Considering that Mr. Bush doesn’t even trust US citizens when it comes to “keeping America safe from terrorist” his decision now to veto efforts in Congress to block an agreement that would allow a takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates seems more than a little disingenuous.

Are there real reasons to be concerned about Dubai Ports World running major commercial port operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia or is it just another partisan political issue?

Two of the hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks came from the United Arab Emirates and laundered some of their money through the country's banking system. It was also the main transshipment point for Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani nuclear engineer who ran the world's largest nuclear proliferation ring from warehouses near the port, met Iranian officials there, and shipped centrifuge equipment, which can be used to enrich uranium, from there to Libya. The UAE was also one of only three countries in the world to recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Overriding objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. He pledged to veto efforts in Congress to block the agreement.

Mr. Bush issued the threat after the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, and the House speaker, J. Dennis Hastert, publicly criticized the deal and said a thorough review was necessary to ensure that terrorists could not exploit the arrangement to slip weapons into American ports.

President Bush, during his two terms in the White House, has yet to veto any piece of legislation emerging from Congress.

Why now? Why is this port deal so important to Mr. Bush?