Bush would accept slight delay in ports deal-Rove

Reuters ^ | Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:19 PM ET

[Sub-Driver]

Bush would accept slight delay in ports deal-Rove Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:19 PM ET

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would accept a slight delay in permitting Dubai Ports World to acquire a British company that operates six key U.S. ports, senior White House adviser Karl Rove told Fox News.

When asked if Bush would accept a slight delay in implementing the takeover of P&O , Rove said: "Yes, look, there are some hurdles, regulatory hurdles, that this still needs to go through on the British side as well that are going to be concluded next week.

[La Enchiladita]

Words and phrases I am sick of:

rope-a-dope
bloviating
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
strategery

[CaptSkip]

I'm telling you, ov. This deal is done.

You may be correct sinkspur, but down the road there may be "end-of-the-party" hell to pay politically for the Republican Party.

Most experts agree that the first WMD/nuke to arrive on our shores will occur via one of our port cities.

UBL waits for this 'great for the USA" deal to be a done deal, then floats his special cargo containers of goodies into one or more of these six UAE operated port cities for detonation/release.

GOP-RIP.

[clawrence3]

Because there was at least one classified military part of this port terminal lease deal that Congress is threatening to scuttle.

[La Enchiladita]

Spanish proverb:

One does not speak of ropes in the house of a man who was hanged.

[clawrence3]

I wouldn't be surprised if DPW purchases the lacking radiation detection equipment for its own terminals just to cover such a possibility - that would be ONE new positive in the switch from British to Dubai company.

[Tweak]

"what the hell is Rush Limbaugh, a Rhodes Scholar?"

Why, yes. Just as long as he continues to march in lockstep with the White House. If he parts ways with the Prez on some future issue, we'll rip him to pieces. Ask Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin, former Freep favorites who dared to disagree with W.

[ClaireSolt]

I know I have been stunned by what you call " "No A-Rab ferriners" allowed attitude that's been displayed lately." I would not have believed Americans could be whipped up into such a tizzie demanding that we abandon rule of law procedures and immediately act like a banana republic, instead. It makes me think that the press releases were crafted by someone with malicious intent. I assume it was a Clinton warroom. Any other candidates?

[prairiebreeze]

"Why is this coming from the President's political adviser instead of State or Homeland security or even the President's spokesman?" Because the Presidents advisor was a guest on Tony Snow's radio show today. This transcript / quote is off the Snow Show.

Sec. Rice has confirmed the vetting of the deal as has Sec. Rumsfeld, Joint Chief Chairman Pace and General Tommy Franks (who was also on the Snow Show today)

America is awake. And smart Americans are gathering facts and resisting a knee jerk reaction until information is known.

[ClaireSolt]

That's what I have been wondering. Who crafted the press release that viciously and maliciously pushed all these ignorant hysteria buttons in America. You say Harry Reid. I have not seen that, and I did not think he was that "smart", though I am prepared to believe he is that evil.

[CaptSkip]

I wouldn't be surprised if DPW purchases the lacking radiation detection equipment for its own terminals just to cover such a possibility - that would be ONE new positive in the switch from British to Dubai company.

There are many reports that the radiation detection is easily circumvented through heavy lead shielding, and that "NEST" teams effectiveness is highly overrated...a shot in the dark-last hope.

Intel and finding the correct cargo container out of millions may be the only way. The US actually, physically opens and checks less than 2 or 3 percent of cargo containers...and at random?

I don't get warm-fuzzys about a state run UAE company having ANY operational control over ship-manifests of cargo arriving into the US.

Saudi Arabia is our ally too...give them operational control over the rest of our ports.

Can you spell madrassas.

[clawrence3]

Well, UAE has signed on to stricter load point requirements too - we shall see.

[McGavin999]

Can we trust a party with national security that makes judgments based on one's nationality?"

Oh I like that one. Even better I like the stance on the Patriot Act up against this thing. Arab terrorists within the US are OK and should be protected, but modern Arabs who have proven themselves to be our friends should not be allowed anywhere near this country.

[edsheppa]

I would fire the asshat who put the White House in this position...even if he is a senior aide.

Unfortunately that "asshat" is President Bush with his ridiculous veto threat and saying that we shouldn't hold ME firms to a higher standard than UK ones.

I am certain that Rove was out of the loop and Bush ad libbed and screwed up. This fiasco is so unnecessary. Handled with a little finesse it could have made the administration look good.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Bump for later. Thank you!

[ClaireSolt]

It would be good, if some would spend some time learning about the separation of powers outlined in the constitution. All the players have their roles to play and much of what people say is nonsense. Congress is the legislative branch and it has already done its bit in 1988. They are just grandstanding. They have no role now. Likewise the insistance that Bush should woulda coulda is off the mark. His role is defined by statute and is limited. Public opinion, mainly expresses anxiety and ignorance of the legal principles that make America the best place to do business in the world. Many are embarassing us while the whole world is watching.

[DeusExMachina05]

lol, what else can I say. You hit it right on the head.

[clawrence3]

Are you suggesting I need to spend some time learning about the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution - been there, done that.

[ndt]

"Because there was at least one classified military part of this port terminal lease deal that Congress is threatening to scuttle."

Lets hand over management of our national ports to foreign powers because that is in the best interests of national security. Ya, thats it, thats the ticket.

P.S. Presidential powers even in times of war are not unlimited. He has his normal powers and at the behest of congress theirs as well. Congress retains the right to withdraw the additional power they lend him and to dictate the manner in which those additional powers are used. read up on it

[isrul]

Does he think using that tone will win supporters? I think the votes are there to easily override any attempted veto and his confrontational attitude isn't going to make things any better for him. Does he actually believe he's calling the shots? Does Rove? Whatever is decided will now be decided by congress. Bush (according to him) wasn't originally in the loop and soon he'll be out of the loop again.. This is not a good thing for the country and perhaps, could have been avoided if Bush had gotten better advice.

[!1776!]

If congress has enough votes to override a veto, he'll have to accept whatever they give him.

Congress is 99% of the freaking problem. The other 1% is made up of the people who don't realize that this issue is not currently controlled by the US government - it's a sale of unit of a British conglomerate to another conglomerate located in another nation that just happens to be the UAE.

Congress's role is to pass laws that ensure (and fund) security at the ports - anything beyond that is their penny anty bullshit attempt to have more control to this situation than they are empowered to. Makes for great news, but worthless results.

And as for an over-rideen veto - if the law violates a trade treaty that has been ratified it violates the constitution and Congress's photo-op actions can get tanked by an un-elected court here or somewhere else.

Focus on the issues at hand - ensuring national security. Push the Congrescritters to get to that issue and how it will be resolved instead of hoping for an instant gratification arm chair general response to an issue that nobody cared about when it was only the Chinese, Singapore, Brits, etc. that were "infiltrating" our ports.