Free Republic

The initial outcry from the conservative blogs and talk radio over an Arab state-owned company taking over terminals at some U.S. ports seems to have subsided, as the Bush Administration, the Arab/Muslim lobby and their representatives and lobbyists have moved quickly to dominate the media debate. The firm, Dubai Ports World, is owned by the United Arab Emirates, an Islamic regime that is now being regularly described in the media as a U.S. ally. But the democracy we're fighting for in Iraq does not exist in the UAE. Inside the UAE, according to the State Department, there is no freedom...

Font The Islamist Port of Miami By Joe KaufmanFrontPageMagazine.com | February 27, 2006When the Deputy Director of the Port of Miami, Khalid Salahuddin, was asked about the purchase of his port by a state-owned company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he defended the transaction. He stated, “They are not buying the Port of Miami. They are buying part of one of the operators at the port.” But while Salahuddin is not concerned about the sale, many Floridians are shaking their heads. They question the terrorist ties of the UAE. They question why their representatives in the White House...

WASHINGTON - Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday. The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. "There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an...

A little-noticed quote buried in a Washington Times story last week shows that if Bush proceeds with his deal to lease ports to the United Arab Emirates, it will be the UAE that recommends what kind of security measures the port will be regulated under. The February 22 article called "Bush Vows Port Deal Will Stand; Threatens to Veto Any Bill Killing It" contained a quote from Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Carter. Carter told the Times that port security is handled by the Coast Guard, which oversees security plans submitted by facility operators and conducts planned and surprise inspections...