Congressmen threaten probe of U.S. seaports deal

The Washington Times ^ | February 20, 2006 | Audrey Hudson

[Sunshine55]

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle yesterday threatened a congressional investigation of a deal to give control of six U.S. seaports to an Arab company, while one key Republican said the Bush administration's security reassurances were not adequate.

Democrats also are threatening legislation to block foreign governments from operating U.S. ports.

"I think we've got to look into this company. I think we've got to ensure ourselves that the American people's national-security interests are going to be protected," said Sen. Evan Bayh, Indiana Democrat. "And frankly, I think the threshold ought to be a little higher for a foreign firm. There can't be a choice between profits and protecting the American people."

The classified deal would let Dubai Ports World (DPW) of the United Arab Emirates run ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami. London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which had been running the six ports, was bought last week by the government-owned DPW.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"IMO, though, the existing contract(s) can and should be declared null and void due to national security concerns."

What about physical assets owned by the company?

[ventana]

Perhaps just arrogant? V's wife.

[lmr]

Soooooo.....let me get this straight.....shipments will come through the Chinese-owned Panama Canal to a port run by the Arabs and then (after the Trans Texas Corridor gets built) travel up Spanish-built highways to Walmart stores where illegal aliens will buy the products?

I think that sums it up.

You forgot this part though: ..which will be checked out by a cashier who used to have a higher-paying factory job before it was out-sourced to India (Or China, take your pick.)

[Tulsa Ramjet]

What actually IS the procedure for such a thing?

From what I've heard so far, a special bureaucratic committee (maybe the Interior/Treasury?) was supposed to have reviewed, and approved the arrangement. The powers that supposedly know are claiming this flew low on the radar, and was passed through. The president can come out and claim proper due diligence was not taken. But someone will have to be fired.

[Czar]

Considering his totally unacceptable position on the illegal alien issue and his casual attitude about border security, I am no longer able to give Bush the benefit of the doubt on anything involving foreign entities.

Anything.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

For Lurch Chertoff to go on the airways over the weekend and defend this debacle is, to use the word of Newt Gingrich, incomprehensible.

He does have that Boris Karloff look, except Boris was a good actor. Chertoff couldn't even convince a 5 year old he's Santa Claus. Nobody believes what he's saying on this.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

What firm would that be?

[RegulatorCountry]

"But someone will have to be fired."

Oooh, oooh ... can we find some convoluted way of pinning this on Mineta?

[Itzlzha]

Soooooo.....let me get this straight.....shipments will come through the Chinese-owned Panama Canal to a port run by the Arabs and then (after the Trans Texas Corridor gets built) travel up Spanish-built highways to Walmart stores where illegal aliens will buy the products?

You Broke The Code!

< // typical "'Bot" Reply >

[Cannoneer No. 4]

P&O shareholders okay DP World’s $6.8-bn bid

[RegulatorCountry]

Shareholder approval does not close a deal. Regulatory approvals can often kill it. And it would seem that the regulatory considerations on this one are going to be a doozie.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

No can of worms is ever closed for good so long as there is a lawyer around who can reopen it.

[Deo volente]

I never thought I would be agreeing with people like Chuck Schumer, but he and many other Democrats are absolutely correct on this call.

This deal stinks.

[Brimack34]

Why don't they probe the Borders also. Hypocrites.

[hedgetrimmer]

The "threaten"? Why don't they just do it?

[DTogo]

"There can't be a choice between profits and protecting the American people."

Why, that's exactly how our immigration and border "security" policies are run!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

What firm would that be?

Here's one of many lists of port operators.

[hedgetrimmer]

Dave Sanborn, a executive with DP World, has been appointed to run MARAD, the US Maritime Administration. Americans should be very concerned that the UAE, buys access to our ports then somehow by some coincidence one of their executives in charge of the government group that oversees them? BTW I don't think there is any coincidence here, its strictly globalist deal making. And globalists care nothing for our sovereignty or our national security. Get 'em out of our government!

MARAD is in charge of US port security. DP is signing on to control most operations at ports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore and New Orleans.

[spectre]

"One of President Bush's weaknesses is that not only does he reward and expect loyalty, he is too loyal to his picks.

Another one of his "weaknesses" is his stubbornness. He has a tough time recognizing when his ideas/programs aren't meeting with popular opinion.

I can't decide if his advisor's are stirring him in the wrong direction, or it's just plain "stubbornness".

sw

[CFC__VRWC]

There is nothing that the USA can do about the acquisition of one foreign company by another. IMO, th hough, the existing contract(s) can and should be declared null and void due to national security concerns. These contracts should then be awarded to a firm which has been properly vetted vis a vis national security requirements.

There may not be another firm to award the contract to. I read on another thread that the only other companies that could have bid on this contract are from Hong Kong and Singapore, and that they declined to place bids. No American firm offered a bid. If this is so, what are we going to do, force a US company to take over the physical assets and contractual obligations of the British company?

This may be a case of only a very small numer of companies being able to do this kind of work, sort of like Halliburton in their field. I'd have to research this to see if it's the case.