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US House to vote on ports despite company promise
Reuters ^ | Friday 10 March 2006 | Steve Holland and Susan Cornwell

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)


TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; alwaysrighteverytime; cantstopwhining; elitism; everyonemustlisten; minorityopinionrant; nutheads; port; ports; uae; uaezot; wearealwaysright
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To: Stellar Dendrite
These guys really don't like America much do they?

They know all the hysteria is based on ignorance but they are still running with it.

This Congress is going down the sh*thole.

21 posted on 03/10/2006 2:39:04 PM PST by Earthdweller ("West to Islam" Cake. Butter your liberals, slowly cook France, stir in Europe then watch it rise.)
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To: Republican Red
Now that you bring Hastert up...how come everyone always blames Pres. Bush for border policies, spending policies, etc.

Isn't it about time some FR people started to put a little blame on Hastert for the lack of good legislation getting written?

22 posted on 03/10/2006 2:39:23 PM PST by Siena Dreaming
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To: Siena Dreaming
It's worse than that because the President was getting ready to give more members of congress secret intel that we get from Dubai to prove how valuable it was.
Now we will be lucky to even get any intel from UAE anymore.
Bottom line our troops lives have been jeopardized by political hacks on both sides.
23 posted on 03/10/2006 2:39:49 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support the New Media and F.R.)
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To: rodguy911

That's my thinking exactly. You know that the Dims and the press are putting all kinds of pressure on Republicans to join them in an impeachment vote. Right now, I'd say it's even money they could scrape up enough votes to pass one, especially if the media provides them with a biased poll showing the majority of the public favoring impeachment. There would never be a better time.


24 posted on 03/10/2006 2:40:23 PM PST by CFC__VRWC
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To: Republican Red

UAE denied they were going to cancel the orders to boeing. You might want to read a bit more before you spout off. All of you guys that are whining, and whining it is, about this deal being called off have lost your way. This was necessary in order to keep the senate and house in republican hands. If you see it any other way you have simply lost touch with Americans. Sorry, but that is the way it is.


25 posted on 03/10/2006 2:40:36 PM PST by calex59 (seeing the light shouldn't make you go blind and, BTW, Stå sammen med danskerne !)
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To: FreedomNeocon

Only when the bleeding slows will the clots allow the bleeding to stop.


26 posted on 03/10/2006 2:40:49 PM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
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To: rodguy911
"stuck on stupid "

Oh yeah. They're born that way.

Though, if this is the Hunter bill, it would be fun to see who votes it down after all their " foreign ownership is dangerous" talk.

27 posted on 03/10/2006 2:41:12 PM PST by mrsmith
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To: FreedomNeocon

So much for waiting 45 days, right?


28 posted on 03/10/2006 2:42:30 PM PST by clawrence3
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To: CFC__VRWC

I am so burned out trying to put this together and make any sense of it all this week I don't want to even consider an impeachment but as you say anything can happen.


29 posted on 03/10/2006 2:43:04 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support the New Media and F.R.)
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To: Siena Dreaming

You are right on target. Bush doesn't make law so now that we know he's never vetoed anything it must mean he's not received anything. It's a legislative problem that keeps getting Bush in trouble.


30 posted on 03/10/2006 2:43:36 PM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
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To: All

This is pretty silly. Just put it to bed and get focused on the campaign in the fall to win vulnerable districts.

The real issue here is the terminals are to be sold to an American firm. If I were Dubai, I'd boost the price and auction them off at exorbitant profit.


31 posted on 03/10/2006 2:43:38 PM PST by Owen
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To: All

When is the vote to throw hanoi kerry out on the street?

For those who "forgot" what Hanoi Kerry
did in the past read on and learn the truth.

Hanoi Kerry was still a USNR officer while he:
gave false hearsay testimony to Congress
negotiated with the enemy
helped the US lose a war
abetted in the deaths of millions
created a hostile environment for all servicemen

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=Documents


32 posted on 03/10/2006 2:43:56 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (It's ALWAYS a great day to be a Conservative Independent Voter AND a Viet Nam Vet)
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To: calex59

What about FUTURE orders? Airbus, there they go.


33 posted on 03/10/2006 2:44:27 PM PST by clawrence3
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To: calex59
Sorry no buying it. My biggest concern is our troops welfare in the WOT. Alienating Dubai jeopardizes valued intel that can aid the troops, it's pretty simple to understand.
34 posted on 03/10/2006 2:45:10 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support the New Media and F.R.)
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To: clawrence3

You bet. The UAE gave us a way out instead of damaging this relationship further. Now we continue to stick it to them. This is painful to watch.


35 posted on 03/10/2006 2:46:31 PM PST by bayourant
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To: CFC__VRWC

I think we need to keep names of any and all Republicans that continue to throw President Bush, our troops, and possibly our national security under the bus...

Because on Foley, Lewis, and the other reps' minds is not national security but JOB SECURITY....

I think we need to make that plan backfire!!


36 posted on 03/10/2006 2:48:07 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bush-Bot;WaterBucket Brigader;and fan of defconw)
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To: Owen

Shut the terminals down, put the people out of work and then file a loss on the taxes.


37 posted on 03/10/2006 2:49:28 PM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
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To: Owen

Shut the terminals down, put the people out of work and then file a loss on the taxes.


38 posted on 03/10/2006 2:49:31 PM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
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To: vbmoneyspender
Just so I am clear on what constitutes being a racist-xenophobe nowadays, was it racist after 9/11 to give extra scrutiny to people attempting to obtains visas from Saudia Arabia, the UAE and Egypt?

Absolutely not, what a stupid question.

NOBODY is arguing that you are a racist if you notice a person is arab or a mulslim. If you feel nervous or do a 'double-take' if a guy in a turbin gets on your flight. Or that an extra wand wave, or a an extra security check (like this deal went through) would be wrong either.

In those cases, you are certainly making a 'race' judgment, but the downside is small, understandable, and so negligible.

In the ports case the 'arab-phobia' flys SO MUCH in the face of everything the UAE has done for the past decade. They ARE our main arab ally PERIOD, there was all kinds of extra scrutiny done, all kinds of military up and down are for it, "Israel" is for it (doesn't mind that quasi-boycott), and the only reason against it "why trust an arab at a port".

When 'race' starts TRUMPING all that, and overriding all kinds of logic and perspective... thats when I would call it xenophobia, and that is EXACTLY what is going on here.

Don't try to act like I'm some doe-eyed lib that buys into the whole Islam is this "Relgion of Peace" BS. I'm not. I'm just not so shortsighted as to make every arab country our enemy and send the message that it is WORTHLESS to even try to ally with us, we'll screw you in the end NO MATTER WHAT 'because you are a-rab'

Blair gets all kinds of shit for being "Bush's lapdog", well the UAE does 10X more, in 10X more 'difficult' situation and area of the world. And they still get DISSED big time, and VERY publicly. You don't think that might be more dangerous to 'national security' when alot of people might have to make the choice (in the very near future) between throwing in with a nuke-enabled Iran, or embrace the west? (why try when you can SEE how stacked the deck is AGASINT you)

If you are worried about national security, you should be listening to all the 'effing military people who are for the deal up and down. Anyway, I'm glad so many are so eager to create a few more millions of enemies in the name of national security.
39 posted on 03/10/2006 2:49:34 PM PST by FreedomNeocon (I'm in no Al-Samood for this Shi'ite.)
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To: Txsleuth

For sure sleuth.


40 posted on 03/10/2006 2:49:37 PM PST by rodguy911 (Support the New Media and F.R.)
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