Bush backs sale of port operations to DP World

[Looney]

Washington: The Bush administration on Thursday rebuffed criticism about potential security risks of the $6.8 billion (about Dh25 billion) sale of P&O that gives Dubai Ports World control over significant operations at six major US ports.

Four senators and three House members had asked the administration to reconsider its approval of the deal.

The sale to DP World was "rigorously reviewed" by a US committee that considers security threats when foreign companies seek to buy or invest in American industry, National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, run by the Treasury Department, reviewed an assessment from US intelligence agencies and its 12 members agreed unanimously the sale did not present any problems, the department said.

"It's important to focus on this partner as opposed to just what part of the world they come from. We came to the conclusion that the transaction should not be halted," said Stewart Baker, assistant secretary in the Homeland Security Department.

In the UAE, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, said: "We have worked very closely with the United States on a number of issues relating to the combat of terrorism, prior to and post-9/11."

The defence of the committee came in response to criticism about DP World's purchase of London-based P&O. DP World said it had received all regulatory approvals for the deal.

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Shipping/10019486.html

I wonder if there's a security risk of giving middle-eastern control over 6 major US ports...

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

Originally posted by: Looney


I wonder if there's a security risk of giving middle-eastern control over 6 major US ports...

probably not according to bushspeak since dubai is a staunch ally against terrorism

 

[13Gigatons]

Huh..so they will be able to sneak that thermo nuclear device into NY much easier.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
Huh..so they will be able to sneak that thermo nuclear device into NY much easier.

Yeah, seems a little crazy. Especially if they're going to staff it with foreign workers...

 

[jimkyser]

I originally posted this in the other thread about this that was locked as a repost.

Hey, it's open market capitalism at it's best. No one wants the government running the ports because that is bureaucratic and inefficient, so it gets outsourced to private industry. Everyone wants private industry to maximize returns for shareholders, so they sell assets when the offer is good. The thing is, you really have no control over who is the final corporate 'owner' this way.

Of course all of the other ports begin run by Dubai Ports are hot beds of terrorism, aren't they? I mean they're an Islamic emirate, how could it be any different?

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: jimkyser
Of course all of the other ports begin run by Dubai Ports are hot beds of terrorism, aren't they? I mean they're an Islamic emirate, how could it be any different?

Doesn't have to be a 'hot bed' of terrorism for it to be a bad idea. Even one nuke or WMD bomb would make it a bad idea.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Just Bush doing everything that he can to make us safer. :disgust:

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: jimkyser
Of course all of the other ports begin run by Dubai Ports are hot beds of terrorism, aren't they? I mean they're an Islamic emirate, how could it be any different?

Doesn't have to be a 'hot bed' of terrorism for it to be a bad idea. Even one nuke or WMD bomb would make it a bad idea.

It's a stupid idea now if you ask me. Now someone could get into a position to control the outgoing and incoming ports. DUHHHH!

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Looney

I wonder if there's a security risk of giving middle-eastern control over 6 major US ports...

That has to be right up there with teaching people how to fly airliners who say they don't want to learn how to land.

 

[Aimster]

I dont see what is wrong with UAE

they are a pretty moderate Muslim country.

This is why westerners flock there.

 

[loup garou]

Anyone know what ports they are?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

WTF are they thinking?

 

[Aimster]

If you got a problem with the UAE

you should also complain about their advance jets they just purchased from the U.S

 

[jimkyser]

Originally posted by: loup garou
Anyone know what ports they are?

New York and New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: jimkyser

Originally posted by: loup garou
Anyone know what ports they are?

New York and New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami.

Obviously they intend to blame "blue state permissiveness" when the dirty bomb eventually shows up. Miami and New Orleans are just degenerate party cities so that'll be the excuse to blame those two cities when it happens. :roll:

 

[Rainsford]

Not every Middle Eastern country and/or company is filled with radical fundies ready to kill us all at a moments notice. Could someone explain to me how a legitimate Middle Eastern company operating a US port makes us significantly less safe than if the port is US owned? Security procedures are set by the government, and the oversight rules on operating a port will be the same as well. Our intelligence agencies seem to agree with me, and there was no dissenting voice on the vote to go ahead with this. Tone down the FUD a little...jeez.

