Posted on 02/19/2006 10:30:27 AM PST by LibWhacker
The Bush administration will reverse its decision to allow a Dubai company based in the United Arab Emirates to gain control over several key U.S. ports, the Fox News Channel's Brit Hume predicted on Sunday.
"I don't think the administration will be able to sustain this," Hume told "Fox News Sunday." "I think it will have to reverse itself in some way or create some entity that stands between the company and the management of the ports."
"I just don't think [the decision] can stand," he added. "It doesn't sound good to let some Arab shieks to be in charge of our ports - that's what it comes down to."
Appearing on the same program, Sen. Lindsey Graham slammed the ports decision, saying, "It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history, four years after 9/11, to entertain the idea of turning port security over to a company based in the U.A.E., who avows to destroy Israel."
In a decision announced last week, the Bush administration's Committee on Foreign Investment approved the purchase of six major U.S. ports by the U.A.E.-based Dubai Ports World.
The move set off a firestorm of criticism, with skeptics complaining that banks in the U.A.E. have helped launder money for terrorists and that the country itself was home to Marwan al Shehhi, the Sept. 11 hijacker who piloted United Airlines Flight 175 into Tower 2 of the World Trade Center.
On Friday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended the Dubai deal, telling a Mideast news outlet: "There was a thorough review. It was decided that this could be done and done safely."
I think you've made your points very well. A 12 year should understand exactly what is the issue here. It would be like in WWII, after Germany declared war on the US, we signed a contract with the Hitler Import/Export Company. Or after Pearl Harbor, we signed an agreement allowing Japan to run California's docks/ports. The US govt is probably still engaged in some contractual agreements with known terrorist sympathizers and financial supporters. If that's the case, I say, kick them all the hell out!
Maybe you should do some research too. You want some Arab sheiks to be in charge of our ports? I sure don't!
Couldn't of said it better!
Unfortunately that attitude isn't confined to the Democrats. The RNC has used this same tactic in pushing Dubya's 'Temporary Guest Worker' amnesty.
Laredo Morning Times - Thursday, June 4, 1998 BY CATHERINE WILSON
AP Business Writer
MIAMI - Three men associated with the Port of Miami, including its ousted former director, were charged Wednesday with stealing $1.3 million and using the money on Super Bowl tickets, lingerie and bar tabs.
They also are accused of using stolen funds to donate $120,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 1994.
Since 1990, the three "have used the Port of Miami as a personal bank," said U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott. Calvin Grigsby, owner of the company that ran the port's container cargo cranes, and former- port director Carmen Lunetta were charged with conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering. Port contractor Neal Harrington was charged with embezzlement and theft.
Lunetta was forced to resign as port director last year after a judge ruled that Grigsby's cargo company had to open its books to public scrutiny. The port, owned by Miami-Dade County and the eighth-busiest cargo port in the country, lost a total of $22 million in five years while Lunetta controlled the purse strings.
Grigsby owns Fiscal Operations Inc., which since 1982 has operated the towering gantry cranes that handle all of the port's containerized cargo. Public money diverted from the port was held in Fiscal Operations accounts, the indictment charged.
Fiscal Operations collects nearly $8 million a year in ship fees, with the county's share being around $1 million a year in recent years.
Harrington was part owner and a director of Continental Stevedoring & Terminals Inc., a major port contractor which rented cranes from Fiscal Operations.
The $120,000 donated to the Democratic Party in 1994 came from Harrington at Lunetta's request, and Continental was reimbursed, prosecutors said.
http://www.lmtonline.com/news/archive/060498/pagea9.pdf
Continental Stevedoring & Terminals Inc. has a business relationship with P&O, via interest in a commonly owned entity, Eller-I.T.O Stevedoring Company. I get the feeling that more digging will result in a mass of names that would take a chart or visual aid to grasp. ;-)
Laredo Morning Times - Thursday, June 4, 1998 BY CATHERINE WILSON
AP Business Writer
MIAMI - Three men associated with the Port of Miami, including its ousted former director, were charged Wednesday with stealing $1.3 million and using the money on Super Bowl tickets, lingerie and bar tabs.
They also are accused of using stolen funds to donate $120,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 1994.
