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IMHO this issue is not trusting anyone. It is about obtaining the FACTS. And the facts have been very twisted in most of the many articles I have viewed over the past two days.
To many reporting on this issue are using very misleading titles. Let me say this and please anyone that knows otherwise correct me.
P&O's operations at these named six ports was restricted to the ownership and operation of one or more terminal facilities.
An example. A terminal facility may be a few acre area with some buildings and associated equipment for the off loading of dry bulk materials, say a dry concrete mix. The terminal may have a direct link to one or more piers for berthing the ship for unloading the materials on a conveyor belt to waiting trucks, railroad cars etc..
This is the type operation in question.
The British company P&O did not control the port. These ports are managed by the state/city port authorities. And each port has a customs agency. And between the various companies that work with the customs office, and port authority security forces, and the United States Coast Guard, these ports are managed. Which includes the security and managment of any incoming/outgoing materials of shipment that require routine checks such as passing a container for instance through a gamma ray or x-ray machine etc..
I took time to investigate some of these ports via. google.com.
Just for instance. In Philadelphia, one of the six ports mentioned, there are a dozen different private and public terminal operations. Some are quite huge, and contain many individual companies that do specific type shipping. Some of the ports's terminal operations are literally many miles apart along the Delaware River. I failed to find what particular terminal operation was actually owned and managed by the British company in question, but that is OK. At most it probably only owns and operates a few of these terminals. Many are owned and operated by American and other country companies.
So where am I leading to? O&P does not control/run the port of Philadelphia. I is but one company that leases or owns some buildings and equipment and contracts with other companies to run it's operations. It may not even directly pay the manual labor such as dock workers/crane operators etc., but relie on a contracted company to handle this function.
So forgive me for my verbosity, but I feel compelled to set the record straight on the misleading news reports on this issue. For some, they may actually think this UAE DWP company where going to come in and take over the control of US ports. This is total bull shit. A disclaimer.
I understand the issue relating to why even let them have a presence at our ports. That is ok. I have no problem with that aspect. I am simply addressing the misleading reporting on this issue. Some Freepers may be mislead on just what Dubai Port World would actually be involved in. They sure will not be running any US port.