Arab-run Firm Buys Company With Major Commercial Operations From 6 Large US Ports

[PrayersForMaura]

I no longer trust the decisions that Pres. Bush is making on my behalf.

Me neither. I was pretty loyal in supporting him but this I do not like or agree with AT ALL! :doh:

 

[mjak]

Maybe President Bush needs a reminder he is an elected official who's job it is to represent the people of the united states. Judging from the informal poll on CNN, the outcry from congress and the overall negative resposne to this deal the people of this country do not want this deal to go through. As the elected president of this country I believe he has an obligation to hear us out and not just decide this deal with go through because he says so. Frankly, having a mid eastern country overseeing these ports scares me to death.

mjak

 

[concernedperson]

Maybe President Bush needs a reminder he is an elected official who's job it is to represent the people of the united states. Judging from the informal poll on CNN, the outcry from congress and the overall negative resposne to this deal the people of this country do not want this deal to go through. As the elected president of this country I believe he has an obligation to hear us out and not just decide this deal with go through because he says so. Frankly, having a mid eastern country overseeing these ports scares me to death.

mjak

Exactly...he really is acting like a bully. I did hear his speech today. We are of the same generation and he isn't fooling me at all.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Bush Shrugs Off Objections to Port Deal

WASHINGTON - Brushing aside objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement. The president on Tuesday defended his administration's earlier approval of the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, despite concerns in Congress it could increase the possibility of terrorism at American ports.

The pending sale — expected to be finalized in early March — puts Dubai Ports in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. "If there was any chance that this transaction would jeopardize the security of the United States, it would not go forward," Bush said.

"It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world," Bush said.

http://tinyurl.com/oagc2

 

[mjak]

And, on another note. I find President Bush's using racisim as the explanation for the people of this countrys objection to this deal as insulting and disgraceful. Racism, is not the reason there is so much objection to this deal and President Bush knows that. It is dispicable for our president to lump us all as a bunch of racisits when he knows the one and only reason we all object to this deal is FEAR!! Safety is our issue not racisim and he knows it. I am appauled that he brings racisim into this matter.

mjak

 

[concernedperson]

Buzz, I just don't believe him. According to press releases he wasn't aware of this until it hit national news. Now everything is OK? This is appalling. I am thinking idiot savant.This is the worst political news ever. We are sitting ducks.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Buzz, I just don't believe him. According to press releases he wasn't aware of this until it hit national news. Now everything is OK? This is appalling. I am thinking idiot savant.This is the worst political news ever. We are sitting ducks.

Remember cp, he said he wasn't aware of the probability of New Orleans flooding either; and that has been disproven. Seems his short-term memory isn't any good. Perhaps it is just very selective memory.

I can't stand him thinking/believing that he was given a mandate by the voters to do as he pleases; the mandate was about him going along with our wants/wishes, and nothing else.

 

[concernedperson]

Remember cp, he said he wasn't aware of the probability of New Orleans flooding either; and that has been disproven. Seems his short-term memory isn't any good. Perhaps it is just very selective memory.

I can't stand him thinking/believing that he was given a mandate by the voters to do as he pleases; the mandate was about him going along with our wants/wishes, and nothing else.

Since King of the World is reminding me of Saddam, I think his impeachment is in order. I am not a Bill Frist fan but at least he sees the disaster waiting to happen.WTH is he(Bush) thinking? I mean Laura is cute and all that but this is serious.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Since King of the World is reminding me of Saddam, I think his impeachment is in order. I am not a Bill Frist fan but at least he sees the disaster waiting to happen.WTH is he(Bush) thinking? I mean Laura is cute and all that but this is serious.

I agree cp, this has gone too far; GWB is ignoring the will of the American people; in fact he is trampling our beliefs.

 

[j2mirish]

Bush Shrugs Off Objections to Port Deal

WASHINGTON - Brushing aside objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement. The president on Tuesday defended his administration's earlier approval of the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, despite concerns in Congress it could increase the possibility of terrorism at American ports.

The pending sale — expected to be finalized in early March — puts Dubai Ports in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. "If there was any chance that this transaction would jeopardize the security of the United States, it would not go forward," Bush said.

"It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world," Bush said.

