While Hillary hadn’t visited the UAE recently, Bill is a regular — at least when he’s invited for a paid speech or appearance. Sometimes, he’s graced us in person — other times via a video conference. President Bush, everyone agreed, was an anti-Arab cowboy, worthy of little more than derision.

Consistent with Bill Clinton’s ingratiating style, he has always hit the right notes in the UAE. He earned himself an enthusiastic standing ovation at the American University in Dubai for a bit of Bush-bashing (he agreed with many of those present that removing Saddam and ruining the multi-billion dollar UN oil-for-food-for-palaces-and-kickbacks-for-bureaucrats was awfully bad form) last Fall — something that ex-presidents didn’t do to sitting presidents until the era of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. And when it came to praising the UAE — Bill put on his best Arkansas politico — he swooned during a December 5 meeting:

“Dubai is a role model of what could be achieved, despite the other negative developments in the region. When I went to Dubai for the first time, I was taken to a technology facility where I hooked up to a bank kiosk and found that one can use a conventional banking service, while at the same time opt for an Islamic Sharia compliant service, which I thought was wonderful. This is a very good example of how cultures and values could be merged and offered to the rest. I was amazed and I have a lot of admiration for Shaikh Mohammed for what he’s doing in Dubai.”

Other members of the travelling anti-Bush Democratic Party roadshow have also popped into the UAE for a paid appearance or two. Former VP candidate John Edwards honoured us with his wisdom last year as did the woman best remembered by many for opposing the 1991 liberation of Kuwait, ex-secretary of State Madeline Albright, who flew in last December.

So, with the announcement of the Dubai Ports World deal, UAE residents could be forgiven if they expected the Clintons would, at a minimum, resist joining the more extreme chorus of xenophobes, ultra-hawk Republicans and union controlled coastal region Democratic Party politicians in the current round of race-based protectionism ... right?

Nope. In fact, Team Clinton and practically all members of the Democratic Party royalty have gone into overdrive to oppose the deal. The most dangerous place to be over the past few weeks has been to stand between Hillary and a news camera eager for more commentary on how dangerous this whole deal really was, and how George Bush was absolutely cavalier with the security of the American homeland.

Specifically, the lady liberals like to call America’s smartest woman said: “Our port security is too important to place in the hands of foreign governments,” in a statement posted to her web site. “I will be working with (New Jersey) Senator (Robert) Menendez to introduce legislation that will prohibit the sale of ports to foreign governments.” None of the assembled reporters (the US mainstream Press is pretty much an appendage of the Democratic Party) bothered to ask if the deal involved DPW buying the US Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security — as her bizarre statement would seem to imply.

To be fair, Bill has, for his part been a bit more circumspect. Sensing that some future paid appearances might be in danger, he came out with a sampling of vintage Clinton ‘on the other hand’ narrative. Specifically, he said: “I don’t think there is any question that this is a reputable company, and there is no question that the United Arab Emirates is a good ally of America. But all of us are feeling that we want to maintain the maximum control we can over our national security. This is one area where we have really failed.” Nice work Bill, that does about zero to help the DPW effort.

Yes indeed, thanks Bill and Hill. Oh by the way, where was the ‘maximum control’ and opposition to ‘foreign government’ approach when the Clintons allowed the Chinese Government-controlled companies to get control of terminals on the US West Coast? When reporters queried the Clinton Administration’s Press Office in the late 90s about a Chinese firm getting control of the Panama Canal operations, the reply was the administration viewed the fury over port control as ‘silly stuff’.

What are the lessons for the UAE and the whole world from this episode?  First off — character matters. George Bush — like or despise him — is a man of principle. He knows the UAE is a friendly nation and firmly believes relations between the US and UAE should reflect a mature partnership. President Bush is taking a major hit from his base and from the independent voters who are critical to future electoral success for the Republican Party. But he’s sticking to his guns…and has threatened what would be the first veto of his entire term of office if the Congress overturns the deal.

Secondly — the Democratic Party — and their allies in organised labour are, at heart, protectionists. Want to know how they really see things?  Think France. Big government, powerful government worker unions, maximum insulation from foreign intrusions, national industrial champions, and the use of any device to somehow wish away globalisation and competition. The Longshoremen’s Union that got Hillary all energised is best remembered for a Christmas season industrial action at the Port of Long Beach approximately two years ago. They were against barcodes.

Third and most important. The Clintons are in favour of…..surprise!....the Clintons. When Hillary got the call from her Longshoremen Union sponsors/donors — that pretty much answered things for her.  Better yet — it turns out that President Bush is politically isolated on this one which makes a bit of demagogy all the more attractive. The UAE, sadly, moves in to the Clinton category of ‘not currently useful’ to the constant campaign and as a tough old American political observer once said.

One of Bill Clinton’s less than enamoured female acquaintances, Katherine Willey, recounted that after a somewhat spirited, and by her account, not entirely consensual encounter, the future President noted she had a swollen lip. In a fairly cold tone, he suggested she “put some ice on that.” Perhaps, the former first family will offer similar advice to their disappointed fans in the UAE.

Bill O Brien is the President of the American College of Dubai and  Matein Khalid is a Dubai based investment banker