Port Authority: We're suing to stop sale to Dubai firm

Newsday.com ^ | 2/13/2006 | KAREN MATTHEWS

[ARCADIA]

NEW YORK -- The Port Authority said Thursday it will file suit to block a Dubai-based firm from taking over operations at a Port Newark container terminal, saying the federal government has not given them assurances about security issues.

[Mo1]

I would assume whatever P&O's contractual obligations will naturally transfer to the new ownership.

Ok, thanks

I would be interested to know for sure where the union (bosses) stand with Dubai and whether they'll try dumping them after the sale goes through

[CWOJackson]

"It has everything to do with security; I'm not naive."

Good thing for you that port security will not change in the least. It will continue to be run by the U.S. Coast Guard and not the commercial operator.

[Barney1995]

It seems like everybody is vehemently against this, Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals and the MSM. Everybody except the administration and Jimmy Carter. It will certainly be interesting to see how this shakes out. I'm not betting on anybody...

[notigar]

Don't forget my French communist friend, Hitler is our friend now, Moscow's orders. Now pull down those posters, and stop handing out those leaflets.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

It's funny how all the friends of Dubai can't tell us why it's a GOOD deal.

That's because it isn't, it's only good for one Muslim country with terrorist ties that stands to make billions.

[lawdude]

"I think the hysteria is with the bushbots. "

I may be a 'bushbot' whatever the hell that is but would you please explain in detail just what evils we would face over what we do currently?

[ohioWfan]

From all reports this company does what they do extremely well, and efficiently.

If the ownership improves the efficiency of the terminals, then it will result in financial gain........for US.

btw, I defer in the future to others who understand the financial angle better than I do.

[TheCrusader]

"The Maersk Line network offers customers an expanded geographical scope and service range. It has been designed to optimise cargo routing providing customers with greater flexibility, higher frequency and improved transit times."

In more understandable English, the P & O has hired subsidiaries, sub-contractors, to help do the work.

And here I've been reading the bushbots claiming that "nothing operational will change, no new employees, this is just a paper takeover with different people getting the profits".

I sincerely hope their are enough conservatives to see through these flimsy defenses for hiring Arab muslims to operate our port terminals while we're at war with their jihadi 'warriors', and islamics the world over are rioting against the West in the streets, and they detest the West and all we stand for. Why dont we just sell the contracts directly to al Queada and get it over with?

[CWOJackson]

"It seems like everybody is vehemently against this..."

Not the U.S. Coast Guard.

Not the Department of Homeland Security.

Not any (non-union) U.S. maritime organization.

Not the Department of Defense.

[jimbo123]

Exactly. Bush's people didn't due their due diligence on the deal.

Why should they be shocked when we ask them to do more than a 25-day review on this deal?

Regardless of what the friends of Dubai say, there are national security implications to this deal and this rush job is an insult to those of who voted for the President.

[mathluv]

Is the US at fault for McVeigh?

[ohioWfan]

I think the hysteria is with the bushbots.

This is REALLY funny! You haven't been around much the last few days, have you?

The anti-Bush crowd has been in emotional trauma...........we're just trying to calm things down around here, and make people THINK and not just EMOTE.

[yellowdoghunter]

And why won't they recognize Israel?

Still can't get one of the BushBots to answer that...I have been waiting. I guess they have no answer.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It has everything to do with security; ...

Uh, no it doesn't. If Iran, or China, or North Korea was in charge of Homeland Security, then you have valid reasons to be concerned.

I'm not naive.

Maybe not, but you're not thinking things through in a common sense manner.

[notigar]

In other words, everyone who takes their orders from the same place.

[ARCADIA]

The two strongest arguments from President Bush's backers on this issue tend to greatly contradict each other.

One argument is similar to yours; they claim that the P & O is one of the few companies in the world who are capable of such a big maritime operation, and that no U.S. companies exist which can move right in and do the job. This is their rationale for the immediate approval of the UAE's maritime company taking over the job at the 6 eastern ports.

The other argument is that this UAE maritime company will not be changing any operational procedures or switching management , security personnel, dock workers and the like. They claim everything will remain static, the only difference being that the new owners will now reap the profits.

Now, if the latter is true, then how can they claim that the UAE are one of the "few maritime companies in the world who can do the job", when all they're in fact doing is paying out 6.8 billion dollars for the contractual right to profit from this company?

People can see through this charade, and the more lame excuses that are tossed out there, the more of a rat people will smell.

Worth repeating. This Bush cult following is going to discredit the Republican Party - they will say or do anything in support of their false prophet in the WH.

[Canedawg]

I dont understand why so many of you are content with this arrangement. Port security should be getting TIGHTER, not potentially disasterous.

The other shoe will drop from this deal, not tomorrow, not next year, but later on down the road...perhaps after many of us are gone.

This is irresponsible and I will not be appeased because Franks says it's ok.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Most of the 9-11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia. We still do business with them, much as I can't stand it.

Richard Reid was English.

Timothy McVeigh was a homegrown, all-American kid.

Terrorism is not exclusive to the Middle East. Also, Dubai will only be operating a small fraction of the ports. I notice no one is complaining about China running ports out West. Also, take a good look at who is railing the loudest against this deal-and what party they support. This is showboating, pure and simple.

[mathluv]

The last two days of the Tony Snow thread has lots of links.

[afnamvet]

Do you or anyone else hear of any plans by DPW to invest in new security measures to scan by X ray the shipping containers?