[url="http://tinyurl.com/oagc2"]http://tinyurl.com/oagc2[/url]

sorry for the signal--- i thought it was a bad signal when the planes hit the towers--
WTF-- this is just about to make me sick enough to head to the bathroom- I have always felt that the americans really have little control over the government-- bu tthis just puts it in black & white-- bush does NOT care about the american people, he cares about his oil--we also need to remeber, he doesnt need to keep votes for the next go around- but with his time left in office-- there may not even be another go around-- and one more thing-- I dont give a rip who it is-- a FOREIGN company should not run our ports-

ok- i need to leave this thread--
a bittersweet thanks to buzz for the update from the dictator------

 

[j2mirish]

Since King of the World is reminding me of Saddam, I think his impeachment is in order. I am not a Bill Frist fan but at least he sees the disaster waiting to happen.WTH is he(Bush) thinking? I mean Laura is cute and all that but this is serious.

geez- i jusr called him a dicator myself--- should have read ahead-- this is truly scaryyyyyyyyyyyyy:furious:

 

[windovervocalcords]

geez- i jusr called him a dicator myself--- should have read ahead-- this is truly scaryyyyyyyyyyyyy:furious:

The non-partisan polling firm Zogby International last month found that by a margin of 52 percent to 43 percent, Americans want Congress to consider impeaching President Bush "if he wiretapped American citizens without a judge's approval."

Media inattention to the growing American pro-impeachment sentiment is not a partisan issue. Reasonable, honest Republicans such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have criticized Bush's wiretapping "sans" court approval as a violation of the law and basic civil liberties

 

[j2mirish]

The non-partisan polling firm Zogby International last month found that by a margin of 52 percent to 43 percent, Americans want Congress to consider impeaching President Bush "if he wiretapped American citizens without a judge's approval."

Media inattention to the growing American pro-impeachment sentiment is not a partisan issue. Reasonable, honest Republicans such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have criticized Bush's wiretapping "sans" court approval as a violation of the law and basic civil liberties

you know what--- i would take the wire tapping over this.. perhaps this added to the fuel?? oh-- wait not a good term...fuel-- thats what alot of this is about--- ok...i can read this anymore!! :bang:

eta i have to keep going back to fix my typing errors- when i am mad- i type like i know how..not well!

 

[Buzz Mills]

The non-partisan polling firm Zogby International last month found that by a margin of 52 percent to 43 percent, Americans want Congress to consider impeaching President Bush "if he wiretapped American citizens without a judge's approval."

Media inattention to the growing American pro-impeachment sentiment is not a partisan issue. Reasonable, honest Republicans such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have criticized Bush's wiretapping "sans" court approval as a violation of the law and basic civil liberties

GWBush has also said he will veto any legislation that goes against making the port deal. If he does I am willing to carry an "Impeach Bush" sign and walk the streets. Enough, is enough.

 

[Reader]

http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_052184411.html

(AP) BALTIMORE Gov. Robert Ehrlich toured the Seagirt Marine Terminal Tuesday afternoon as part of what he called the "due diligence" process surrounding a takeover by a United Arab Emirates company of a British firm that has operations at six major U.S. seaports, including Baltimore.

Ehrlich said he was not happy with an "overly secretive process at the federal level," but also clarified that the Port of Baltimore was not for sale.
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Ehrlich is among a growing number of Republicans unhappy with the review of the deal.
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"They haven't invested in port security and now they want to turn it over to a foreign government," O'Malley said on MSNBC's "Hardball With Chris Matthews." "The American people are not going to stand for it, and Baltimore is not going to be surrendered to a foreign government."

Critics have also noted some of the Sept. 11, 2001 hijackers used the UAE as a base, and say the country is a shipping point for smuggled nuclear components.
---------------------------------------
Former Republican Rep. Helen Delich Bentley, who has a long history working on port issues, appeared alongside Ehrlich and said she was unhappy with the review process.

"I'm sorry I'm not a believer," she said of the Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CIFIUS.
*********************************************
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/politics/13922695.htm

Dubai company set to run U.S. ports has ties to administration
BY MICHAEL MCAULIFF
New York Daily News WASHINGTON -

The Dubai firm that won Bush administration backing to run six U.S. ports has at least two ties to the White House.

One is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose department heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.

Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.

The other connection is David Sanborn, who runs DP World's European and Latin American operations and who was tapped by Bush last month to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.

