In the season finale of Battlestar Galactica, the Cylons sent an emissary in the form of a religious minister genetically engineered to look human (that in and of itself an apt metaphor for many of today's churches) to the Galactica crew claiming the annihilation of the colonies of man had been a mistake and that from that point forward this cybernetic society of robots, cyborgs, and clones would no longer harass, to use Lorne Greene's words from the original series, 'the ragtag, fugitive fleet'.

In light of this development, the newly elected president, Gaius Baltar --- himself a Cylon puppet seduced by the enemy's lusty fembot --- decided to settle upon a habitable planet. An entire year elapses and it seems the Cylons have proven good on their word; however, one day from out of no where the Cylon fleet appears out of hyperspace.

Since the colonials have largely demilitarized, the Battlestars Galactica and Pegasus are forced to jump away through hyperspace with the remainder of the fleet in order to avoid detection. The episode ends with Baltar surrendering to the Cylon delegation and the metal soldiers with the pulsating red eyes marching through the struggling human settlement.

Those breathing a sigh of relief over the United Arab Emirates seeming to relinquish their claims to a number of America's most sensitive ports would do well to watch this hauntingly prescient scene.

Due to the backlash by patriotic Americans over news of a number of ports being surrendered to potentially hostile foreign powers, Dubai Ports World has promised to instead transfer control of operations to what has been labeled a 'U.S. entity'. Anyone saying the matter is over and the danger now passed is, to use Galactica terminology, full of felgarcarb.

For starters, what 'U.S. entity' is control being handed over to? Is this a company we can trust controlled by Americans whose families will themselves be blown away should a weapon of mass destruction make into our ports or will it be some kind of sham front American in name only but manned by foreign personnel or controlled from abroad?

And even if this port fiasco ends up settled in our favor, it's not the only threat of subversion and infiltration we face from this part of the world. According to Pastor Chuck Baldwin, Dubai has also acquired a British firm that produces parts for U.S. military aircraft and tanks.

Islamophiles will counter, but we are at peace with the United Arab Emirates. So what? Even if we are, what is to prevent them from having these parts sabotaged to prevent them from being used against their ethnic kinsman or fellow coreligionists?

Others will snap, in this global economy, we already have foreign corporations managing vital U.S. assets. And it is a cause for tremendous lamentation.

We've already lost control over the Panama Canal and since it's controlled by a firm known for being a front for the People's Liberation Army of China, it's likely we won't be able to use it in the pending war with China likely to take place later this century.

Maybe now Americans will wake up and realize we have been lulled asleep by our news media with stories about O.J Simpson, Britney Spears not putting her baby in a carseat, and Dick Cheney accidentally shooting a friend in the face.

As the Cylon troops march down the streets and cybernetic fighters fly overhead, Chief Tyrol turns to Starbuck and asks, 'What do we do now, captain?' She responds, 'Fight like we always do. Fight until we can fight no more.' America's enemies will never stop plotting to bring about our ultimate downfall and that is why the price of liberty will forever be eternal vigilance.

by Frederick Meekins