US House to vote on ports despite company promise

Reuters ^ | Friday 10 March 2006 | Steve Holland and Susan Cornwell

[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)

[AmeriBrit]

Just remember everything you've said next time you go for a fillup and the pump has a big empty sign on it because there's no way of getting the supplies through the Straits of Hormuz. You and your ilk will be the first to start crying like babies.

[Left2Right]

"CNN reported Thursday that a prominent Israeli shipping company, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., wrote to a U.S. senator noting it does business with DP World and supports the U.S. deal."

It has been so disappointing to have witnessed so much hysteria and closed-mindedness by those who opposed the "ports" deal. Many of those who opposed this never got their facts straight, never bothered to investigate the nature of the changing political situation in the ME that is going on around the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel. They could never seem give a rational argument against the deal, but rather engaged in racism and fear mongering, and were never honest enough to even admit that we are not giving over control of our ports, but are rather leasing some terminals to a business enterprise from an ally in the war on terror.

There is more going on than meets the eye. We should be supporting the UAE, not attacking them. We shouldn't be lumping all Muslims together because we fear radical Islam. This political attack on the UAE is not going to help in the battle to defeat the radical Islamists. It is extremely unsettling that our Republican majorities in the House & Senate are taking their marching orders from the likes of a Chuckie Schumer.

[LibLieSlayer]

"Good heavens -- I can't imagine what James Madison would think of what has become of our U.S. Congress these days.


This is why we Must bring back dueling! Hell, I'd run for office just to bust a cap in the a$$ of at least a twenty or so of these weasels!

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

"I live in a Liberal leaning state by a couple millions votes. I lived through the Clinton years. I know pain. I can survive the fallout from a Liberal elective year."

You know how I feel if you have read my posts. "I'm mad as hell, and I ain't takin' it anymore"! But we have one problem... our Nation cannot endure the evil that is a dim majority. We will lose the WOT, our economy will crash, and every sick, demented, twisted, and perverted practice will be taught in our public schools. Guns will disappear, GOD will finally be eliminated from public discourse, and our women will wear bhurkas, while our laws will be based upon sharia.

No... what we now know is that our pols are controlled by perception. What we need to do is convince them that it is US they had better fear. We owe it to our great Nation, and OUR Great President to control these brat-a$$ed punks we call congress. I have started writing letters, emails, and refusing to donate funds until they recognize their errors. If we all pull together we can right our ship that has foundered. Madison and the rest of our Fore-Fathers expect us to do just that.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

"But with their leader still publically defiant to the will of the people on this issue, it may not be enough to get the job done."

If the "will of the people" always ruled the day, Women would never vote, blacks would still be slaves, and in all likelihood we would not have entered into WWII.

Sometimes leaders need to lead the people. We are NOT a direct democracy for valid reasons. This argument lies at the heart of those reasons.

Think on this... if the "people" are always right, why in the hell did we have 8 years of klintoon?

LLS

[Mo1]

This is not going to change the WOT, one way or another, and nothing is going to happen to our troops. The UAE will continue to sell us their oil, port berths, unload our ships, and we will continue to trade 8+ billion dollars per year with them.

You have no guarantee of that and that Congress beating this dead horse it won't effect the WOT

Some allied countries are questioning us because of all the leaks of our national intel secrets

[CowboyJay]

"You and your ilk will be the first to start crying like babies."

I think you put your prognosticatory 'ilks' on sideways, there partner.

Me, and mine are the type who actually 'cowboy-up' for combat duty when SHTF, and are trying to find ways to wean us off of ME oil. You and your ilk are the ones who'll bawl about a gas shortage if, and when it ever comes (before, in this case).

I'd swear half of you are just supporting WOT 'cuz it's good for your portfolios. OK by me. Sometimes the right thing gets done for the wrong reasons. Renews my faith every time. ;)

[freema]

>"Did I miss something there in the form of a guarantee for our troops?"<

"-This port deal didn't guarentee anything for our troops either."

No, it didn't guarantee anything for our troops, but it didn't run the risk of alienating the UAE, whose port is our troops' most used port (IIRC).

">"Were we at war then? Was there an international incident?"<"

"-Yes, recall the Taiwan crisis? Recall the Chinese general threatening to nuke LA, if we stepped in for our ally: Taiwan?
Recall when the EP3 spylane was rammed, then captured by China, and our crewmen were detained?
That was an international incident, if there ever was one, and our trade with China didn't even hiccup."

Can you refresh my memory? I don't remember being at war during that time.

[Sweetjustusnow]

"I hope we all will unite now for one goal and one goal only, keep our majority in the House and Senate and prevent this absolute nightmare of impeaching President Bush in time of war."