The ties raised more concerns about the decision to give port control to a company owned by a nation linked to the Sept. 11 hijackers.

"The more you look at this deal, the more the deal is called into question," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who said the deal was rubber-stamped in advance - even before DP World formally agreed to buy London's P&O port company.
----------------------------------------------
According to a 1993 congressional measure, the longer review is mandated when the company is owned by a foreign government and the purchase "could result in control of a person engaged in interstate commerce in the U.S. that could affect the national security of the U.S."

Congressional sources said the president has until March 2 to trigger that closer look.

"The most important thing is for someone to explain how this is consistent with our national security," Fossella said.

 

[windovervocalcords]

GWBush has also said he will veto any legislation that goes against making the port deal. If he does I am willing to carry an "Impeach Bush" sign and walk the streets. Enough, is enough.

You Know It's a Bad Idea When Tom Ridge Says So

How bad is the idea to have a company from the homeland of two of the 9/11 hijackers take over operation of six of our nation's major ports? It's so bad that even the color-coded genius Tom Ridge says there are questions about the deal that need to be answered.
Charles Krauthammer was on the show, too. As he explained, "The minute it (Dubai Ports World) takes over the operation, it will consult with the Americans on the ground about how security operations are run. It is going to learn all of our secrets immediately. It isn't even a long-range issue. It's an immediate one."
All it takes is for one company employee to get a little ticked off at something and "all of our secrets" will be for sale to any old terrorist.
http://www.newshounds.us/2006/02/21/you_know_its_a_bad_idea_when_tom_ridge_says_so.php

 

[Buzz Mills]

You Know It's a Bad Idea When Tom Ridge Says So

How bad is the idea to have a company from the homeland of two of the 9/11 hijackers take over operation of six of our nation's major ports? It's so bad that even the color-coded genius Tom Ridge says there are questions about the deal that need to be answered.
Charles Krauthammer was on the show, too. As he explained, "The minute it (Dubai Ports World) takes over the operation, it will consult with the Americans on the ground about how security operations are run. It is going to learn all of our secrets immediately. It isn't even a long-range issue. It's an immediate one."
All it takes is for one company employee to get a little ticked off at something and "all of our secrets" will be for sale to any old terrorist.
http://www.newshounds.us/2006/02/21/you_know_its_a_bad_idea_when_tom_ridge_says_so.php

All it would take is a few bad apples, to be in the wrong positions at any, or even each of the ports, to have a funnel into the U.S. When even the wives, and family's of the terrorists, didn't believe they were terrorists, how is any security check ever going to make sure there aren't terrorists manning our ports. Look at what 19 terrorists were able to accomplish, or has GWB forgotten about that issue. I wonder if they'll toss out all of the long shoreman's unions, to keep the costs down--that is one of the planks of the cheaper labor movement by wealthy American corporate zions. They are all for Bush.

 

[Cheetah]

All it would take is a few bad apples, to be in the wrong positions at any, or even each of the ports, to have a funnel into the U.S. When even the wives, and family's of the terrorists, didn't believe they were terrorists, how is any security check ever going to make sure there aren't terrorists manning our ports. Look at what 19 terrorists were able to accomplish, or has GWB forgotten about that issue. I wonder if they'll toss out all of the long shoreman's unions, to keep the costs down--that is one of the planks of the cheaper labor movement by wealthy American corporate zions. They are all for Bush.

Soooooooooooo True!

 

[Becba]

We should have a poll as I see this is going beyond party lines. I think most are worried.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Updated--Bush Shrugs Off Objections to Port Deal

WASHINGTON - Brushing aside objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement. The president on Tuesday defended his administration's earlier approval of the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, despite concerns in Congress it could increase the possibility of terrorism at American ports.

The sale — expected to be finalized in early March — would put Dubai Ports in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. "If there was any chance that this transaction would jeopardize the security of the United States, it would not go forward," Bush said. "It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world," Bush said.

To assuage concerns, the administration disclosed some assurances it had negotiated with Dubai Ports. It required mandatory participation in U.S. security programs to stop smuggling and detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials; roughly 33 other port companies participate in these voluntarily. The Coast Guard also said Tuesday it was nearly finished inspecting Dubai Ports' facilities in the United States.

http://tinyurl.com/ea4s8