes anger would be followed up by action, but Boeing has been made aware of the threat and is already reportedly lobbying to save the ports deal.

The Emirates Group airline will decide later this year whether it will buy Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner or its competitor, Airbus A350. The airline last fall placed an order worth $9.7 billion for 42 Boeing 777 aircraft, making Dubai Boeing’s largest 777 customer.

Oops. There go scores of US manufacturing jobs!

Retaliation from the emirate could come ... by curtailing the docking of hundreds of American ships, including U.S. Navy ships, each year at its port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the source added.

Well, uh, that docking center for US warships was just slightly important. This reaction is one of the downsides to dealing with a state-owned entity, but the US was going to get screwed on this one way or the other.

Oh, and would you like to take a guess as to which US company the ports are probably going to be turned over to? Give you a hint: It starts with an "H" and is going to seriously benefit the vice president.