Posted on 02/16/2006 1:40:18 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite
The Bush administration on Thursday rebuffed criticism about potential security risks of a $6.8 billion sale that gives a company in the United Arab Emirates control over significant operations at six major American ports.
Lawmakers asked the White House to reconsider its earlier approval of the deal.
The sale to state-owned Dubai Ports World was "rigorously reviewed" by a U.S. committee that considers security threats when foreign companies seek to buy or invest in American industry, National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, run by the Treasury Department, reviewed an assessment from U.S. intelligence agencies. The committee's 12 members agreed unanimously the sale did not present any problems, the department said.
"We wanted to look at this one quite closely because it relates to ports," Stewart Baker, an assistant secretary in the Homeland Security Department, told The Associated Press. "It is important to focus on this partner as opposed to just what part of the world they come from. We came to the conclusion that the transaction should not be halted."
The unusual defense of the secretive committee, which reviews hundreds of such deals each year, came in response to criticism about the purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
The world's fourth-largest ports company runs commercial operations at shipping terminals in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
Four senators and three House members asked the administration Thursday to reconsider its approval. The lawmakers contended the UAE is not consistent in its support of U.S. terrorism-fighting efforts.
"The potential threat to our country is not imagined, it is real," Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., said in a House speech.
The Homeland Security Department said it was legally impossible under the committee's rules to reconsider its approval without evidence DP World gave false information or withheld vital details from U.S. officials. The 30-day window for the committee to voice objections has ended.
DP World said it had received all regulatory approvals.
"We intend to maintain and, where appropriate, enhance current security arrangements," the company said in a statement. "It is very much business as usual for the P&O terminals" in the United States.
In Dubai, the UAE's foreign minister described his country as an important U.S. ally but declined to respond directly to the concerns expressed in Washington.
"We have worked very closely with the United States on a number of issues relating to the combat of terrorism, prior to and post Sept. 11," Sheik Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan told The Associated Press.
U.S. lawmakers said the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan. They also said the UAE was one of only three countries to recognize the now-toppled Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government.
The State Department describes the UAE as a vital partner in the fight against terrorism. Dubai's own ports have participated since last year in U.S. efforts to detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials.
Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., urged congressional hearings on the deal.
"At a time when America is leading the world in the war on terrorism and spending billions of dollars to secure our homeland, we cannot cede control of strategic assets to foreign nations with spotty records on terrorism," Fossella said.
Critics also have cited the UAE's history as an operational and financial base for the hijackers who carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"Outsourcing the operations of our largest ports to a country with a dubious record on terrorism is a homeland security and commerce accident waiting to happen," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "The administration needs to take another look at this deal."
Separately, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Thursday it will conduct its own review of the deal and urged the government to defend its decision.
In a letter to the Treasury Department, Port Authority chairman Anthony Coscia said the independent review by his agency was necessary "to protect its interests."
The lawmakers pressing the White House to reconsider included Sens. Schumer, Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Reps. Foley, Fossella and Chris Shays, R-Conn.
Yes, and UAE believes in more trade with Iran.
Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE recognised Taliban rule.
Nominations Hearing
Tuesday, February 7 2006 - 2:30 PM - Dirksen 562STATEMENT OF SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
Nomination Hearing
February 7, 2006Mr. Chairman, today it is my pleasure to introduce three fellow Virginians for posts at the Department of Transportation (DOT) - Nicole Nason, Tyler Duvall and David Sanborn. ...
Finally Mr. Chairman, I would like to introduce another fine Virginian, David Sanborn of Smithfield, VA who the President nominated to serve as Administrator of the Maritime Administration. He is a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy. David has impressive credentials and a wealth of experience, both domestically and internationally, but most importantly a sincere desire and vision to promote our nationâs ports and shipping industry.
Most recently, as Director of Ship Operations for Dubai Ports International, he was responsible for expanding port infrastructure and efficiency, while developing successful new lines of business. As Senior Vice President of Service Delivery, a company based out of Norfolk, VA, he controlled cargo logistics and demonstrated his ability to seamlessly coordinate shipping with rail and truck operations. Operating multi-million dollar budgets, overseeing staff of hundreds, and redesigning organizations are familiarities extensive to David Sanborn that will undoubtedly ensure his success as Administrator. I look forward to working with him and working with this committee toward his swift confirmation.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=1748&wit_id=4242
Should we Americans now be asking is Bush with us or against us? This crap is insane in the mist of a war with some muslims.
Hi,
Phyllis Schlafly certainly is no kook:
http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2005/july05/05-07-13.html
CFR's Plan to Integrate the U.S., Mexico and Canada
You might find this article interesting as well:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1578569/posts
"Your True Masters Dem or Rep it dosen't matter"
(the CFR and Trilateral commission)
What are you going to do? Not treat Dubai as an ally just in case they turn?
Any of our present day allies could turn. Or not.
Britain was a pretty big enemy of ours at one point also.
last time I checked the UAE were muslim. Perhaps you have read the muslim creed. Would you like to?
Will we ever recover from billyblytheclinton selling Long Beach Harbor to the ChiComs for campaign funds?
Now this.
However, are you one of those who do not agree in having any ally at all in the Muslim world?
I guess that gets to my question. Who handles what under the 'commercial operations' that this group is buying? Does the Port Authorities/feds/ still run the port such as dock workers, screening of imports, inspections, etc. or does this fall to the group doing 'commercial operations'?
Here are some highlights...
As a sidenote, the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) meets in secret and is headed by Treasury Secretary John Snow. In 2004, DP World purchased part of the American company CSX for over $1 billion. Before he became Treasury Secretary, John Snow was Chairman and CEO of CSX.
Dubai, 24 January 2006: - Global ports operator DP World today welcomed news that one of its senior executives, Dave Sanborn, has been nominated by US President George W. Bush to serve as Maritime Administrator a key transportation appointment reporting directly to Norman Mineta the Secretary of Transportation and Cabinet Member.
Funny how all these DP connected pawns are nominated to positions that will smooth the way for DP to take over the 6 East Coast Ports "Operations"
The FIX IS IN! Screw the damn 'Bots here, this STINKS like Able Danger, like LORAL, like ALL these damn connected Gub'Mint deals stink!
For full disclosure which you left out, DP World bought that part of CSX one year after Snow had left CSX.
BTW, Itzy, what's your "solution". It's one foreign company buying another. If you are so outraged now, how come you weren't outraged at a foreign company already running port services.
Given the current situation with changing threat levels and the fact that we know the Saudis fund terrorism (was it 11 of the 9/11 hijackers who were Saudi?) this has to be about the dumbest thing I have seen the Bush Administration do during its term.
It's not the saudi's who are buyng the British company that currently operates port services.
So there are Islamic nations we can trust our nation's security to?
They are taking over operations, no?
I'm sure they will fix it......
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