Riot Watch 2006

Still waiting patiently for the riots that we were told would absolutely ensue in the Muslim world as a result of the US Congress scuttling the Dubai Ports World deal. We were told again today that this will be the result:

"I'm concerned about a broader message this issue could send to our friends and allies around the world, particularly in the Middle East," Mr. Bush told a conference of the National Newspaper Association. "In order to win the war on terror, we have got to strengthen our relationships and friendships with moderate Arab countries in the Middle East."

Countries with royal families and no democracy, that recognize the Taliban and allow Al Qaeda money to go through their banks, that boycott Israel and are deeply involved in drug and human trafficking, are now "moderate." In case you were scoring at home.

By the way, if it'll hurt the war on terror to stop deals with "moderate" countries like this, why are they postponing free trade talks with the UAE?

The talks, which were supposed to begin Monday, were postponed because both sides need more time to prepare, according to an announcement from the office of U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman.

"In order to get an agreement that both sides can successfully implement, we need additional time to prepare for the next round of negotiations," USTR spokeswoman Neena Moorjani said in a statement.

She refused to say whether the postponement was related to the controversy over port security that engulfed the Bush administration after approval was given for a state-owned UAE company to run some port operations in the United States.

More time to prepare a cover story, I'll bet. I'm just concerned with the message we're sending to the Middle East when we can't start free trade talks on time.

Furthermore, if they were so concerned with the message, why did the White House ask the Dubai company to withdraw?

The White House asked Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, to give up its management stake in U.S. ports, to save President Bush from the politically difficult position of vetoing a key piece of legislation to protect America's ports, ABC News has learned.

"To save the President" should be the watchword of the entire Administration. Instead of having the courage of his convictions, in this case like in so many others, he maneuvered behind the scenes to avoid the fight. Since everything in this White House is political, a confrontation without a unified front is seen as a loss. It's the opposite of courageous; it's the height of cowardice.