Posted on 02/19/2006 8:44:08 AM PST by radar101
Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff on Sunday defended the government's security review of an Arab company given permission to take over operations at six major U.S. ports.
"We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint," Chertoff said on ABC's "This Week."
London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., was bought last week by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business from the United Arab Emirates. Peninsular and Oriental runs major commercial operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties are questioning the sale, approved by the Bush administration, as a possible risk to national security.
"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history," Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C. said on "Fox News Sunday."
"Most Americans are scratching their heads, wondering why this company from this region now," Graham said.
Added Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record), D-Ind.: "I think we've got to look into this company. We've got to ensure ... the American people that their national security interests are going to be protected."
At least one Senate oversight hearing is planned for later this month.
"Congress is welcome to look at this and can get classified briefings," Chertoff told CNN's "Late Edition."
"We have to balance the paramount urgency of security against the fact that we still want to have a robust global trading system," he added.
Sen. Robert Menendez, who is working on legislation to prohibit companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from running port operation in the U.S., said Chertoff's comments showed him that the administration "just does not get it."
In a statement, the New Jersey Democrat said, "No matter what steps the administration claims it has secretly taken, it is an unacceptable risk to turn control of our ports over to a foreign government, particularly one with a troubling history. We cannot depend on promises a foreign government has given the administration in secret to secure our ports."
Chertoff said Dubai Ports World should not be excluded automatically from such a deal because it is based in the UAE.
Critics have cited the UAE's history as an operational and financial base for the hijackers who carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
In addition, they contend the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist.
DP World has said it intends to "maintain and, where appropriate, enhance current security arrangements." The UAE's foreign minister has described his country as an important U.S. ally in fighting terrorism.
"Barnard Kerik has taken the exact same position."
Saw him on fox. He realizes no threat with this purchase.
This is bizzare for someone who was to be our homeland security chief.
I'm convinced we need to raise hell and clean house if we are to save our nation. The people we entrust to protect us are selling our national security to our sworn enemies.
beam me up scotty
"The position didn't exist, but Chertoff worked in the Clinton administration."
Part of Bush's inclusion philosophy...He's a "uniter not a divider."
The problem as I see it, some leftovers from the opposition are dangerous to our national security. But sadly now, our worst nightmare is occuring while the two most hated and despicable demos are the very one's protesting the loudest. You know, Clinton and Schumer.
DISGUSTING that it comes to this. Now I must go barf out loud.
You align with clinton and schumer.
That was definitely it; silly GOP groupies stupidly try to blame liberals for the ignorant socialist tendencies of their pseudo-conservative political heros.
Well that cinches it for me. Just look at the outstanding job Chertoff has done with our borders.
The White House mission to hand everything over to the Rats in 2008 is right on schedule.
Lets do nothing some more.
I never liked the idea of Department of Homeland Security cabinet from day one. I do like protecting America from terrorism. We did it during World War II without DHS back than and they did a mighty fine job. If the Republicans do nothing about it, the Democrats could win.
"The Department of Homeland Security was created at the behest of the Rand Corporation and CSIS, not by the American people, and it doesn't appear to operate in our interests."
And wouldn't it be an eye opener to find the ACLU turning the wheels of these two...
I hear those bureaucrats talking and it's like the teacher in Charlie Brown (ba-blah, ba-blah, ba-blah).
The cynical side of me thinks this could all be part of their plan to switch places with the Bubbas again. You know, especially now that Sr. thinks Bubba is his long-lost son... and outed the monarchy to anyone who may not have noticed that the Bushes and Clintons have been in the WH for 26 years now. What a depressing thought.
This controversy over the ports is a tempest in a teapot.
LOL, I read your post after I posted #151.
"The Department of Homeland Security was created at the behest of the Rand Corporation and CSIS, not by the American people, and it doesn't appear to operate in our interests."
Wow, and I thought hillary, reid, kennedy, schumer, biden, and feingold said it was created at the behest of the dim-O-rat party!
Who'd a thunk it!!!
LLS
That might be your fantasy. Reality is that "life long" conservatives, at least the ones I know, know they have been sold out.
We will have to agree to disagree... or can you even agree with that?
LLS
Many others seem to have done that with you, and so will I.
It sure seems like it, doesn't it? All of this stuff must be intentional--after all, we're always hearing about what a genius Karl Rove is. Surely he is giving Bush the best advice possible...
Isn't he?
You should be afraid, very afraid. In California, about one inten outgoing "containers" (the size of a semi trailer) is checked. Estimates of the number of incoming is about one out of twenty.
We have seen how much the "Friendly" Muslims support the United States. Can you name ONE that has voiced support for America? I can not.
I can recite a litany of names of comentators that CAIR has demanded that they be fired for " making offensive statements".
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