Posted on 03/04/2006 5:53:40 AM PST by prairiebreeze
WASHINGTON - The White House is quietly pushing a Dubai company to "significantly restructure" and partner up with a U.S. outfit to keep the port deal from sinking, sources told the Daily News yesterday. "It's in the hands of the company now. ... They're going to have to significantly restructure," said a Republican source familiar with White House expectations.
A revamped deal to allow Dubai Ports World to take over six major U.S. ports - including Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container depot - would have to be something along the lines of the Marine One contract.
British- and Italian-owned AgustaWestland had to take on Maryland-based Lockheed Martin to win the contract to build the President's helicopter last year.
"A lot of people are talking about this, a subsidiary or a deal like that," a congressional source confirmed.
One snag to such a deal may be that sources say the U.S. company best equipped to partner with DP World is Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Cheney.
After undergoing so much scrutiny for its no-bid Iraq contract and the handling of some of its duties there, Halliburton may not be able to help DP World land the deal, a source admitted.
According to the source close to the White House, Team Bush believes that in addition to clearing an extended 45-day review, DP World will have to come up with a deal that will pass muster with Rep. Peter King (R-L.I.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
King is seen as a key lawmaker because he broke with the White House over the Dubai deal despite his strong relationship with President Bush and top aides like Karl Rove.
"Speaking for myself, in addition to a rigorous investigation, it's important to look at having an American company administer the contract, and DPW would have to be totally separated out from the U.S. company in terms of access to information that the company would have or could acquire," King told the Daily News.
"Even then, the administration would have a tough time selling it, but that is a place to work from," King added.
White House spokesman Ken Lisaius referred all calls to DP World. A spokesman from DP World had no immediate comment.
British- and Italian-owned AgustaWestland had to take on Maryland-based Lockheed Martin to win the contract to build the President's helicopter last year.
I'm not sure how much I believe the article, thought I'd post it.
The writer is not to be trusted ~ he's still referring to these gantry cranes as "ports". Everybody else has moved on to using the more readily understood "terminal".
Yes, there are errors in the story. I remember Halliburton being floated way earlier in this latest saga and hadn't seen anything about it recently.
The whole article might be crap, who knows?
This thing has gotten so out of hand I really think GWB ought to go on prime time TV to explain it all and tell the American people why his administration made this decision. It should be part of a general WOT/Iraq war update, and could do him a lot of good.
Right, The same source that told you there would be 26 Idictments coming down soon, reaching all the way into the White House" on Fritzmus. You do not get it do you. It's over, the Port Deal Hysterics LOST. Once Congress agreeed to the re-rereview, the Hysterics had lost. If they had the votes they would of killed it this week to the roar of the Junk Media. They did not so they had to grab the face saving "rereview" just like the did on the Patriot Act so they could claim they "fixed the deal".
See the Junk media is still spewing the Democrat Senate Election Committee lie. How many times dose the Invincibly Stupid crowd have to be corrected on THIS lie? 9 Terminals, out of 300, in 6 Ports is NOT "Take over six major US Ports.
You are unspeakably ignorant. Hard to imagine anyone can be this utterly stupid. The Highest bidder wins MORON. It's call Capitalism you closet Socialists. What an idiot.
GW Bush is giving NOTHING away. Two weeks into this story it is utterly inexcusable for anyone to be this rabidly ignorant. A PRIVATE Company, P&O is selling it Port Terminal Operations. A Company Called Dubai Port World is BUYING that Private Company. Part of what they are acquiring is 9 terminal leases, out of 300, in 6 US Ports. 9 out of 300. The US Govt is giving NOTHING away. The same American Dock Workers, the Same American Clerks, Truck Drivers, Gate Guards, Office Workers, Cleaning Crews etc etc etc who NOW work of P&O will switch to getting their checks from Dubai Port World. The name on the outside of the building will change and that is about ALL that will change.
How can people capable of using a computer be so utterly IGNROANT of the facts of this matter after 2 weeks? There must be a genetic element. Some Invincibly Stupid Shield gene that keeps people from bothering to learn even ONE fact about this topic. The display of panic, hysteric, bigotry and ignorance on the part of some of the Port Deal Hysterics is inexcusable.
Grow up.
I agree with you. We, a country at war, are in a very bad place. But common sense and the survival instinct will trump arcane explanations anytime. Explanations-prime-time or not--will not work. Even if Bush were good at it.
It should have been obvious to him that the port deal (among other things) would be a lose-lose politically for the GOP. You don't spend political capital (political capital that you don't even have) on such a loser. And certainly not post-9/11, not in an election year, not when the specter of 'clinton-the sequel' is looming large.
You want to 'reward' the UAE? You give them a deal that has no national security consequences-real or apparent. You don't relinquish your only strong suit to the democrats.
What could he have been thinking? Was he thinking at all?
Speaking of growing up, I wish the American unions woulod grow up and buy into the American economic system instead of pushing companies into rui9n. In this case, why not have the longshoreman's union take an interest?
"why not have the longshoreman's union take an interest?"
Unions dont want responsibility- they just want benefits.
On The Waterfront ...can we say campaign contributions??
Or this one which is about a company that represents the stevedores trying to file suit against the DPW deal (primarily post 13 describes what the company does)
Protest delays Dubai port deal - (Eller&Co. suing to block deal)
And if you are suggesting that a union could be developed sufficiently to successfully manage these operations which so far only 3 countries world-wide manage on a scale this big, I have some Kansas beach property for you. :^)
Wow, a response right out of the bowels of DU. Impressive...
I'm not sure if you are directing this at me or the report, however let me assure you that I certainly do "get it".
The report had a twist that I haven't read about recently and after searching, I posted it. It should be evaluated and critically read just like any and all other reports that are posted on FR.
That's what we do here.
Maybe not.
Halliburton Eyed for Dubai Ports Deal
fyi..
IMO .. The uproar from many up on the Hill have nothing to do with national security .. and everything to do about money
Quesion .. these cruise ship companies ?... exactly what kind of deal did they have with the Brit Company ... that they aren't going to get under the Dubai??
Thank you prairiebreeze. Very interesting how a "little money" passed into the coffers of certain people can change their minds. They've been cheaply bought. What scalliwags.
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