Posted on 02/20/2006 7:28:25 AM PST by standingfirm
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is defending the Bush administration's review of an international shipping deal two days after one company in the Port of Miami sued to prevent an Arab-owned firm from taking over port operations.
Meanwhile, lawmakers also are considering legislation to stop foreign-owned companies from running U.S. ports.
Chertoff on Sunday said the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, had carefully reviewed the Dubai Ports World purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which runs commercial operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
"We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint," Chertoff told ABC's "This Week."
That doesn't sit well with Miami firm Continental Stevedoring & Terminals Inc., a subsidiary of Ellery & Company Inc. Representatives from that company asked a judge to block the takeover of P&O,
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
For the life of me, I can't understand why the White House is in favor of this deal. You can't trust these people, I don't care how pretty they have talked to us about stopping terrorism. Don't we know by now that they talk out of both sides of their mouth?
Somone wake me up when it's over. It has to be a nightmare.
...winning the war on terror.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you that you are a liberal, aligned with the Democrats. Thank you for your patience.
Huh there was no outrage when a foreign firm was already operating port container facilites at US ports.
BTW, notice how FOX News doesn't disclose they are partially owned by a saudi prince.
Even if it would be safe for the UAE company to handle port security, it looks absolutely TERRIBLE and undercuts the argument (PR-wise) that Republicans are the national security party.
I continue to be disappointed by the way this war is being fought.
If Iran is not handled soon, the war will be a failure.
Here is what the Port story is about. A DNC press release was sent out by Chucky Schumer for the Democrat Senate Election Committee. It is full of rumor, innuendo and guilt by association. A bunch of junk journalists picked up the story and with out checking a SINGLE fact printed the story. A bunch of meat head grandstanding Republicans Congress Critters on Kneepads, read the story and freaked out WITHOUT bothering to find out a single fact. The Security Agencies, who did all the investigation and background checks were blown off or sneered at by the Democrats, their junk journalists propagandists and Republican Congress critter Media whores. Meanwhile the FACTS of the case are being ignored in order for everyone to gleefully parrot a DEMOCRAT Press release.
HERE is the logical diagram on this story. A company based in UAE is taking over port operations. UAE is an Arab Country. Arabs committed 9-11. Bush is turning Port Security over to the Terrorists! Not ONE fact or logically valid assumption is presented in any of these stories. The fact that the Port Operation company has NO security functions is either willfully or inadvertently left OUT of the story. Instead it is all basically a racist, guilty by accusation and rumor smear job. The people who ACTUALLY know the facts like DHS etc are being laughed at or ignored so supposedly "Conservatives" can gleefully push Democrat Election Campaign propaganda. Simply amazing how willfully ignorant some "Conservatives" are about how the Junk Journalists lie to them. Just like Flush the Koran, Rather Gate, Fitzmus, Downing Street Memo and dozens and dozens of other LIES manufactured by the DNC and fed to the Failed Media, THIS story is a LIE.
I've read many threads on this subject. Every single one of your responses that I've seen on this subject (and they are numerous) start with "HUH". Very strange.
Isn't that what DHS is for?
Has Bush gone insane?
I just don't want any more sales to foriegn powers, especially when even more money will flow into the hands of terrorists.
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004597.htm
Give the contract to Halliburton
Just because Dems oppose something, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
This is a DUMB idea. It's worse than Harriet Miers. It's lunacy.
The quicker the administration climbs down and takes the lead on this - the better.
You're not then only one who feels something is wrong with this deal. While I normally support the Bush administration's decisions, this one just seems to be WRONG. To let a foriegn power be in charge of any of our ports is a bad thing to do.
Just when I was questioning my responce to this issue along comes a reasoned posting. Thanks.
Nope the other bidder was a Singapore company. If it had been Halliburton, schumer/hillary would be screeching 100 times louder.
"The fact that the Port Operation company has NO security functions is either willfully or inadvertently left OUT of the story."
That is just not true.
According to http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185107,00.html
"DPW would not be responsible for cargo screening, which is performed by the Department of Homeland Security, but the port operator is responsible for securing cargo coming in and out of the port, the port facility itself and the hiring of security personnel."
England hasn't attacked us since 1812.
BTW, notice how FOX News doesn't disclose they are partially owned by a saudi prince.
You've been told REPEATEDLY that he owns 5% of the parent company, Newscorp.
Dubai owns 100% of DP World.
I think you nailed it. The Democrats think they can use this issue to appear strong on security and drive a wedge in the Repbulcian party. However, there's political opportunity here that I would bet the White House is not ignorant about. Expect the WH to back down after a group of Conservatives angry over immigration use this isse to draw a distinction between themselves and the White House. Since there is no VP heir apparent the Republican party will be forced to "split" with the White House over the next few years. Republicans must reinvent themselves because people like to vote for someone who is "new and improved". Issues like this present an opportunuty for Republicans. Watch for more such things in the coming years and ignore the nonsense the press will write about Republicans being in "disarray", etc.
A very noble position -- however, the Company running the port is already OWNED by a foriegn power. All of the ports mentioned are run by a British based firm. That firm is now being bought out by the UAE.
So, the port operations are not being sold to a foriegn power, they were already run by a foriegn power.
That cash infusion saved Murdoch from a takeover, but what the hey I guess you don't think a wahabbist saudi prince wouldn't call in some favors.
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