Another Dubai deal, another security row

Here we go again:

In a deal similar to one that led to the Dubai ports furor in the US earlier this year, Dubai International Capital has purchased for US$1.24 billion Doncasters Group Ltd, a private British aerospace manufacturer that works on sensitive weapons programs such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The administration of US President George W Bush is conducting a security review of the takeover, and then it will present its findings to Congress, where many of the same factions that expressed concern and outrage over the ports deal are beginning to grumble about the Doncasters takeover.

While not yet garnering much attention in the media, certain Congress members have challenged the proposed Doncasters deal. Two members of the House Armed Services Committee, Democrats John Barrow and Ike Skelton, have raised questions about national security.

"I'm not against foreigners investing in this country as long as we don't sell them something we are not supposed to sell them," Barrow said. "But I am concerned about selling off our national-security infrastructure. We are selling off the military-industrial complex bit by bit."

The $250 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is intended to create a next-generation stealth fighter that would replace several current strike aircraft. While most of the jets will be used by the United States, other countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Turkey and Norway also intend to purchase the aircraft. The JSF is scheduled to be operational by 2009.

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At the same site, read about Dubai's and money laundering: An underworld paved with gold.