Another Dubai deal

It looks like our relationship with the terrorist-supporting country Dubai is still strong, even after the fallout over the ports deal:

President Bush is expected on Friday to announce his approval of a dealunder which a Dubai-owned company would take control of nine plants inthe United States that manufacture parts for American military vehiclesand aircraft, say two administration officials familiar with the termsof the deal.

The officials, who were granted anonymity so they could speakfreely about something the president had not yet announced, said thatthe final details had not yet been set and that Mr. Bush might putconditions on the transaction to keep military technology in the UnitedStates.

But his action is almost certain to attract scrutiny inCongress, because of the political furor that erupted over theadministration's approval of a deal earlier this spring that would havegiven another Dubai-owned company, Dubai Ports World, leases to operateseveral American port terminals through its acquisition of a Britishcompany, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

Military technology is an industry that can compromise a lot of values pertaining to democracy.  So much for talking tough to rogue states.