Ports Deal = Free Trade Agreement?

So what if the reason Bush is so determined to see the ports deal go through is because it must for the UAE to sign a FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with us?  In 2003 we set up a TIFA (Trade and Investment Framework) with the UAE, and in March 2005 negotiations started for a FTA.  Follow me after the jump to see the highly interesting timing of the P&O deal and our negotiations for the FTA...

So around Jan. 27th Dubai World Ports ups their bid to buy P&O.  Originally P&O's board was set to sell to PSA, until the new bid from DWP comes in.  It becomes official around Feb. 10.  Now what else is taking place in London during this same time frame?  Well it just so happens on Jan 31st the fourth round of FTA negotiations are underway with the US.

So I'm just asking could this be one reason Bush is so determined to see the deal go through?

Now I'm no expert and quite honestly have mixed feelings on Bush's MEFTA plan. Heck I hadn't really even heard of MEFTA until I stumbled across that gov site. I had no idea we are trying to get Lebannon, Algeria, and Yemen into the WTO, nor did I know we got Saudi Arabia in. But I'm not one of those liberals that follows the WTO, IMF, etc. so forgive me if this is all old news. It's new to me.

I'll leave it to others to debate the wisdom of these deals. Seems these countries are a few that actually give us a trading surplus. Of course these countries seem to be buying mostly from our defense companies... And the conditions for these agreements rarely make sure workers are protected, but of course intellectual property is. SOPBS.