Posted on 03/03/2006 7:59:36 AM PST by ex-Texan
WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- A top Republican has declared opposition to allowing a Dubai government-owned company to assume control of operations at U.S. ports.
House Armed Services Committee Duncan Hunter said the United Arab Emirates has a "terrifying" record of allowing the transshipment of nuclear materials and weapons of mass destruction through its country to Pakistan, Iran and other countries.
The controversial deal will give Dubai Port World, Inc. control over P&O North America, a shipping and port terminal operator with a presence in 21 American ports on the East and Gulf Coast. P&O runs public port terminals -- where cargo is loaded and unloaded -- in at least six major U.S. ports.
The $6.8 billion takeover is now expected to be complete by next week, despite an ongoing 45-day security investigation by the U.S. government to address concerns about the company's ownership and possible vulnerability to terrorist infiltration.
The White House's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States approved the deal in January without conducting the 45-day investigation required by law. White House officials said the investigation is only required if members of the committee raise national security concerns.
Hunter said that in 2003, despite U.S. protests, United Arab Emirates customs officials allowed 66 American high-speed electrical switches, which can be used for detonating nuclear weapons, to be sent to a Pakistani businessman with ties to the Pakistani military.
"Dubai can't be trusted with our critical infrastructure. United Arab Emirates officials have been instrumental in the transshipment of nuclear materials and weapons of mass destruction components," said Hunter. "To those who say my views smack of protectionism, I say: America is worth protecting."
Well if I put my house on the market and the highest bidder is a Muslim and I refuse to sell to him. I wonder what the government will do to me? Do you suggest that all current contracts with foriegn ownership of terminal berths be canceled, those terminals shut down and those Longshoremen layed off until an American stevedore company can buy the contracts?
Is this guy up for re-election?
America's new can't do motto. We can't do anything for ourselves.
"To those who say my views smack of protectionism, I say: America is worth protecting."
That line of Hunter's is so lame. Did his staff spend a week coming up with it. I guess coming up with a slogan is easier than laying out the facts to support his case.
That line is a bad Dirty Harry-type line. Works great in a movie when your pointing a 44 Magnum at a thug's face, but not very well in reality.
This is 2 days old. The media is recycling. The tide has clearly turned on this matter.
Hunter will be brought back within the fold.
Everyone needs to focus. Send money to GOP candidates in vulnerable districts, or volunteer your time -- even if you don't live in that district.
The only principled stand is to deny the leftward most candidates office.
Their example is 66 high speed electrical switches sold three years ago?
To a country that already has nuclear weapons?
I need more information, but this sounds like more hysterics rather that solid reasoning.
I'm all for not working with most Muslim countries. What do we owe these people? Are any of them standing up in defiant support of the US? If not, forget 'em.
Duncan Hunter is a liberal shill and a racist. /sarc
Duncan Hunter is one of the most consistent pro-defense hawks still left in the Congress. Many of the rest of them have sold out, ....for the equivalent of 30 pieces of silver.
He has proven his courage countless times, standing up to those schilling for foreign governments.
What does your house have to do with national security?...Is it a safe house for terrorists?
Unlike you (and the current sad excuses for GOP leadership who are driving the party into the ground) he is apparently in tune with Main Street. It's not rocket science. PR101.....
What is the fold? Neoliberalism?
The Saudi Wahhabis thought we were swell, when we were bleeding to free their Kuwaiti cousins,
then a few years later, sixteen Saudi hijackers flew into the WTC, Pentagon and Pennsylvania,
and three more were from the UAE.
ping
Using some random article to bash Rush, eh? Obviously you have already decided this article equals defeat for the White House. More power to you. And remember it when this deal goes through.
We have a winner!
We are seeing all the neoliberal, Thomas L. Friedman-esque hacks coming out of the woodwork, trying to portray the notion that the mainstream position of the Right should be economistic, globalist, naive, anti nationalist, neoliberalism. And they call the kettle black, calling those of us who have a borders, language and culture agenda "liberals." Up is down, etc .....
No matter on which side of this issue one stands, it is upsetting to read comments like these coming from the House Armed Services Committee Chairman who has not, as far as I can determine, expressed any concern about the fact that DPW provides virtually the exclusive support for our US Navy ships in the UAE ports of Jebel Ali and Fujairah. Those ports accommodate more US Navy ships than any other international port. DPW is also the primary support contractor for US Air Force assets at Al Dhafra Air Base in UAE.
Why would the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee trust DPW to work closely with thousands of US military personnel and military vessels and aircraft, when he has expressed such extreme distrust of DPW's role in civilian operations? If DPW is such a danger to the security of US civilians, why is the same company viewed as a trusted partner by the US military?
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