The NYT ed board’s opposition to the Dubai ports deal in its last three editorials has steadily diminished, but its reflexive hatred of Bush has remained constant. The NYT has finally gotten the facts right regarding the mechanics of the deal in its last editorial:

President Bush is not doing any favors for America’s Arab allies with his attitude toward the deal that would put a Dubai state-owned company in control of operations at terminals within six American ports.

Bush isn’t doing any favors? Bush threatened to veto any legislation barring this deal from proceeding; how can any of that be construed as anti-Arab? In point of fact, the media haven’t done America’s Arab allies any favors by immediately pouncing on this story without knowing any of the facts.

The NYT says its opposition isn’t based on anti-Arab sentiments. This is true — it’s based on anti-Bush sentiments. Notice the media’s reaction when they found out P&O was controlling operations in the first place, or when it was discovered that Saudi Arabia’s shipping company, NSCSA, was operating at terminals in nine U.S. ports: There was no reaction. While their livid opposition to this deal can easily be misinterpreted as anti-Arab, it is in fact purely anti-Bush.