Posted on 03/08/2006 6:21:12 PM PST by Reagan Man
I am sure that ALL the people answering these polls know this.....right? ;)
However we will still own the ports.
LOL
: )
>>>But then I also like the idea of having an American run merchant fleet !<<<
Both ideas that you like (and I like them too!) are dead....killed by Organized Labor that puts featherbedding ahead of National Pride.
I wouldn't be suprised if DPW walked on the US ports after a few years of dealing with the longshormens union.
By Dan Roberts in New York and Andrew Ward in Long Beach, California
Updated: 11:42 p.m. ET March 8, 2006
John Castellani, the president of the US Business Roundtable, has warned that renewed political attempts to block the takeover of port facilities could jeopardise both foreign investment and forthcoming trade negotiations.
The Roundtable, which represents 160 chief executives, used its strongest language yet to criticise Congress, saying the backlash against Dubai Ports World's acquisition of five container terminals was "just another iteration of economic isolationism like the outsourcing debate was".
"This issue is very troubling because the US needs foreign investment and we need to invest around the world," said Mr Castellani in an online diary with FT.com.
"A lot of non-US companies who already own critical infrastructure in the US or are preparing to, such as Toshiba's purchase of Westinghouse, must be worrying about this too."
Corporate America has been relatively slow to defend the deal or warn of its broader trade implications after a fierce political backlash. In private, a number of chief executives have expressed unease about the principle of allowing Arab investment in sensitive US infrastructure facilities, echoing the wider political reaction.
But the business community's public response is growing, and its leaders insist most US chief executives are deeply uncomfortable with what they regard as protectionist sentiment emerging in Washington.
"I think business needs to speak up more on this," added Mr Castellani. "We intend to do that and others in the business community will get more and more vocal."
"It may be an election year but we hope to remind people what is at stake and how important foreign investment is."
Meanwhile US importers at the Trans-Pacific Maritime Conference in Long Beach this week voiced concern that the political uproar might lead to draconian maritime security measures that disrupt trade and increase supply chain costs. They said hawkish attitudes on Capitol Hill could undermine the co-operation developed between customs authorities and port users since the 2001 terrorist attacks and upset the delicate balance between security and free trade.
"It is a big worry if legislation starts being driven by emotion," said a senior logistics manager for a large US consumer products manufacturer. "This economy relies on smooth movement of goods and it would be disastrous if that was disrupted."
Importers such as Wal-Mart and Nike have broadly supported efforts to protect port security and embraced many of the proposals being pushed by senators, including increased federal funding for maritime security and greater rewards for importers who meet stringent security standards.
But delegates at the Long Beach conference feared that the legislation would become tougher as Republicans and Democrats vie for the most populist stance in an election year. "There is concern that some legislators will call for legislation that just won't work," said Michael Laden, the former head of customs brokerage for Target, the retailer, and a government adviser. "There are people on Capitol Hill who are not well educated on this topic."
The US has certified nearly 6,000 companies as trusted importers whose goods are subject to fewer inspections. To qualify for so-called "green lane" status, an importer must prove its supply chain is secure. Thousands more have applied and are awaiting assessment by customs officials.
Why are you including Taiwan and Singapore in that list?
The Chinese and the Islamists have a solid alliance through the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (which started out in secret and has since expanded to include VERY close relations with Saudi Arabia). The Islamists have no interest in attacking China (their biggest protector).
You better warn the South Koreans! They just signed a deal with DPW involving their main port of Pusan.
It just makes me sick that someone of Schumer's low character and dimunitive stature is sucessfully orchestrating something so negative for our country, in a business and diplomatic sense, for his own political gain.
"...Schumer's low character and dimunitive stature..."
I don't think anybody on this forum is going to disagree with you on that point. :)
Hmmm....good point. Got a link though?
http://www.dpiterminals.com/products.asp?ProdID=8&SubCatID=5&CatID=2
30 year deal renewable at DPW's option.
http://www.dpworld.com/products.asp?ProdID=8&SubCatID=5&CatID=2
That link seems to be broken. Try this one.
The Bush-Bots and their fearless Ranting Drama Queen will probably still bet the deal will go through.
I think they are planning to retake their colonies!
"If they want to make a law that says no foreign leasing or management of terminals in US ports, then fine."
Really, I think that's where this is headed. It just took a wakeup call to get the ball rolling.
I thought this was about Govt. controlled companies...
That is only the beginning.
Now our Republican Senators are fighting to "get ahead" of of the dispicable Schumer on the anti-ports bill.
Shameful!
We loose Dubai, we loose a huge potential base of operations for action against Iran - and we are going to need one badly in the next few months. The Senate has tied the Presidents hands in a time of great danger!
Right! Of course no one in the US House Appropriations Committee seems to understand that fact.
The other thing that they do not seem to understand is that Dubai, likely to cut off use of their ports to our Navy, will deny us the use of a base of operations for action against Iraq - something we are likely to need in the next 6 months. I believe we also have an airbase and strategic battle control facility in Dubai.
Dubai sits in a huge strategic hotspot - at the choke point of the Straight of Hormuz.
The ultimate result of killing the ports deal will be to cede control of the Straights to Iran!
Every drop of oil from the Persian Gulf region must transit through those Straights!
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