The Washington Post headline sounds the clarion call that Arabs are "poised to take over significant operations at six American ports."

A New York City television station polled its viewers to answer the question, “Should Dubai Ports World be allowed to take over six major US ports?”

An AP report stated, “….Arab company given permission to take over operations at six major U.S. ports.”

This was all very confusing to me. As a Philadelphian who used to live near the waterfront, knew people who worked there, and who would occasionally watch ships dock and unload cargo, I knew that the port was controlled by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA)Â — not by any one company.

So what were these people talking about? Why was the purchase of the operations of a British company, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company of London (P&O), by Dubai Ports World (DPW), going to result in Arab control of the Port of Philadelphia. I wanted to learn — what exactly did the Associated Press, Washington Post, a New York City Television station, conservative talk radio host Sean Hannity, and other media mean when they said "control" of our ports would be ceded to Arabs.

It seems the facts are quite different than the hysteria.

I asked the PRPA to explain what will happen after DPW buys P&O. According to, Joe Menta, Communications Director for the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, what this sale means to Philadelphia is that DPW will acquire half interest in a firm that loads and unloads ships at one terminal –Â Tioga Marine. Little or no containerized cargo passes through this terminal, which is primarily used for the fruit trade.

Menta explained the infrastructure of the Port of Philadelphia. The port is controlled by the PRPA, which is an independent entity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PRPA owns several terminals on the waterfront. It leases these terminals to private operators who are primarily responsible for arranging the loading and unloading of cargo, as well as the marketing of the facility.

The lessee of Tioga Marine Terminal is Delaware River Stevedores, Inc. (DRS), a company formed after the merger of Stevedoring Services of America (Seattle, Washington), and P&O Ports Ltd., a subsidiary of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., of London. Because of the sale, P&O Ports’ share of Delaware River Stevedores will now be owned by Dubai Ports World.

Tioga Marine Terminal will still be owned by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and leased to DRS, who will be responsible for operating it. Arabs will not own or control the Port of Philadelphia. The most substantial Arab influence with regard to the appointment of some of the Board of Directors of DRS.

This is quite different from the image –Â conjured by some –Â of Arabs controlling the port. The idea that Dubai Ports World will be determining who comes, who goes, the number and type of ships, how and where they are unloaded and loaded, who is hired, what kind of cargo, and the security for the entire Port of Philadelphia, is simply not true.

Ever since 9-11, Democrats have been chiding Americans in general and the Bush administration specifically to be careful about stereotyping all Arabs and Muslims as terrorists. Even as recently as last week, Democratic Party leader Al Gore ranted, while speaking in Saudi Arabia, that the Bush Administration mistreated Arabs.

Ironically, these same Democrats are now stereotyping Arabs. Senators Schumer, Melendez, Clinton and other Democrat politicians — along with some Republicans — are practically xenophobic about Arabs. Democrats — with the notable exception of Jimmy Carter — and some Republicans, as well as some “conservative” radio talk show hosts, are taking a “tough on terrorism” stance. They do not want Arabs “taking control of our ports.”

No one does — and they are not, at least not in Philadelphia.

There are reasons to object to this sale. The exact nature of what will occur and why should be investigated. However, let us dispense with the hysteria and bogus reporting and make objections derived from the facts — not political propaganda.

Democrats went from demanding Constitutional rights for Arab terrorists in court to opposing Arab business owners buying a share of some terminals. The most alarming aspect of this whole affair is the cluelessness of our elected leaders, both Democrat and Republican, about port operations and security. Even more of a concern is their willingness to play politics with our security.