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.
"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."
The country is not made up of people like Freepers who keep up with this stuff. Most Americans have the attention span of a mouse and you know the Dems and MSM will never allow the real results of the extra 45 day review to be know en-mass. You'll see this episode replayed over and over during the end of Oct. and 1st week of Nov. aka. the "Selling of our ports to TERRORISTS!!!!", the commercials will say.
Heh heh. It's a bitter, bitter smile tho. I'm sure you can see that too. ;^)
No kidding?
But you are wrong; when injustice is done, regular people get it; they're not as dumb as you're making them out to be.
I know incumbency is the most important thing nowadays to these guys, but seriously, why not try to educate the public about this issue instead of mindlessly echoing the Dems? Thats what politicians used to do back in the old days. I'll bet most California Republicans didn't know about China's port influence until a couple days ago.
Loud noises!
"Mr. Speaker, I would say that we do not. It is one of the reasons that the gentleman from California [Mr. Duncan Hunter] and I offered a bill to stop this takeover by a Communist power of U.S. territory".
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1997_cr/h970415-cosco.htm
they need to get behind Norm Coleman's compromise - fast - if they want to save this thing. or some variant of that.
personally, I would be OK with the whole deal going down. but the only way for the white house to save it, is to get behind a comprehensive effort to improve port security (for all foreign carriers) as part of this DPW deal. Coleman understands that, the white house and Rush Limbaugh still think they just need to run out the clock for 41 more days, offering "assurances" and "explanations", while keeping Frist aand Hastert on board. it won't cut it. they may succeed in avoiding a confrontational vote, but that doesn't mean this hasn't badly divided our side. it has. the only way to rescue it, is to get behind some variant of a security reform that Coleman is pushing.
Then to hell with every other ally in the WOT. Bush didn't blow it; the gutless Republicans blew it by joining the Democrats in opposing this deal instead of supporting and explaining it.
I'm afraid the damage is done. Duncan Hunter would rather team up with Hillary Clinton to save his ass than take a broader view of the WOT. I expected more of him, given his background.
Yeah, that's the ticket. To hell with Dubai
...and the biggest US Naval port outside the Continental U.S.
...and the only ME Arab country that gives us intelligence and operatives in the ME.
...and our airbases there.
...and the biggest, cleanest and safest R&R base for our troops in the ME.
...and has troops with our special forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
...and has people in Iraq helping train up Iraqi police and military personnel.
...and has 500 American companies doing business on their soil.
...and sells us lots of oil. (We haven't converted to switch grass yet.)
Get a grip and read what people post and quit trying to put your own spin on other people's words. Sure, Bush is probably right about this, but as I said being right won't win elections for us in november. What the average person PERCIEVES is what will win elections.
How do you think the dimwits have survived all these years? Through manipulating perception. Bush is killing our chances in november, look for more and more senators and representatives backing the dumping of this deal, because they want to be re-elected!
Duncan is wrong. Big Time.
Since he is one of the 5 congressmen here in San Diego
I think I know more about him than you do.
Also we have the largest amount of military here than any
other area in the U.S. and the military here appreciate
his work and also his son serving as a Marine in Iraq
indeed.
that's why the only exit ramp for this that allows the UAE to have the deal, but at the same time offers political cover - is approval of this deal as part of an enhanced port security proposal, that DPW agrees to comply with (being the first) as part of the deal. other foreign port operators will also be brought into compliance with it as time goes on.
otherwise, the white house is asking the republican congress to commit political suicide in an election year. the polls on this are never going to turn around (even if you just look at where republicans are polling on this issue), if the next 41 days are spent just running out the clock, trying to push the deal through "as is".
Bush isn't killing anything. He's being consistent. He's sticking with an ally who supports 300 other ports worldwide, but is having trouble supporting nine ports in the United States because Americans are afraid of the Arab boogeyman.
Doofi like Peter King and JD Hayworth are running for the tall grass, making fools of themselves and proving to any ally in the WOT that you can pound sand if somebody can skeer the American people into thinking you're a terrorist.
This is a shameful episode in the history of America.
Duncan Hunter is one of the only people I trust in the House; he wouldn't say this for political gain only, imo.
You have described Republicans perfectly. And the president, the man who represents their party, is going to be impeached should the Rats take the House. I've probably never been so disgusted with my party in my lifetime.
I think he's one of the good guys. He's been consistent on this issue too, not "grandstanding" as some here are claiming.
"Mr. Speaker, I would say that we do not. It is one of the reasons that the gentleman from California [Mr. Duncan Hunter] and I offered a bill to stop this takeover by a Communist power of U.S. territory”
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1997_cr/h970415-cosco.htm.
Thanks for the back article. Glad that is cleared up, re. Hunter not being in favor of the chicom terminal operations.
so I guess you are adding Duncan Hunter to the list of "doofi" now?
the white house has blown this thing, and continues to do so. first they had nothing to say while the story exploded, then they were screaming "VETO" right out of the box, then they were against a 45 day review even though everyone knew it was going to happen, now they are refusing to acknowledge that pushing this thing through "as is" is going to split the party - they have to compromise somewhere. when do they figure that out, on day 30 of 45?
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