[Alberta's Child]

Everyone knows the ports are not being purchased. Just because some people use a sort of shorthand to describe this doesn't mean we don't understand the issue. The operations at 6 of the ports are being farmed out to a UAE company.

Even your characterization of what is being proposed is not correct.

P&O Ports operates individual terminals at these ports. In the case of New York/New Jersey, the company operates one out of seven container terminals (actually, they have a 50% stake in the operation).

If there is a terrorist out there looking to do harm to the U.S. by shipping some dangerous cargo through these ports, there isn't a damn thing he could do with a UAE-owned company running that terminal that he couldn't do already.

[oceanview]

all you need are few well placed people in the operations area, to help facilitate the shipment you need to covertly get into the country.

[Siena Dreaming]

(actually, they have a 50% stake in the operation).

Yes, isn't the company actually 1/2 owned by the Dutch? If so, that means the Dutch will presumably have equal say in the company and any security compliance procedures I would think.

[reformedliberal]

The other 50% interest is held by a Danish company, IIRC.

[FreeReign]

If there is a terrorist out there looking to do harm to the U.S. by shipping some dangerous cargo through these ports, there isn't a damn thing he could do with a UAE-owned company running that terminal that he couldn't do already.

Exactly right.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I believe Maersk (Danish shipping company) has the other 50% ownership in those ports in NY/NJ.