To the editor:

I am still reeling at the news that President Bush has allowed a contract with the United Arab Emirates to operate U.S. ports. While this nation may be considered more “friendly” to U.S. interests, this is still part of a group of Third World countries that has sworn to kill Westerners and destroy our country.

What an incredibly stupid and dangerous decision! Are there not companies in the United States or even the Western Hemisphere that can do this without the inclination to embrace the evils that certain countries in this part of the world have already shown to be disastrous to the United States?

Does the president really think that this country can completely shed its association with other Middle East countries sworn to destroy us? Do we tolerate the human rights violations that these Third World countries embrace to allow them to do business in the United States?

I think this is an incredibly bad and stupid move on the part of our administration.

Fred Whitehead,

Lawrence