 

[Polish3d]

I agree that this is a potential problem, but it seems that often when a repub is talking about a security threat, many people here bitch about how that threat is exaggerated, but then when something like this comes up, all of a sudden its a big scary 'terrist' issue to be worried about.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I agree that this is a potential problem, but it seems that often when a repub is talking about a security threat, many people here bitch about how that threat is exaggerated, but then when something like this comes up, all of a sudden its a big scary 'terrist' issue to be worried about.

And the reverse is true as well of course How many people want to shoot Muslims on sight (or some such), but have no problem selling our economy to China?

 

[phantom309]

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing

Originally posted by: Looney


I wonder if there's a security risk of giving middle-eastern control over 6 major US ports...

probably not according to bushspeak since dubai is a staunch ally against terrorism

Of course, so is Saudi Arabia.....

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Not every Middle Eastern country and/or company is filled with radical fundies ready to kill us all at a moments notice. Could someone explain to me how a legitimate Middle Eastern company operating a US port makes us significantly less safe than if the port is US owned? Security procedures are set by the government, and the oversight rules on operating a port will be the same as well. Our intelligence agencies seem to agree with me, and there was no dissenting voice on the vote to go ahead with this. Tone down the FUD a little...jeez.

I would have to agree with you. A legitimate company would have no interest in allowing people and things that would be detrimental to the economy to be smuggled in.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: phantom309

Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing

Originally posted by: Looney


I wonder if there's a security risk of giving middle-eastern control over 6 major US ports...

probably not according to bushspeak since dubai is a staunch ally against terrorism

Of course, so is Saudi Arabia.....

What's wrong with SA? Everyone knows the 911 hijackers came from Iraq

 

[conehead433]

Since such a small fraction of shipments into our ports is being thoroughly inspected currently I can't see how someone else running them would make any difference.

 

[imported_Condor]

Originally posted by: Looney

Washington: The Bush administration on Thursday rebuffed criticism about potential security risks of the $6.8 billion (about Dh25 billion) sale of P&O that gives Dubai Ports World control over significant operations at six major US ports.

Four senators and three House members had asked the administration to reconsider its approval of the deal.

The sale to DP World was "rigorously reviewed" by a US committee that considers security threats when foreign companies seek to buy or invest in American industry, National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, run by the Treasury Department, reviewed an assessment from US intelligence agencies and its 12 members agreed unanimously the sale did not present any problems, the department said.

"It's important to focus on this partner as opposed to just what part of the world they come from. We came to the conclusion that the transaction should not be halted," said Stewart Baker, assistant secretary in the Homeland Security Department.

In the UAE, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, said: "We have worked very closely with the United States on a number of issues relating to the combat of terrorism, prior to and post-9/11."

The defence of the committee came in response to criticism about DP World's purchase of London-based P&O. DP World said it had received all regulatory approvals for the deal.

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Shipping/10019486.html

I wonder if there's a security risk of giving middle-eastern control over 6 major US ports...

Well, Clinton sold the Chinese the Panama Canal!! I guess Bush is just trying to measure and get liberal approval.

 

[techs]

From Wikipedia:
The government has been criticized by human rights agencies such as Human Rights Watch for its inaction in addressing the discrimination against Asian workers in the emirate. Salary structures based on nationality, sex, age, and race rather than on qualification are common
The UAE's human rights record, particularly in relation to migrant workers, was widely criticised during the trials of Sarah Balabagan in 1995
A website www.mafiwasta.com is campaigning to pressure the government of the UAE into signing up to International Labour Organisation core conventions on freedom of association. Strikes and unions are currently banned in the UAE and many labourers are virtual prisoners, having paid huge agents' fees in order to obtain jobs and visas

No wonder they can bid so low. They are a neo-cons dream company in regards to how workers are treated.

 

[jimkyser]

Originally posted by: Condor
Well, Clinton sold the Chinese the Panama Canal!! I guess Bush is just trying to measure and get liberal approval.

What? We didn't even own the Panama Canal to be able to sell it. It was transferred to the control of the Panama Canal Authority, an agency of the government of Panama, per the Torrijos-Carter Treaty of 1977 with the final transfer happening in 1999.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_canal