Chertoff unaware of ports deal until after OK

Washington Times ^ | 2/24/06 | Rowan Scarborough

[MineralMan]

Apparently, nobody really knew about this until it was a done deal.

[Izzy Dunne]

Is anybody driving this bus?

[stuartcr]

Right...

[redgolum]

The more I hear about this, the move confusing it seems.

[fix]

But Rush says it's ok, so don't worry.

[Recovering_Democrat]

He didn't know because he didn't need to know: there were no red flags raised.

My boss doesn't know whats happening in my sector until I screw up. That's how a lot of places work. :)

[Marine_Uncle]

Notice how the opening statement reads. Unlike most of the rabid L/MSM this article opens with an honest statement...
"Dubai-owned company was seeking to operate terminals in six U.S. ports.". Whereas almost in all L/MSM writen/voiced statements, it is always... DPW seeks to take over control of US ports. The power of the pen. As for it's contents, I do not ignore it's significance to some degree if indeed he should have been included early on.

[ironmaidenPR2717]

I guess if HSA was unaware, none of the dealings were done over the phone.

[Peach]

Doesn't anyone on this forum or at the MSM understand that the legislation written by Congress FORCES the Committee dealing with this to operate in secrecy and only those who sit on the boards - representatives from 14 agencies - may speak about the deal?

This was discussed yesterday during the Armed Forces hearing that Warner held. Unless Congress approaches the Committee, they are forbidden by LAW to discuss this matter with anyone.

[oldleft]

[spectre]

I guess the art of the deal, didn't have to include Homeland Security? Must be.

sw

[ClearCase_guy]

I see three possible approaches to the Middle East:

1) Turn and run. "Maybe they will leave us alone!" That's the Sept 10 view.
2) Announce a crusade. "The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim." That's the Sept 11, 2001, 11:00 AM EST view.
3) Decide that there may be Moderate Muslims in the world, such as those in the UAE and that our best best at isolating the radical Muslims is to deal openly and fairly with the Muslims who are not radical and violent. That's the Port-Deal-Is-OK view.

[MineralMan]

"He didn't know because he didn't need to know: there were no red flags raised. "

Riiight. No red flags at all. Sorry, but I ain't buying it. There are some folks sleeping at the switch here.

Never mind the deal itself. It was a natural that the announcement of the deal was going to raise the very questions we've seen raised. Politically, it had the potential to be a disaster, and so it is.

Chertoff? Snow? Rumsfeld? I can understand President Bush not knowing the details of this, but not these cabinet secretaries. In fact, this should have been part of some daily briefing for the President, too.

I don't care whether the deal is safe or not, at this point. Politically, it doesn't matter.

[CBart95]

Maybe Rush knows enough about "arm-chair early responders" from other 'disasters' to show some restraint here.

The combo of Dems, MSM's and mis-informed passersby has created a "noise level" so high that you need a program and a guide to sort all this out.

It all appears to be the mere "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to funds and complex relations with the oil-rich Arab nations...if the recent warnings by Condi Rice to the Egyptians is any kind of indicator.

"Houston. We got real Problems here."

[Psalm 73]

"Mr. Chertoff is the third Cabinet official to acknowledge he did not know his agency had signed off on the plan....
Both Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Treasury Secretary John W. Snow have publicly said they were unaware of the deal."

First Miss Harriet, then this - I thought W ran a tighter ship than this.
This is almost embarrasing - I mean it's one thing if this is really an Ok deal - but that nobody seems to have known about it (not even W, apparently).

[skip_intro]

But Rush says it's ok, so don't worry.

Wasn't Rush the one who always used to say "The buck never got here" about a previous administration?

[Dianna]

It was a natural that the announcement of the deal was going to raise the very questions we've seen raised.

The deal was announced some time ago. No one cared until Chuckie Schumer started whining about it.

[G.Mason]

"Doesn't anyone on this forum or at the MSM understand that the legislation written by Congress FORCES the Committee dealing with this to operate in secrecy and only those who sit on the boards - representatives from 14 agencies - may speak about the deal?"

Yes!

The MSM and some of the posturing politicians certainly know, as do many "Bush sucks" Freepers.

Let them howl and have hearings. The more of this crap that sees the light of day, the more all naysayers will become moot and mute.

[snarks_when_bored]

The Dubai Ports World deal was quickly and quietly made, apparently without much high official consultation, and then made public. Once it was made public, it became possible for President Bush to argue that we mustn't publicly insult the United Arab Emirates by abrogating the deal.

Clearly, the power of publicity is being put to use as leverage to push the deal through. What clever person, or persons, decided to make the deal public before Rumsfeld, Chertoff and others were informed of its existence? Whoever did it put the U.S. in the awkward position of either accepting the deal or else insulting a quasi-ally in the war on terror.

Using the press to produce a business or political advantage is an old tactic, and it seems to be working in this case.

[SandfleaCSC]

1) Turn and run. "Maybe they will leave us alone!" That's the Sept 10 view. 2) Announce a crusade. "The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim." That's the Sept 11, 2001, 11:00 AM EST view. 3) Decide that there may be Moderate Muslims in the world, such as those in the UAE and that our best best at isolating the radical Muslims is to deal openly and fairly with the Muslims who are not radical and violent. That's the Port-Deal-Is-OK view.

You forgot,

4) Pigeon-hole everybody who doesn't agree with your kneepad and blinders worldview into racist or isolationist groups.