So now critics of the ports deal are the bad guys?

Dallas Morning News | Mark Davis:

“Reporters sought reaction from the coffee shops and street corners of the UAE, and the general sense is that they feel betrayed by American racism and Islamophobia. With friends like that, who needs the French?”

Ed Cognoski responds:

With this report of the reaction in the UAE, Mark Davis confirms my prediction that the hyper-kinetic opposition to this deal would "further antagonize the relationship between America and the Islamic world." That's the reaction to newspaper columns like Mr Davis' own being described. Mr Davis acts like he thinks America can win the war on terror by driving every Muslim in the world into the arms of our enemies. He's wrong.

The original ports deal itself may have been a mistake. But Mr Davis' reaction has only compounded the problem. With adroit handling, this deal could have been an opportunity to improve security in the shipping industry not only at home but around the world. Instead, we have only created more ill will around the world and a need for even more security at home. The critics of the ports deal aren't "bad guys". They just gave the bad guys more propaganda points.