Democrats plan bill to block Dubai-US port deal (HRC is the sponsor)

Reuters ^ | 2/16/06

[Brilliant]

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a U.S. inter-agency panel that reviews security implications of foreign takeovers of strategic assets, has already reviewed the transaction and did not object.

Despite that review, some Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress urged the Bush administration to conduct a more rigorous review. They expressed fears that the UAE was used as a conduit for parts used for nuclear proliferation and that the local banking system had been abused by financiers with possible links to terrorist organizations.

I don't see what it has to do with banking. The security measures for traffic in and out of the port are another matter, but I'd like to see what the agency based its decision on before jumping to conclusions. I doubt that the company would necessarily have lax security just because it was an Arab company. Afterall, its employees are likely to be American, and if they did have lax security, the ports that hire them would likely give them the boot.

A more troublesome problem, though, is whether ownership of this company might give them special access to information about security that would be of use to terrorists.

[presidio9]

but let me tell you, any terrorist trying to smuggle in a dirty nuke or something would end up under the dock with a meat hook sticking out of his head.

I'm sure we're all nostalgic for the days of organized crime, but I can guarantee you that organized crime has been only too happy to assist terrorist whenever it was financially advantageous to do so. The mafia is not patriotic.

[Dane]

It's a crying shame that we have to cheer left-wingers for standing up for our sovereignty while a Republican president is trying to sell us out.

Actually it's a crying shame that you are proving PT Barnum right(there is a sucker born every minute).

[DJ MacWoW]

Then how come hiallry and chuckie schumer were not "outraged" when other foreign firms are operating port facilities such as this Danish one.

Because it wasn't Danes that hit the WTC?

[mewzilla]

Pete King said yesterday that no American company had bid on this and that bidding was secret and only lasted 20 days.

Not one? Sheesh. And why secret I wonder?

[surely_you_jest]

I just hate the fact that the Administration has created a situation where I agree with Hillary! over anything.

[Dane]

Because it wasn't Danes that hit the WTC?

No they didn't, but who would you rather have overseeing port security, hillary clinton(who pardodned Puerto Rican terrorists for votes) or GW Bush.

[KC_Conspirator]

Here is the stupid thing; during the Cold War the Defense Dept. had the authority to block transfer of technology deals with hostile foreign governments. This authority was transferred under in the 90's to the Treasury Dept. who had a lower threshold, thus sending weapons technology to China and other countries. And now Frau Klinton thinks this deal should not go through?

I don't think it should go through either, but the hypocrisy of Hillary is astounding.

[DJ MacWoW]

He didn't say but he mentioned that Specter was on the committee, I believe. I came in on the middle of the interview and King was upset. He said very few knew what was going on.

[Dane]

I just hate the fact that the Administration has created a situation where I agree with Hillary! over anything

Uh the Adiminisration didn't create this situation. If anything it was the staockholders of the British owned P&O who sold to the Dubai company.

Like I said before, how come no outrage that a foreign company was already operating in US ports. Oh that's right hillary saw no political pandering in that.

[Sender]

The suckers are the ones letting this deal go down. You might want to look toward Washington.

[DJ MacWoW]

No they didn't, but who would you rather have overseeing port security, hillary clinton(who pardodned Puerto Rican terrorists for votes) or GW Bush.

The better question would be American companies opposed to arab, right? No American company even bid on this. The bidding was short and secret.

[mewzilla]

Gee, this Arlen Specter?

Snort.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Good. Arabs are not our friends.

[Dane]

The suckers are the ones letting this deal go down. You might want to look toward Washington

Oh that's right hillary, would never ever be part of a huckster show, for her own aggrandizement, excuse me.(rolling eyes)

[DJ MacWoW]

What a guy! *rolling eyes*

[Dane]

The better question would be American companies opposed to arab, right? No American company even bid on this. The bidding was short and secret.

And Dick Cheney was drunk while hunting, correct.

It wasn't "secret", the markets knew, and no American company thought it to be a viable venture it seems.

[DJ MacWoW]

It wasn't "secret", the markets knew, and no American company thought it to be a viable venture it seems.

You know more about this than King? I'll take his word over yours.

[Dane]

You know more about this than King? I'll take his word over yours.

Fine no problem, doesn't bother me one bit.

BTW, where was Rep. King's outrage over a foreign company already operating in a US port.

[DJ MacWoW]

BTW, where was Rep. King's outrage over a foreign company already operating in a US port.

His objection is to ARAB control. They would have to know all our security protocols.