And we will unite as soon as the GOP realizes that they must give us Conservative candidates. Until they wise up the divide in the conservative ranks will fester and bleed.

[freema]

"I think you put your prognosticatory 'ilks' on sideways, there partner.

Me, and mine are the type who actually 'cowboy-up' for combat duty when SHTF..."

I don't know if her ilks are on sideways, but I am wondering if your chaps are too tight ; )

[teletech]

I think the House of Representatives has done a poor job of Representing lately.

[CowboyJay]

"I don't know if her ilks are on sideways, but I am wondering if your chaps are too tight"

Ouch! Good one...

At least I'm still wearing jeans underneath 'em.

[CowboyJay]

Apologies for the mistaken gender assumption.

[FreedomNeocon]

"hysterical, poll-chasing racist xenophobes we have on 'our side'"

Any chance you work for CAIR?

Don't talk so damn stupid. You fools who say you don't want arabs running the port but it doens't have anything to do with them being arab need to 'effing open your eyes.

Read my other posts on the topic. Its not about being blind to Arab / Terrorism connection, its about NOT letting that EMOTION trump every other logical REASON or FACT.

Saying the UAE is no better than Iran, certainly crosses the line if you know anything about anything.

[FBD]

>"You have no guarantee of that and that Congress beating this dead horse it won't effect the WOT"<

Very true; there are few guarantees in life.
But there will be some other "crisis" that will come along soon, and the politicians will all latch onto that new dead horse to beat... This one will then be forgotten.

...and that's a guarantee! ;^)

case in point, have you heard any of the pols talking about our social security crisis lately? I guess it was forgotten, 'cause they sure in heck didn't solve it...
Eh? ;^)

[jveritas]

We do not need your vote. Please vote third party candidate or stay home, or you can vote democrat if you want. Enough with the absolute conservatives who whine and complain and end up not voting for Republicans anyway. My post was for freepers who vote Republicans and who make 80% of conservatives, for the remaining 20% of absolute conservative I will say do whatever you want. The Republican party has won all these elections without this 20% of conservatives.

[freema]

Oh, thank God for small favors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL!

[FBD]

>"I think I now know the meaning to the label 'The Ugly American'. I feel really ashamed of what the Representatives we sent to the Capitol did today and fear we may never recover fully from their actions."<


---Oh please... The U.S. is among the most kind and charitable countries in the world. The most generous countries in the world are: Norway, Ireland and Switzerland, and the U.S. with international aid.

http://www.forbes.com/business/2005/11/11/government-private-aid-cx_1114oxford_aid.html

Anytime there is a disaster anywhere in the world, we are there with food, emergency supplies, relief workers, and donations from private citizens.

>"I feel really ashamed of what the Representatives we sent to the Capitol did today and fear we may never recover fully from their actions."<

-If we can recover from our past huge errors (and we have) we can surely recover from his little blip.

btw, you're willing to forgive the UAE for it's past errors transgressions, right? That's well and good, as they have been a good ally these past few years, in the WOT.

But it seems you ought be willing to allow the same forgiveness for your own country, which has shed it's own blood many times in defense of freedom and democracy around the world.
-and most currently the "ugly American" is sacrificing for people in the middle-east, so that they may finally enjoy democracy, free speech, and the right to vote.
That's a luxury that even the rich folks in the UAE still do not have.

.

[MNJohnnie]

This is not going to change the WOT, one way or another, and nothing is going to happen to our troops. The UAE will continue to sell us their oil, port berths, unload our ships, and we will continue to trade 8+ billion dollars per year with them.

Don't you just love the way the Port Deal Hysterics are so convinced their emotion based opinions are the receive word of God? But then they never have any thoughts that Mike Savage didn't tell them to have so, in their little world, I guess it is true. They HOPE nothing changes. Funny thing is they would be the first people to start screaming at the top of their lungs if some other country treated the USA as we have treated Dubai. Another example of the basically provincial, white trash mindset of most of the Port Deal Hysterics.

Anything THEY do is just ok, the rest of the world just has to live with it. Well guess what fools. Dubai can just as easily buy Air Bus as Boeing. Nor do they need to buy Microsoft for their computers. They all ready sell the vast majority of their oil to people OTHER then the USA and basing our ships requires them to maintain a very expensive level of security. This assumption that American rednecks can act like morons and the rest of the world just has to take it is economically ignorant.

[p23185]

"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.

OK Mr Schumer, lets be doing the same investigation of ALL foreign owned terminal operations in the US. Next I want you to start barring all ARAB airlines, including UAE's state owned Emirates, from landing at all US AIRPorts. We want to see some CONSISTENT Arab bashing out of the Congress!!