Posted on 02/22/2006 6:19:30 PM PST by iPod Shuffle
Arab Co., White House Had Secret Agreement
Feb 22 9:03 PM US/Eastern
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By TED BRIDIS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON
1d08c5bfc6d0@news.ap.org The Bush administration secretly required a company in the United Arab Emirates to cooperate with future U.S. investigations before approving its takeover of operations at six American ports, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. It chose not to impose other, routine restrictions.
As part of the $6.8 billion purchase, state-owned Dubai Ports World agreed to reveal records on demand about "foreign operational direction" of its business at U.S. ports, the documents said. Those records broadly include details about the design, maintenance or operation of ports and equipment.
The administration did not require Dubai Ports to keep copies of business records on U.S. soil, where they would be subject to court orders. It also did not require the company to designate an American citizen to accommodate U.S. government requests. Outside legal experts said such obligations are routinely attached to U.S. approvals of foreign sales in other industries.
"They're not lax but they're not draconian," said James Lewis, a former U.S. official who worked on such agreements. If officials had predicted the firestorm of criticism over the deal, Lewis said, "they might have made them sound harder."
The conditions involving the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. were detailed in U.S. documents marked "confidential." Such records are regularly guarded as trade secrets, and it is highly unusual for them to be made public.
The concessions _ described previously by the Homeland Security Department as unprecedented among maritime companies _ reflect the close relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
The revelations about the negotiated conditions came as the White House acknowledged President Bush was unaware of the pending sale until the deal had already been approved by his administration.
Bush on Tuesday brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House. He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement, but some lawmakers said they still were determined to capsize it.
Dubai Port's top American executive, chief operating officer Edward H. Bilkey, said the company will do whatever the Bush administration asks to enhance shipping security and ensure the sale goes through. Bilkey said Wednesday he will work in Washington to persuade skeptical lawmakers they should endorse the deal; Senate oversight hearings already are scheduled.
"We're disappointed," Bikley told the AP in an interview. "We're going to do our best to persuade them that they jumped the gun. The UAE is a very solid friend, as President Bush has said."
Under the deal, the government asked Dubai Ports to operate American seaports with existing U.S. managers "to the extent possible." It promised to take "all reasonable steps" to assist the Homeland Security Department, and it pledged to continue participating in security programs to stop smuggling and detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials.
The administration required Dubai Ports to designate an executive to handle requests from the U.S. government, but it did not specify this person's citizenship.
It said Dubai Ports must retain paperwork "in the normal course of business" but did not specify a time period or require corporate records to be housed in the United States. Outside experts familiar with such agreements said such provisions are routine in other cases.
come on, sentinel. Get in line! sip the kool-aid!
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SECRET - CONGRESS WROTE THE LAW THAT WAY - READ THIS:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583784/posts
It is addressed to the Know Nothings around here who have been accusing the Prez of treason. Are you one of them?
Clintooon sold 60 F-16 planes to UEA!!!
The first thing we do, let's kill all the Muslims?
Yeah, but significantly, DPW/the UAE is not PILOTING those Naval vessels. AND, those U.S. Naval vessels have a lot of artillery at their disposal.
It's a bit like driving an armed division up to a gas station and considering the possibilities of having the division stolen. Not.gonna.happen.
U.S. Naval vessels, in other words, are our Big Sticks.
Oh, no! They're gonna bomb the ports!!!
Run for your lives....
I believe that borders/port security is the key to who controls D.C. the next 10 or 20 years, which will impact, ultimately, who really runs the world. Too bad so many in Republican leadership are too stupid/tone deaf/greedy to care.
Are all Mohammedans Jihadists?
as I recall one of our "big sticks" had the $hit blown out of it by a small out board motor boat.
I am justifiably uncomfortable with this situation, and I expect the president to care about me and my fellow citizens for once more than some foreigners (unlike his bungling on the southern border). This is not too much to ask. He has forgotten who put him in power, and worn out his support.
Explain to me what is the difference whether it is P&O or UEA???
Yes, am aware of all that, and quite concerned about it, too. I just couldn not express it nearly as well as you have there and thus, withheld commenting to that degree about the securities trading, Sharia law, all that.
I have to withhold my more acute sentiments in this regard at this time to avoid being scrutinized or even banned...but every American should be informed as to the history of "Sharia law" and the intentions of it, and what it involves.
General Franks is ok with this deal. What is your take on that?
THERE ya' go!
~;-D
I don't think so. Some of them are our Allies (like the U. Arab Emeritus businessmen) & our only hope for a successful outcome in Iraq & a long-term policy of letting Iraqi boys do what American boys are now trying to teach them to do for their own country.
Otherwise, we're gonna end up with a whole bunch of Iraqi restaurants next door to the Vietnamese restaurants from sea to shining sea...
It amazes me how people can forget so quickly and give so little credit for accomplishments. Sheesh. (Love that RR!) :)
You have hit the mother load! Dubai's Financial acquiescence to Sharia Law as a leader in the Islamic Union.
If people only KNEW who we're playing with.
I don't believe America should have gone to bed with Stalin and the Soviets in WWII and we shoud NOT go to bed with the Mohammedan radicals today.
Oh, I heard the Mohammedans in Iraq all started murdereing each other today. Sheesh.
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