Catch-22

This unsettling port deal with the UAE reminds me of the Harriet Myers fiasco. How could such a poor decision get to this point, dividing the president's supporters and allowing the likes of the opportunistic Chuck Schumer to seem tougher on terror than Mr. Bush?

At this point, there are no good options. If we tear up this deal, we will appear to be anti-Arab and offend an ally in the war on terror. If it somehow goes through, we will have appeared to hand over our ports to a government that we cannot be certain will be able to keep its home-grown terrorists at bay. Either way, W's standing has been hurt, and that's not good. We have a war to win.