Posted on 02/22/2006 4:34:50 PM PST by johnmecainrino
Bush didn't know because congress mandated for this foreign service group to keep the decisions secret. The group only informs the president if they go to an extended period of review and then reject it. No one on the top white house staff knew. It was done by middle level bueracracy mostly in these agencies. Congress mandated the process by non political and kept secret.
Congress didn't know because it is a federal crime to talk about the specifics of the deal. Again congress mandated it be secret and now they are screaming how bush didn't inform them.
Based on the law congress passed in 1988 Bush couldn't have reversed the deal after it was approved by this committee. The law states that after the deal was approved by the committee bush or the committee can only go back and review the deal if the company lied to them on the application.
On MSNBC right now we are hearing how bush was out of the loop again and all the bs. That was the law. And when I hear congress complaining about the secrecy, damn them they wrote the law that way to protect the propriety of the companies.
Scott McClellan has to be the worst press secretary ever. He didn't even know today that the american unions would still be involved and that homeland security got in the deal to do a background check before anyone can enter the facility that works for the company.
Bush needs to go on national TV primetime to stop the lies. Worst of all a lot of the lies are being spread by peter king who is clueless on the 1988 law that was written. If he is so upset change the law instead of blaming bush for a law congress mandated.
I find holes in systems for a living. There are not any systems that do not have holes; if you have willing participants within the system anything is possible.
Saw him on one the talking heads this am. Fox I think and I heard he turned up on Imus. Making the rounds.....
Well since anything is possible and willing partipants abound both here, in the UAE and everywhere else in the world, we should not have anything or anyone running our ports. Give up everyone and run for your lives.
You're close but not quite accurate. He's the deal.
http://www.treasury.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/
To assist in making this determination, Exon-Florio provides for the President or his designee to receive written notice of an acquisition, merger or takeover of a U.S. corporation by a foreign entity. Once CFIUS has received a complete notification, it begins a thorough review of the notified transaction. In some cases, it is necessary to undertake an extended review or "investigation." An investigation, if necessary, must begin no later than 30 days after receipt of a notice. Any investigation is required to end within 45 days. <--- it does not have to go 45 days as some have stated, King for one I believe.
Information provided by companies contemplating a transaction subject to Exon-Florio is held confidential and is not made public, except in the case of an administrative or judicial action or proceeding. Nothing in section 721 shall be construed to prevent disclosure to either House of Congress or to any duly authorized committee or subcommittee of the Congress.
******This order also provides for CFIUS to submit a report and recommendation to the President at the conclusion of an investigation.****
You are correct. Congress never takes responsibilty for screw ups.
My thoughts exactly....Where IS the tinfoil?
More of the rest of the story. Thank you for posting this.
Finally a sane post!
Thanks!
I've heard port management compared to air traffic control. Someone needs to organize which ship berths where, arranging loading and unloading, etc.
Bump.
It sounds as if nobody knew anything about this debacle, not even the one who is supposed to know and protect us all, ie the chief executive officer.
Humpty Dumpty comes to mind.
Thank you all for the citations and links. The ability and willingness of Freepers to assemble the facts is what sets this site apart from all others. If only the coconuts at 1600 Pennsylvania could get out in front of an issue instead of letting their opponents use emotion and misinformation to whip up opposition, we might not have these charlie foxtrots every other week.
That all went in the "distinction without a diff" file when Bush vowed to veto Congress deciding to correct their mistake.
Only to those who are making a knee jerk reaction based on their impressions of the 'facts' rather then a knowledge of what is really going on regarding the operations of port terminals, the facts of how this decision was arrived and and what actual security procedures are in place.
Republican leadership jumped to conclusions (against).
Of course anyone of either party who has already come out against it will now be afraid to be for it. On both sides accusations will be hurled. "He was against it before he was for it." Alas, what goes around often comes around.
Politics is so much fun.
Useful information pro and con.
Two FR posts las night had a lot of interesting back and forth. 1)Not so Fast on the UAE Port Deal...Check this Out, 2) Ports of Politics (take a deep breath and read the WSJ).
Here is a classic case where the wise political statement would have been "I have just learned about this, it has some disturbing implications, I plan to look into it in great detail, I'll get back to you as soon as I have an informed opinion!!" It is a shame we have so many politicians and so few statesmen/women.
I am still making up my mind, but what really worries me is the FACT that only about 6% of shipping containers are actually examined by security people. Will this deal make it easier or harder or the same to smuggle bad containers into this country?
Eat out?
Fly
Take public transportation?
Afraid and embarassed. But this is much more important than a little wounded pride.
good post
I did not know about the laws governing the review porcess. Any links to that info?
King, Schumer and Frist should be banished to Exile Island.
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