Posted on 02/21/2006 11:08:07 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush said he has faith in his brother's administration over its decision to allow an Arab-owned company to operate major U.S. ports, including in Miami.
Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates, is expected to take over a British company that has been running six U.S. ports.
Several South Florida Congress members and politicians believe the deal should be closely examined.
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said she has no specific concerns about the company, although the fact that UAE was where a number of the Sept. 11 hijackers were being harbored warrants further examination.
However, a former security director said there is little cause for concern.
"Being regulated by the federal government and by the state government puts a very high threshold of security standard for any operator at the Port of Miami," Nelson Oramas said.
Florida's governor, who attended a breakfast meeting at the Biltmore Hotel on Tuesday promoting the Central American Free Trade Agreement, said he thinks criticism by some Congress members is unwarranted because his brother, President George W. Bush, could press for more details by the time the sale is supposed to go through on March 2.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has said that the company went through a "very extensive" review process.
Nevertheless, the Republican governors of New York and Maryland said they might try to cancel lease arrangements at ports in their states.
Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Robert Menendez are planning to introduce legislation that would prevent the sale of port operations to foreign governments.
"I heard the port operators in Miami aren't happy about this."
South Florida Mofia (not of Italian decent, BTW). Look, Miami does not play by normal American rules. Hablo?
"Holes which were there before this deal, and holes which will remain whether or not this deal is cancelled. They're irrelevant to the argument (although of course not to our nation's security)."
Yes, but they're not irrelevant. Who controls the loading and unloading of containers from ships has more control than you'd think.
Inspections are done based on the contents, origin, and other information on containers. A port management company which operates in a number of places, including source and destination ports, has considerable control over the containers.
I don't know what the criteria are for inspections of containers. I doubt that information is public. However, the port operator will know that information. Control of both ends of the shipping process is one way to bypass these inspections, I'd bet.
Again, I don't have any details. I'm just thinking about how something like this might slip past the security stuff.
I wish we could inspect 100% of containers. That's not going to happen, I realize.
Wow, now I'm really not feeling too good... How did I miss all that happening?
But here is the argument in some circles; that there is more chance of the terrorists getting a job with a Dubai company than a British one.
Safeguards are in effect, sure. But chances of more incidents grows with a Middle Eastern company in charge of the port as opposed to the British one.
I see Dubai as a fairly good ally myself. But what I said above is some of the logic from those dissenting.
"The PLA/ChiComs own the Long Beach port and the Panama Canal'
NO THEY DON'T.
"For anyone who may be interested in some specifics about this deal,'
Let's not let the facts get in the way of hysteria.
I hear you and tend to agree. I guess many Freepers just think it's George Bush's fault because he should have bid on the contract himself...or whatever their convoluted logic is.
Having grown up in Dade County, the place remains special to me, even though I was smart enough to get out - lol.
I cannot believe there is no American company that can run ports. Who runs other ports?
A terrorist probably has a better chance getting a job with a British or French company since they're so very careful about making sure they're "diverse" and "tolerant" of religious extremism. A company in Dubai that's interested in actually getting the job done, has much more freedom when it comes to hiring and firing.
We are now having the debate, so yes, I trust that the interests of the country will prevail, whatever the result.
What if somehow we end up in a fight with the UAE? We go to war with them, they are running our ports????
There is a difference between "can" and "will". Our tax structure probably makes it unfriendly for an American company to get into the business since they'll be subject to good old American double taxation.
Do you think President Bush sold the contract to UAE personally?
If they declared war on us, their contracts would become null and void. THINK!
butternut_squash_bisque: this post is just FYI to avoid confusion caused by FReeper Sunnyflorida's unfounded assertions.
Sunnyflorida:
I can provide evidence that they do. Do you have any evidence to back up your assertion or are you merely posting stuff to be contrarian?
See this story (and next time, please do your research).
Red Chinese Army Controls America's Largest West Coast Container Port, Long Beach, California
From Tim White http://educate-yourself.org/tw/coscocontrolslongbeachshipyards17sep04.shtml
September 17, 2004
COSCO [China Ocean Shipping Company] has, since the signing of an EXECUTIVE ORDER by President Benedict Bill Klinton in January of 1998, has taken over and totally controls the former U.S. Naval Port Facilities at Long Beach, California. This port is the largest container port on the West coast of North America and is a major conduit through with our technology is being transferred to China.
What most people DON'T KNOW is the fact that COSCO is 100% owned by the PLA-the People's Liberation Army of Red China [the Red Chinese Army] . COSCO has other facilities up and down both the West and East coasts of the U.S. and the Gulf Coast along with the newest port facility that they have at Freeport,The Bahamas,which is the largest container port in the World.
COSCO is intimately linked with the WAMPOA-HUTCHINSON GROUP of Hong Kong which is 100% owned by Li Kai Sheng,of the very powerful LI family of China [top Illuminati bloodline in China], Kai Sheng is a very close associate of Chinese President Zhao Zemin.
The WAMPOA-HUTCHINSON GROUP controls the PANAMA CANAL and is linked to the PLA like a Siamese Twin.This is a main reason WHY OUR COUNTRY is in such deep peril-at the hands of our TRAITOROUS Politicians, Democrat or Republican notwithstanding.
Tim White, Viet Nam Vet/Concern Citizen
That info comes from other ports, controlled by other companies (although I know we do have Customs or other officials at originating ports, but I'm not up on the details). So I don't see where this deal would impact this scenario one way or another.
Things that are not a'changin.
Bush agreeing with Bush agreeing with Bush agreeing with Wall Street investors.
"Where did you go Ron Reagan, a nation turns its lonely eyes". [sorry Joe D.]
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