Since 1990, the three "have used the Port of Miami as a personal bank," said U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott. Calvin Grigsby, owner of the company that ran the port's container cargo cranes, and former- port director Carmen Lunetta were charged with conspiracy, embezzlement and money laundering. Port contractor Neal Harrington was charged with embezzlement and theft.
Lunetta was forced to resign as port director last year after a judge ruled that Grigsby's cargo company had to open its books to public scrutiny. The port, owned by Miami-Dade County and the eighth-busiest cargo port in the country, lost a total of $22 million in five years while Lunetta controlled the purse strings.
Grigsby owns Fiscal Operations Inc., which since 1982 has operated the towering gantry cranes that handle all of the port's containerized cargo. Public money diverted from the port was held in Fiscal Operations accounts, the indictment charged.
Fiscal Operations collects nearly $8 million a year in ship fees, with the county's share being around $1 million a year in recent years.
Harrington was part owner and a director of Continental Stevedoring & Terminals Inc., a major port contractor which rented cranes from Fiscal Operations.
The $120,000 donated to the Democratic Party in 1994 came from Harrington at Lunetta's request, and Continental was reimbursed, prosecutors said.
http://www.lmtonline.com/news/archive/060498/pagea9.pdf
Continental Stevedoring & Terminals Inc. has a business relationship with P&O, via interest in a commonly owned entity, Eller-I.T.O Stevedoring Company. I get the feeling that more digging will result in a mass of names that would take a chart or visual aid to grasp. ;-)
Agreed, and watching right along with you. Just as amazed...
^
Don't. You're doing a great job, thanks!
OTOH, I'll readily confess I do not know exactly how the ports are run. If anyone can tell me the specifics, I'd appreciate it. It just doesn't seem very convincing to me to say that muslims will own but not actually manage the ports.
But that just may be my ignorance (of how this deal is structured) speaking.
from Reuters financial
On July 7, 2004, the Company sold its Australian resorts business to General Property Trust and Voyages Hotels & Resorts Pty Ltd. On December 23, 2004, the Company sold its sport and leisure resort La Manga Club to the Spanish leisure and property company MedGroup. BRIEF: For the six months ended 30 June 2005, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation's turnover increased 20% to £1.35B. Net income from continuing operations applicable to Common decreased 62% to £11.7M. Turnover reflects increased revenue from ports, ferries, cold logistics and property segments of the Group. Net income was offset by decreased gross margins, other operating income and higher financial expenses.
62% decline in PROFITS & selling assets & still needs cash..hmmmm -Great trend! - just the type of business and/or company the Democrats would like Uncle Sam or an American company to get into.
I thought Congress was limited to Railroad 'black holes' for taxpayer dollars?
Cruise Talk and BBC News
Cash Rich
DP World, with origins dating to 1972, last year acquired terminal operations in Hong Kong, China and other countries from CSX Corp. for $1.15 billion as part of a plan to more than double capacity to 20 million containers a year, bin Sulayem said in an interview at the Dead Sea in Jordan, on May 20. "Banks in the U.A.E. are awash with cash at the moment and its not surprising they can raise this kind of money" to buy P&O, Anthony Harris, a former U.K. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said in a telephone interview.
PENSION PROBLEMS
P&O's pension fund, which currently has a deficit of £200m, will be protected through a one-off cash injection of £125m by DP World, followed by further payments over the next five years.
I'm with you. Kick them out.
Under a plan like this there would be no need for another Pearl Harbor. Hell, a little forethought, some strategic movements of contraband, timers go off simultaneiously and ten minutes later, half our populace is dead or on fire.
I say take a chance. What's the worst that could happen? /s
"Gee don't suppose this has anything to do with why Chucky and the Senate Dems are all pissed about the Dubai Company getting the contract? Don't suppose maybe Chucky wasn't able to squeeze the Company for a "Contribution" and this manufactured hysteria is pay back? "
NOW HERE THIS! I don't care the reason. All I care is the deal gets stopped so we can reasonably secure our ports of entry without muslim involvement.
Democrats have their heads stuck so far up their nether regions, I honestly believe not even that will do it.
You're way off base...The bad guys wear suits, and attend board meetings, or collects votes for public office...
The average guy working for a living is just as patriotic or more so than any politician or CEO that you might know...Your credibility is slipping...
I agree with that concept across the board. For some reason, folks really take offense when memebers of the home-team raise reasoned objections.
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