Posted on 03/02/2006 6:26:44 PM PST by AntiGuv
WASHINGTON - One of the most prominent House Republicans on military issues said Thursday he would try to scuttle a Dubai-based company's effort to manage U.S. ports as lawmakers' complaints about the Bush administration's handling of the issue continued to spread.
"Dubai cannot be trusted," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and normally one of the administration's most trusted allies. He called the United Arab Emirates "a bazaar for terrorist nations" and asserted that the United States should not permit DP World to take over significant operations at six U.S. ports.
"I intend to do everything I can to kill the deal," Hunter said.
Across Capitol Hill, lawmakers criticized the Bush administration anew following disclosures that the United States had launched a fresh investigation Tuesday into a proposed business deal by a second Dubai-owned company. Also sparking the furor was word of a previously unconfirmed investigation into a separate transaction by a leading Israeli software firm.
The government initially approved DP World's $6.8 billion purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. But on Sunday, the administration agreed to a 45-day investigation of potential security risks to quell a political backlash.
"Too little, too late," Hunter said.
Opening a hearing on the matter, Hunter said it was "quite remarkable" that the administration did not initially undertake a full review of security implications, given that the company is owned by the United Arab Emirates — "a bazaar for terrorist nations to receive prohibited components from sources from the free world and from the non-free world."
Hunter listed instances between 1994 and 2003 in which he said the country helped move materials for weapons of mass destruction, such as heavy water and high-speed electrical switches, to Pakistan, Iran and other countries. He plans to introduce legislation that would require U.S. companies to be the sole owners of infrastructure critical to national security.
The chairman's sharp remarks underscore the political tempest the White House has run into at a time when events in Iraq and renewed interest in the administration's failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina have pushed President Bush's popularity downward.
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has sided with the administration on the DP World deal. He and the White House have praised the United Arab Emirates as a key ally in the fight against terrorism.
Congressional GOP leaders want to wait for the results of the administration's new DP World investigation before considering legislation to delay or block the deal.
House Democrats tried to force a debate and vote on legislation Thursday that would require the 45-day security review and congressional approval of the takeover. That effort failed on a procedural, largely party-line vote.
Leading Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee also asked the administration for details about all pending reviews of foreign business deals and any that have been conducted since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The U.S. has conducted only 25 such investigations among 1,600 business transactions reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States since 1988. The panel, made up of 12 government representatives, judges the security risks of foreign companies buying or investing in American industry.
Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, complained that he learned about the second Dubai investigation from news reports, despite regular meetings and discussions with the administration and others on the ports issue recently.
"Maybe they still haven't gotten their act together over the last few days," said King, R-N.Y.
Senior U.S. officials told lawmakers they will try to inform Congress better in the future.
"We clearly have to do quite a bit in finding ways to provide you more promptly with the information you need," Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt told the Senate Banking Committee.
Dubai International Capital LLC confirmed Thursday it faced investigation over its plans to buy a British precision-engineering company, Doncasters Group Ltd., with plants in Georgia and Connecticut that make parts used in engines for military aircraft and tanks.
The same U.S. review panel also is investigating plans by an Israeli software company, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., to purchase a smaller U.S. rival.
Kimmitt said U.S. officials notified congressional leaders and oversight committees about the second Dubai-related investigation Monday. The company's lawyers were notified the following day.
I don't think the RINOs are "blindly" following anybody. They are in on the deal, and the deal is with AlQaida.
He won't be around very long. Bush will stab him with his "veto pen". Ooooooooo!
The problem with that is that long before Nov. it will be apparent to even the TV-fed voter that this was a nothing issue and the pols who opposed the deal are idiots. The problem for us is that half the Pubby pols are among those idiots.
Why not get an experienced worldwide port/terminal operator and request Cosco assume immediate control of all US operations?
Ah, I'm FOR the deal.
Pretty stupid move handing the "racist" issue to Al Gore and the 'rats.
All that, and there'll still be nukes going off in the country, but just not in Duncan Hunter's district. Any terrorist organization that offers medical insurance and vacations (as does AlQaida) is definitely sophisticated enough to support its friends.
"I intend to do everything I can to kill the deal," Hunter said.
The best thing you could do is hold your breath a real long time.
Duncan Hunter is a Viet Nam war vet.
His son is a Marine and has done tours in Iraq.
"Ah, I'm FOR the deal."
I know you are for the deal, and I don't see a problem with it myself ... BUT ... if some 70% of Americans DO see a problem with the deal and toss out the Repubs because the Repubs went along with Bush on this ... would you still say it was the right thing to do? Was/is going balls to the wall to allow DPW to get the contract worth handing over the gov't to the Dems for the next generation or so???? Thats my point.
I'm sorry, but I don't think 70 percent will be against it when they find out the facts.
New Video, Blanco Saying Levees Safe (Blanco assurs Bush, all is well)
"I'm sorry, but I don't think 70 percent will be against it when they find out the facts."
Thats another problem, the facts about the operations of the ports will go over most Americans heads. If you were to explain it to them most Americans would give you the "deer in the headlights" stare. The MSM will never give the facts. The MSM along with the Dems will protray this as terrorists running around our ports ... a mental image most Americans can grasp ... even though it is entirely false.
People are not stupid; after the next 41 days, when the report comes out that there is nothing wrong, they'll be fine with it.
Duncan Hunter's not the only veteran in the world, and we saw that old hack Murtha fall off the deep end not too long ago.
Something's buying their attention.
Where's the sarcasm closed tag? ; )
I can see you smiling from here!
Those of you who think this deal is fine, and that it would not entail security or running of the ports, that's great, you may be right, but just like traffic accidents, being in the right won't make you any less dead if someone broadsides you or hits you head on.
We will LOSE seats if we keep pushing this deal and that is the most important thing right now. To hell with Dubai, dumb the deal get people back to trusting the republicans on security, right now most of them don't!
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