U.S. Ports Under New Management (Mike Shelton cartoon)

How could he have known nothing about it and be for it? I'm confused.

Here is an excerpt from a Q&A article in the Orange County Register:

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Q: What does the administration say about this?

A:President Bush said he is convinced there is no national security problem with this transaction and he stands behind it. He also said Tuesday that he will veto any measure that scuttled the Dubai deal.

Q: How did he determine that there are no security red flags?

A:Under U.S. law, whenever a foreign-owned business invests in U.S. industry, there is a committee that looks into the possible security concerns. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is headed by Treasury Secretary John Snow and includes representatives from a half-dozen federal agencies, including the departments of State, Homeland Security and Defense. This panel, which deliberates in secret, decided there were no security concerns. It began its investigation last November and ended in mid-January.

Q: So why are we just hearing about this now?

A:Because last week was when the sale of the British firm to the Dubai company was finalized.

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We are allowed to only excerpt from the Register. The entire article is pretty good and you need to read it all. Unfortunately, it requires registration to read it.

Here it is.

I don't think this has come up yet, but on Dobbs they mentioned the PR firm that Dubai Ports World/UAE has hired to push this deal on the American public/lawmakers.

They are Bell Pottinger, UK. Evidently well known by this administration.

History

In March 2004 BPPA won a $5.8m (£3.2m) four-month contract from the U.S. supported administration in Iraq to promote the establishment of democracy ahead of the handover of power to the interim Iraqi authority on 30 June. According to PR Week, the contract also includes promoting the election of an Iraqi government.

"B-PC will work with its Dubai operation Bates PanGulf, and Baghdad-based media services company Balloch & Roe. A small team will be sent to work with Balloch & Roe's Arabic writers who will advise on how best to cross the cultural divide," PR Week reported.

The project team, PR Week reports will be headed by Mark Turnbull and the head of BPPA's Dubai office Tom Mollo. The Independent (UK) reported that company founder Tim Bell described his role as "masterminding the campaign in London". [1] (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/media/story.jsp?story=500728) [edit] Clients

Clients include

* BAE Systems * McDonalds * Imperial Tobacco [2] (http://www.bppa.co.uk/clients.html) * Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) [3] (http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1934)

Staff

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bell_Pottinger_Public_Affairs

[snip from Dobbs, aired 2/21/06]But included in this entire strategy is a P.R. campaign by DP World. And as part of that, a high-level delegation flew into Washington from the United Arab Emirates.

A number of people, the delegates, also the commercial attache, they're planning on doing a number of media interviews. They are also planning on talking to U.S. officials on this. But they will not talk to CNN. I spoke to somebody, Mark Dennis, a representative of the P.R. firm Bell Pottinger. He says this delegation will not talk to CNN because "CNN won't shut up Lou Dobbs." Of course he's referring to our early coverage on this story where we were out in front with this story last week.

It's important to note also that they're not denying this interview because of any false reporting or inaccuracies or anything like that. The reason why is they just simply don't want the story out there. Of course we're out here at United Arab Emirates, and we will continue to monitor this and continue to track down this delegation. And they know that we're out here, and they're welcome to come out and do an interview at any time -- Lou.

DOBBS: Lisa, thank you very much. Indeed, they are welcome. As you noted, we first reported this story. We were the first television program to report this story Monday, more than a week ago now.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/21/ldt.01.html

AND they seem to have the same sentiments as the rioters all
over the world. "Westernized" UAE, my foot.
_______
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/08/cartoon.protests/index.html

The cartoons have prompted boycotts of Danish goods throughout the Muslim world. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, travel agents said travelers were not booking flights to Denmark or Norway.

Also in UAE, a university professor was fired after distributing copies of the cartoons to her students. The nation's minister of education, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahan, said he ordered Clauda Keepoz's dismissal because "her behavior has nothing to do with the freedom of expression."

http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5256
Protests against “blasphemous” cartoons mounts in Islamic nations
Jan. 31,2006

[snip] Burnt flags, political condemnation, and appeals for a boycott are involving even traditionally moderate Islamic nations, like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The Arab League and Organizations from the Islamic who announced their intention to appeal to the United Nations for a resolution blocking all forms of attacks against religious faiths.

But the wave of protest continues. “It’s cultural terrorism, not freedom of expression” intoned Mohammad al-Dhaheri, Minister for Justice and Islamic affairs of the United Arab Emirates.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0201/dailyUpdate.html
In an editorial, the Khaleej Times of the United Arab Emirates expressed dismay that the Danish government has not formally apologized for the episode.

The prime minister continues to defend the insensitive newspaper in the name of ‘media freedom’. All freedom including that of the media comes with responsibility. Mocking people’s deeply held religious beliefs and sentiments is no media freedom. It’s sheer and unpardonable callousness.

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-world.asp?parentid=38492

Branches of French hypermarket Carrefour in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also stopped selling Danish goods. "Danish products have been removed from all (UAE) branches of Carrefour," one official said.

http://www.einnews.com/uae/newsfeed-UAE-Racism-Xenophobia
United Arab Emirates Racism & Xenophobia News. Service for global professionals. Constantly updated news and information about United Arab Emirates.

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