Posted on 02/20/2006 4:13:19 PM PST by Dane
A team from Dubai's DP World is expected to start meetings on Tuesday with groups which have expressed concerns about its takeover of P&O Ports' US operations as it seeks to head off political opposition to the deal.
The company, owned by the Emirate of Dubai's Ports, Customs and Freezones Authority, is set to meet representatives of some of the five US port authorities where P&O has operations, and national politicians who oppose the deal.
The team is thought to include some of the many US citizens who work for DP World, including Ted Bilkey, chief operating officer, who has been one of the main actors in Dubai's transformation into a major shipping hub.
They hope the meetings will erode support for efforts to reverse the approval already given for the deal by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, which approved the takeover in January. The efforts gained momentum last week when Senators Hillary Clinton and Robert Menendez introduced legislation which would prevent a company controlled by a foreign government from taking over a US port facility.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Another great idea from the unelected chasims of Washington DC!!
They must think Americans are really stooopid!!!
Open the ports to Al Queda and the borders to whoever.
Totally senseless! Idiotic! Blundering crazy! And exactly what do the Bozo"s plan on doing with all that money???
We need to make Omaha our new Capital and tell Washington DC to go get F^@#%$#&%$*^d.
Washington DC no longer represents true American values and tradition.
"Internationally, there seems to be only 3 cos. left who do it - this one, based in Dubai"
The acquisition of P & O is not yet a done deal.
Who says there aren't any American companies who can run the ports? Who's running them now??Did they ask anyone? Or was it a no bid transaction? There are too many questions and some pretty ugly revelations about the UAR and how they have supported terrorists in the past. We have to assume they continue to do so, no matter what a photo op shows.
Just because an obscure report from an obscure government spokesperson favors or supports something does not validate the truth.
Americans would not be prudent to place any trust in this transaction, no matter how or who guarantees it to be ok.
It will be on March 2nd, when a British court approves the deal.
"It will be on March 2nd, when a British court approves the deal."
Ah, yes ... the old "aura of inevitability" thing. Who else uses this tactic?
Name one Mr. know it all about shipping.
I'm just telling you a fact. A British court has assigned March 2nd as the date to approve the deal.
"A British court has assigned March 2nd as the date to approve the deal."
Which means it has not yet been approved. A lot can happen between now and March 2.
Dubai Ports has already bought the CSX Railroad Co.
If they get hold of this port, they could bring in a 100 shipping container nukes, load them on the railroad, and park them up and down the east coast. Then set 'em off, all at once.
I asked the question. You tell me.
Then you're too late because this deal isn't between a US Company and the UAE it's between a British Company and the UAE because the British company is the one who runs them now !
It's all but done. The British gov't and the stockholders all approve. The US can't do anything about it.
This is not about foreign ownership, this is more about the type of people who are going to be in charge. I am sort of skeptical when the administration says "trust us". After 911 and the cartoon riots, I am not about to trust any of these guys.
"The US can't do anything about it."
Those leases were with P & O. The deal is clearly contingent upon approval of the security apparatus of the US government, as well as the various states involved. I do wonder what the board of P & O is thinking along about now, since this firestorm has erupted. I'd imagine they're toting up the potential costs associated with losing six lucrative port contracts, myself. This would certainly change the calculus on any sale.
Americans would not be prudent to make a fuss about something they know nothing about, but that never stopped many.
The Brits have been handling the container traffic at these ports (and that's all this is about. It's not "running the ports", "port security", or any of the other buzz phrases that scare you) for years.
A little education wouldn't hurt you. It might even make you a little less anxious. Try it.
Actually the P&O board is losing nothing. DPWorld is now contracted to buy them out.
"DPWorld is now contracted to buy them out."
Pending, Dane ... pending. Not closed.
"the many U.S. citizens who work for DP World." Please see: (1) various associated articles on dhimmitude, and (2) various definitions of the initials DP.
"There aren't any American companies that can run these ports"
So who HAS been running the ports for the past umpteen years then?
I think it's clear that they are. That's why representatives of the Dubai co. are coming here. I don't know that loss of these ports would kill the deal - there's no problem in other countries, including Canada, Australia, Germany, etc. But it sure would make a difference on sale price, and that might kill it.
But still, the decision will be made on economic grounds, and US politics won't have a lot to do with it, except indirectly.
And, BTW, the Coast Guard, who are responsible for the security, don't seem to think it's a problem. It's pure politics.
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