Posted on 03/10/2006 2:21:04 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite
The U.S. House of Representatives will forge ahead with a vote on blocking an Arab-owned company from managing U.S. ports, to ensure the firm sheds its U.S. holdings as promised, a leadership spokesman said on Friday.
The Republican-run House's refusal to back away from the showdown vote was another blow to President George W. Bush, who suffered a stinging defeat on Thursday when Dubai Ports World said it intended to back out of the deal his administration had approved.
Reverberations from the political earthquake continued on Friday. The United Arab Emirates broke off talks on a free trade pact with the United States, although a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office said delays are common.
Bush said he was concerned the opposition sent a worrying message to Middle East allies.
"In order to win the war on terror, we have got to strengthen our relationships and friendships with moderate Arab countries in the Middle East," Bush told newspaper editors.
State-owned Dubai Ports World surrendered to unrelenting criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in giving up the management of some terminals at six major U.S. ports.
The UAE company said it would transfer the ports to a U.S. entity at the behest of Dubai's ruler, to allay concerns the deal posed a threat to American national security. Details of the transfer were not outlined.
The White House had hoped the announcement would resolve the unprecedented crisis between Bush and a Congress run by his own party in open revolt.
But Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, said the House vote on a provision to bar the deal would go ahead on Wednesday or Thursday anyway.
"It's a smart move to keep it (the legislation) in there, in case the Dubai thing doesn't work out," he told Reuters.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The outlook for a Senate vote was less clear. Senate Republican leaders have been trying to avoid one in the near future. Deal critic Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, wants more information from the White House.
"If things are as they appear, this is a great victory for national security. But make no mistake, we are going to scrutinize this deal with a fine-tooth comb to make sure the separation between American port operators and Dubai Ports World is complete and security is tight as a drum," he said.
Dubai Ports Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, asked if the firm would sell the U.S. port management rights, told Reuters: "All this is being worked out by our parties in the States."
But David Hamod, president of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, said it would be hard to find a U.S. company to step in.
"The advantage that the overseas company has is economies of scale. They're doing this on a global level and so it will be very difficult to find a U.S. company in this business large enough to take over the operations," Hamod said.
He also said his group was hearing calls for retribution, including keeping Americans out of Arab markets. "But it's a tiny minority of people who are arguing that," he said.
Bush, who had vowed to veto efforts to block the deal, praised the UAE as a committed ally in the war on terrorism.
"I'm concerned about a broader message this issue could send to our friends and allies around the world, particularly in the Middle East," Bush said.
Treasury Secretary John Snow said his department's lawyers were in contact with DP World about its intentions. He also said the political furor was an isolated case, as he tried to limit damage to the U.S. free-trade image.
Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia, said congressional Republicans are running away from Bush this election year.
"In a way, the port deal was a godsend to them," Sabato said. "It allowed them to put a lot of daylight between themselves and a very unpopular president."
A new poll Friday registered another low of 37 percent in Bush's approval rating.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro, Doug Palmer and Tim Ahmann)
Well said.
But before we let that happen, WE need to take a stand. We can be squeaky wheels too - email every member of Congress with subject lines like: "No Impeachment"! or whatever would be appropriate.
Maybe if all of us who were in favor of the ports (terminal management) deal had acted out the way the other side did, it would have made a difference. Because I have to admit I did not contact Congress on the ports deal because I was only slightly in favor of it and I over-estimated congress, assuming cooler heads would prevail. Initial gut reaction like so many was hell no. But I was willing to learn more about it before I started yelling.
Told myself things like why would Bush do such a good job on the WOT so far and then put us all in danger? He certainly knows more about how much the UAE has helped us than any of us know.
We can't allow GWB to be weakened any further - and that goes for all on FR who are upset because he isn't perfect. I'm still not seeing anyone except maybe Cheney or Rumsfeld (both unelectable and/or unwilling) that I would rather see in the WH.
I'm waiting for an answer Mr. Calm. What is going to happen to our troops?
Hee hee!
LLS
"In a way, the port deal was a godsend for the American people ... "It allowed them to see the daylight between a courageous President, with WOT intelligence no one else has, and a kneejerk reactionary Congress in full election mode."
"In a way, the port deal was a godsend to them," Sabato said. "It allowed them to put a lot of daylight between themselves and a very unpopular president."
You can calm down. Nothing's going to happen different from what has been happening. They will continue laying their lives on the line training Iraqi soldiers and killing terrorists. If there's some shouting in the UAE, I'm sure their anger can be soothed by greasing some palms.
Lame Duck News out....
"Does the Constitution claim that foreign governments have the right to buy any US asset they want?"
No. And Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Madison, etc would almost assuredly, from what I know from reading history, have frowned on this Dubai deal thing, that many conservatives for some reason blindly support.
If this clears the house, we need to do some house cleaning. We should start naming Republicans that are no longer on board.
"Congressmoron is the correct terminology. No need to say Congressperson, Congresswoman, or Congressman, just Congressmoron.
For example,
Dear Congressmoron:
Enclosed is a map of the Middle East...."
Please excuse me but this was so good it needed repeating.
My, my, what a passionate tirade!
Do you have stock in DPW or something? I can understand that you support the deal, but this is kind of extreme.
"Stupid, stupid CONGRESSIONAL MORONS and their STUPID STUPID GOP ENABLERS!"
Yep, you sure are Howlin.
Wouldn't it be nice if President Bush put as much effort into establishing a flat tax, or repealing the 1968 Gun Control act, or DOING SOMETHING ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION as he was putting trying to ram the Dubai Deal through congress?
They want everyone to believe this one deal that was shot down by the American people, is going to change the course of the WOT. Pure nonsense. They want everyone to believe this one deal that was shot down by the American people, is going to get our military kicked out of the Islamic world. Pure hysterics. Whose running America anyway? The elected representatives of the American people, AKA. the GOP, or the Sheikdom of Dubai? Is America governed by the US Constitution, or by the Koran?
Instead of running around like juveniles, proclaiming the sky is falling and tossing around more ad hominem responses, these folks should learn to check their emotions at the door, and use the brain God gave them to think before they post irrational/illogical rhetoric. And here I thought PresBush with his defiant attitude and off the charts arrogance, was way out of line. These guys make Bush look tempered by comparison.
These clowns just can't get enough mileage out of this without their 45 days? Yeah, let's waste more and more time and money.
Don't forget their enablers!
Wouldn't it be lovely if they actually attempted to address the issue? I expect a merry-go-round the issue circus.
Amen FreedomNeocon...for once I felt that McCain tug towards the truth
I don't buy it but I'll take a wait and see attitude.
Yeah the bots are really showing their fangs on this thread, but at least they lost again. Kind of fun watching their jumping up and down, screaming tantrums.
Most of these same folks wanted Miers on the Supreme Court. When they lost, we saw thread after thread here about the end of the republic being at hand because we had defied the president.
In another week or so, most of us can be friends again.
"hysterical, poll-chasing racist xenophobes we have on 'our side'"
Any chance you work for CAIR?
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