Arab Co., White House Had Secret Agreement

AP ^ | 2/22/06

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Secret. Cheney. Hmmmm.

Probably better than their usual "food good, Republicans bad" schtick.

[conservativecorner]

Can you tell me where you found that information? I'm wondering why the Leadership from both Houses and both Party's seem to know so little about this deal.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

When does Haliburton factor in?

[DJ MacWoW]

Well, I will leave the partial information research to you. I just can't get all worked up.

You said it. TWICE. You have the responsibility to stand behind your statement. You even shouted at me. Either prove you're right or don't repeat the incorrect info.

[Howlin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583784/posts

[AmishDude]

You may be picking nits based on sloppy reporting. Where "review" is the reporter's synonym for "investigation".

[Fruitbat]

IDK, I'm thinking that Bush should have figured that this would cause a stir when "sprung" upon the American public and the rest of government as it has been. And why all the seeming "backroom secrecy" if it's a shrewd move and all on the up and up.

Something's not making sense here.

[DJ MacWoW]

The law requires the President not to be involved in or aware of this decision process until it is a done deal.

I certainly haven't found that anywhere. If you have, please post it.

[AmishDude]

I was dealing with the issue of when Bush was informed. You were the one who switched gears to what constitutes an "investigation".

[swheats]

Now if that image was Tom Ridge's I'd "feel" a little more comfortable.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

The Dubai company is not burdened with all the onerous tax regulations, etc. that American companies are saddled with.

It's not a "Dubai company", it's the Dubai government. Tax and regulatory concerns disappear when the tax collector and regulator is the same authority operating the business.

[lmr]

I would not accuse Bush of being a traitor, but c'mon, this deal is a politically nightmare for Bush and the Repubs, I think this deal needs to die. I don't care if the UAE company is the most upstanding and secure company to do business with ever. The American people, as a whole, think that this thing stinks to high heaven and Bush has undermined his own credibility in the War on Terror.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

Should we stop all Arab activity in the US because we hate them ?

See WWII, "Japanese internment". Worked pretty darned well back then.

[DJ MacWoW]

You may be picking nits based on sloppy reporting. Where "review" is the reporter's synonym for "investigation".

No. It was reported that it was considered for 20 to 25 days. CFIUS says 30 days is a review and 45 days is an investigation.

[holyscroller]

"We should start phoning ahead and letting terrorists know when we're going to pounce on them, too, can't be "secret".

We won't have to phone ahead to let them know. Dubai will have every detail of what military equipment is being shipped, when it's arriving and where it's going. It's called telegraphing your punches. It will also be an advantage for the Dubai/terrorists to have access to said equipment, and do their dirty work and saboutage.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

I don't care if the UAE company is the most upstanding and secure company to do business with ever.

It's not a company, it's the UAE government. Calling it a "company" is no more accurate than calling TSA a "company".

[pierrem15]

I agree with everyone who states that this deal stinks: but I'm willing to hold my nostrils on the basis that there may be other quite important issues involved that we do not know about (and probably should not know about).

The press (as usual) is also making more this than there is: the ports were already managed by a foreign company. That British company and their employees are not going away o be replaced by Arabs, the main company is simply being acquired by the emirates.

Since Britain is also infested with Islamonazis (who can more easily hide and travel under British passports than UAE citizens), it's not clear to me that the situation is actually getting any worse.

The real issue is how we could allow any foreign company to control our ports after 9/11?

[Siena Dreaming]

True...the fact remains that if US companies did not have such heavy burdens they would be better able to compete.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

When fat cats say things like this, I want to reach back and pat my wallet.

[MillerCreek]

Yes, but, it's scheduled to go through on March 2, 2006 unless there's an intervention, which only allows, let's see, three, four business days to "examine" it, as conditions at present are.