Posted on 02/26/2006 8:25:29 AM PST by jraven
Moving toward a deal that could allow President Bush and congressional GOP leaders to save face and avert a prolonged confrontation, GOP officials said today that they were discussing the idea of having Dubai Ports World seek a new review of its acquisition of a British company's operation that runs several key U.S. ports.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, confirmed in a phone interview early Saturday afternoon to TIME that officials were close to a deal involving the Congressional leadership, the White House and the Dubai company. The agreement would call for a 45-day CFIUS-plus investigation, King said, referring to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a Treasury Department-run interagency panel that probes proposed acquisitions in the U.S.
Although the Dubai deal had already been approved by CFIUS, "the rationale for reopening it is, once DP carved out the American ports from the rest of the contract it changed the nature of the agreement so it had to be reviewed again," says King, who had been among the leading GOP voices opposing the deal as first approved without the extra 45-day review process or briefing of Congress. King says will await final details before formally backing any such deal. King added "if we are going to hold back on legislation, I think there has to be continuous congressional review throughout the new CFIUS review.
If approved by all parties, the new deal would allow Bush to avert a GOP-driven bill to overturn the Dubai deal with enough votes to override Bush's threat of his first veto. Republican sources tell TIME that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee proposed the basic terms of a deal designed to give the White House a graceful way out, while also allaying the concerns of the many lawmakers in both parties who have said the deal could be a threat to our security. Under the Frist plan, the deal could stand a good chance of ultimately going through after the extended review. Frist aides apparently proposed the terms to representatives of the company and the White House late Friday. Neither has formally responded but both seemed interested in the idea, according to a Senate Republican aide. "This avoids a direct clash," the aide said. "It solves everyone's problem. The President doesn't have to cancel the deal or veto anything."
Under Frist's plan, the company would voluntarily separate U.S. ports from the rest of the deal for 45 days, allowing them to continue to operate as they do while the deal is re-vetted. That would allow a new review through the administration's Committee on Foreign Investments in the U.S. (CFIUS). Administration officials remain adamant that their first review was thorough and proper, so the face-saving element was crucial, according to one Capitol Hill negotiator. Frist is proposing that this time, CFIUS do the extra 45-day review that the law calls for in transactions where there are national security concerns. That provision was not triggered last time because administration officials had no remaining concerns at the end of the first review. This approach would eliminate the need for new legislation now, the Republican sources said.
We disagree. We have far too many more pressing problems to work on than who is going to fill out shipping manifests and bills of lading in our ports. Especially when the security aspect has not changed. But there are those who get off on knee jerk Bush hatred, and just cant be helped. Now the opposition is watching us fight over an issue in which 90% of the people arguing are friggin clueless about the subject at hand..
I don't know if they're anti-Semites, although I wouldn't rule out anything at this point. But they definitely support Islamic jihad nationstates getting a bigger foothold in America. Notice. At this point, all they have left is to begin the ridicule of FReepers who disagree with them. This is the standard pattern of behavior for many of the Bush sycophants and apologists who run from thread to thread on FR, trying to defend the indefensible.
Source?
Its also right out of the DNC's playbook.
Its amazing to see the so-called conservatives here screaming racism and xenophobia at those who want to protect the lives of their fellow citizens.
Its like this place is turning into DU lite!
"But they definitely support Islamic jihad nationstates getting a bigger foothold in America."
exactly, as i have pointed out many times the crowned prince of dubai purchased the deed to CAIR's HQ. CAIR is a hamas front group which got Michael Graham thrown off the radio. this is TALK RADIO that they are after...anyone who speaks the truth about islam, they go after and try to silence.
so in a way, by supporting the UAE...these same freepers who depend on talk radio so much are actually contributing to their own demise.
Have you notified the Navy yet?
"BTW if you don't believe me about Zim read this Dubai Ports World uses [Israeli Shipping Co.] Zim connection in US deal."
That doesn't change a thing. The UAE should still take the next step and recognize Israel's right to exist. If Egypt can do it and Jordan can do it, they can do it.
"Its amazing to see the so-called conservatives here screaming racism and xenophobia at those who want to protect the lives of their fellow citizens."
dont forget, these are the same individuals who labeled critics of Miers as "sexist and elitist".... after they heard the talking points from the WH (namely ed gillespie who said the criticism of miers "has a whiff of sexism and a whiff of elitism."). nevermind that the critics of miers wanted JRB, but it all turned out alright because from the firestorm-- we got alito.
and so are you!!! pat yourself on the back
They've been reduced to just talking to each other...it's easier then dealing with the facts.
Echo Talon<~~:::happily pats himself on the back:::
ALL YOUR XENOPHOBIA ARE BELONG TO US!
It's an old Saturday Night Live script; fitting, huh?
Excellent.
It will quietly go through, with even Democrats supporting it, lest they look like fools.
Ouch!
This is what happens when you have political centrist moderates blindly supporting the federal bureaucracy and the Beltway status quo mentality of WashDC. There are good people on both sides of this issue. Some are just more right then others when it comes to the simple facts. In the long term, hopefully cooler heads will prevail and we'll see some regulatory and/or legislative action undertaken, that would make management of the commercial aspects of US ports of entry, limited to American companies. Of course, before that can happen, someone must create more US companies to handle these operations.
Here is all anybody needs to know about this take over.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/jonsson022506.htm
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