Jimmy Carter Backs Dubai Ports Deal
The Bush administration's plan to turn over control of six major U.S. ports to a Dubai company suffered another blow on Monday, when former President Jimmy Carter endorsed the deal.
"The overall threat to the United States and security, I don't think it's exists," Carter told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
"My belief is that the president and his secretary of state, the Defense Department and others have adequately cleared the Dubai government or organization to manage their ports," Carter added. "I don't think there's any particular threat to our security."
Carter praised Dubai's handling of ports in the United Arab Emirates, saying: "I've been to Dubai, and I've seen the remarkable port facilities they have there, perhaps the best in the world."
Carter's endorsement of the Dubai deal, however, is sure to heighten concern that it's the wrong thing to do - especially considering his reputation as the worst president of the 20th Century.
In 1979, the Georgia Democrat helped usher in the era of Mideast terrorism against the U.S. by yanking American support from the Shah of Iran.
The shah was succeeded by the Ayatollah Khomeini, whose revolutionary guards took over the U.S. embassy and held Americans who worked there hostage for 444 days.
Carter also presided over the giveaway of the Panama Canal, whose vital Atlantic and Pacific ports are now controlled by Communist China.
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