Posted on 02/25/2006 4:21:24 PM PST by SwordofTruth
On Sunday, the Australian government issued the following alert to its citizens: "We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Commercial and public areas frequented by foreigners are possible terrorist targets."
The United States has approved a business deal that would turn over the operation of six major American ports to a company that is owned by the UAE, the very country Australians are to be wary of visiting. The obvious question: If it is dangerous for an Australian to travel to the UAE because of terrorism, isn’t it even more dangerous for a company owned by the UAE to own the rights to American ports where terror might be directly, or indirectly, imported?
There have been some dumb decisions since the United States was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, including the "welcoming" of radical Muslim groups, mosques and schools that seek by their preaching and teaching to influence U.S. foreign policy and undermine the nation. But the decision to sell port operations in New York, Newark-Port Elizabeth, Baltimore, Miami, Philadelphia and New Orleans to a company owned by the UAE may be the dumbest of all.
Security experts repeatedly have said American ports are poorly protected. Each year, approximately 9 million cargo containers enter the United States through its ports. Repeated calls to improve port security have gone mostly unheeded.
In supporting the sale decision by a little-known interagency panel called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the Bush administration dismissed security concerns. National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said the sale of the ports for $6.8 billion to Dubai Ports World was "rigorously reviewed" by the committee, which, he said, considers security threats when foreign companies seek to buy or invest in American industry. Apparently, money talked louder than common sense.
In a rare display of bipartisanship, congressional Republicans and Democrats are forging an alliance to reverse the decision. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has announced plans for her Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs to hold hearings. Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Frank Lautenberg, DN.J., who are members of Collins’ committee, have raised concerns. New York’s Democratic senators, Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton have also objected to the sale. Clinton and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., expect to offer a bill to ban companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from acquiring U.S. port operations.
In the House, Reps. Chris Shays, R-Conn.; Mark Foley, R-Fla.; and Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., are among those who want to know more about the sale. In a House speech, Foley said, "The potential threat to our country is not imagined; it is real."
The UAE was used as a financial and operational base by some of the 9/11 hijackers. A New York Times editorial said the sale takes the Bush administration’s "laxness to a new level."
Members of Congress may wish to consider that the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components bound for Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan. The UAE was one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government before the U.S. invasion toppled it.
The Department of Homeland Security says it is legally impossible under Committee on Foreign Investment rules to reconsider approval of the sale without evidence the Dubai company gave false information or withheld details from U.S. officials. Congress should change that law.
Last year, Congress overwhelmingly recommended against the Bush administration granting permission to a Chinese company to purchase the U.S. oil services company UNOCAL. Six years ago, when a Chinese company took control of the Panama Canal from the United States, retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Thomas H. Moorer warned of a "nuclear Pearl Harbor."
Congress must stop this sale of American ports to foreign interests and, in an era of terrorism, prevent any more potential terrorist targets from falling into the hands of those who wish to destroy us.
Cal Thomas writes for Tribune Media Services.
cal@calthomas.com
Playing word games and NOT answering a direct question? How typical of you.
Yes I know but they keep insisting it was Congress, that's why I'm asking for a link. :)
Congress doesn't have to approve the deal. So it didn't go to congress.
Your words.
I read it on FR. Go look it up in FR's search engine.
Well our ports will be secure...empty but secure.
Where did I say Congress had approved it; it's the committee Congress set up to do these kinds of investigations. It is set up to be bipartisan and out of the reach of politics.
It started looking at this deal early last November; it's a done deal.
Until the UAE recognizes the concept of natural law, begins teaching its children that all religions and cultures are worthy of respect, and drags itself out of the seventh century cesspool that it so prizes, I wouldn't hand over anything but a ham sandwich. I do understand the thinking behind this move, but it is premature and ill considered, and will alienate more Republican voters who see both parties as strange bedfellows indeed.
:-)
Exactly, that's what I stated but nopardons said a secret congressional committee had approved of this deal last November so I'm still waiting for a link.
I don't know. I do know that 100% are screened here.
I heard that CBP screened all containers for radiation at the terminals of origin as part of CSI. I had the source several days ago but can't find it now.
When you say all are screened here, what specifically do you mean.
If you "LEASE" anything, you have a certain amount of control -- do you NOT??
Port security is NOT being handed over to the UAE!!! Dubai Ports World, based in the UAE will be handling the day to day operations at some of the terminals at several ports. ALL of the security at ALL of the US ports will continue to be handled through the Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard.
These people have NO shame!
The committee is out of Treasury, not Congress. Established by executive order, not congressional thingamajig
http://www.treas.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/
And your point?
I didn't see you deny it.
Of course the UAE isn't really taking over anything.
They will have absolutely nothing to do with our ports.
Why their name isn't even going to appear on the contract.
The ports will remain safely in our hands.
Here, have some Kool Aid.
Now go back to sleep.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.