The sale of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., based in London, has the nation worried. The private company controls ports in New York, Newark, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami. The sale will put these ports in the control of Dubai Ports, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates government.

The concern stems from the fact that the UAE is sympathetic toward the Taliban, was a financial support for two of the Sept. 11 hijackers and helped smuggle nuclear mechanisms to Iran and North Korea. While the U.S. Coast Guard oversees port security, it does not have total control over shipments. It seems the sale opens the door for disaster. With national security a high priority, we should not take risks.

The president has taken a hard-line stance in favor of the sale, but both Congressional Republicans and Democrats oppose it. Senate majority leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert are leading the Republican opposition and plan to support legis-lation putting the deal on hold. Bush has threatened to veto such legislation. It would be the first veto of his presidency.

It's hard to be sure why the president is holding strong while his party is not, but there are some possible explanations. One could be an executive deal between the White House and the UAE. Another is a political maneuver to make Congressional Republicans seem stronger because of the upcoming midterm elections. By taking a position against him, Republicans can distance themselves from a president who lacks public support. Bush might be doing them a favor.

However, with the number of Republicans disagreeing with him plus Democrats, it seems a two-thirds majority to override the veto would not be difficult.

Proponents of the sale argue the UAE should be treated no differently from the British com-pany that controlled the ports. But the U.S. has a very different relationship with Britain than with the UAE. Countries we are more closely allied with deserve different treatment.

Having six major U.S. ports in the control of the UAE is unwise, especially when our relations with Middle Eastern countries are currently on the rocks.