**Scroll to End of Post for Update**
Not if we have anything to do with it.
Here are some updates on the ever-increasing bizarre story of the Bush Administration’s willingness to hand over six major US ports to a company based in Dubai. Just like their inexplicable position on illegal immigration and border security, the Feds as led by GWB, just don’t seem to get it when it comes to Homeland Security.
Allowing a company based in the United Arab Emirates to control the major ports in this nation is obviously madness. The good news is senators are beginning to speak out, a company is suing to stop it, and the MSM has finally taken notice.
First on your list of things to do should be to read Frank Gaffney’s assessment of the situation. Here’s a bit of his take:
How would you feel if, in the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. government had decided to contract out airport security to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the country where most of the operational planning and financing of the attacks occurred? My guess is you, like most Americans, would think it a lunatic idea, one that could clear the way for still more terror in this country. You probably would want to know who on earth approved such a plan — and be determined to prevent it from happening…
Now, however, four-and-a-half years later, a secretive government committee has decided to turn over the management of six of the Nation’s most important ports — in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore and New Orleans — to Dubai Ports World following the UAE company’s purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which previously had the contract.
Here are some details regarding a company based in the port of Miami suing to stop the deal, saying it makes them an “involuntary partner,” with Dubai.
ABC News asks “Xenophobia or Security Concern?” in their coverage. Lovely. With headlines like this I’m sure we can next expect one that reads, “The Moon: Rock or Green Cheese?”
By the way, Homeland Security Grand Poobah Michael Chertoff said this to CNN about the problem:
“…This issue comes up periodically whenever a foreign-owned company wants to take over an asset that has national security significance…” And then he notes all the committees and procedures used to make sure everything’s up to snuff.
Really? Well, now my question is, how often does this come up and what other national security assets have been placed in the hands of a foreign government?
Lots of questions, no answers, and once again an inexplicable position on the part of the Bush admin, so strong when it comes to leadng the war on foreign land, but a dismal failure when it comes to our own border and homeland security.
UPDATE 2/20:
Two GOP Governors now express concern about the port transfer. adding to the list of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers uneasy or directly opposed to the deal.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
We cannot let this happen. Allowing a company in the UAE to control our ports is not only insane, but threatens our freedom and even our existance. I wrote my Senators a letter on this and urge everyone who values freedom to write and demand an investigation into this outrageous “deal”.
Do we think we can keep on giving these people billions of dollars for oil, year after year after year, and then expect them not to do anything with those dollars? Yeah, proposals like this scare me, and we can probably beat it back, but that victory won’t mean a thing unless we can do something about the fundamental problem that we owe these guys big time, and that’s just one aspect of the even more fundamental problem that our balance of payments is hugely out of balance. But back to oil: The Gulf states are sitting on the lion’s share of the world’s oil, which is why we’re paying respects to their kookiness instead of condemning them as the dangerous kooks that they are. (I’m tossing around the term “them” somewhat carelessly, but you understand I’m referring to the dark — and strong — side of Islam.) I don’t know exactly what we should be doing, but I can tell you that drilling in Alaska isn’t going to help, and anyone who tells you otherwise is living in a fool’s paradise (and without those 72 virgins). The next time you fill up your guzzler, think about what you have that the people who took your money want.
“The Moon: Rock or Green Cheese?”
Gawd! I almost spewed my Mt Dew all over my Thinkpad!
The approving bureaucrats on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States have just demonstrated the arrogance of power that corrupts nonelected executive department officials. They are walking advertisements for the proposition that no person should ever be allowed to work for the government for more than five years, or failing that, they should regularly be whumped on the side of the head with a two-by-four.
There must be more to this than it seems. It seems as though the majority of Americans would disallow such huge risk-taking with our security. “How dare they?” What is it that we do not know? Let there be noise until answers are forthcoming.
I think that they should test the water in Washington DC,and or,drug test those in the Bush administration.What makes them think,that we the people are going let them get away it.I never thought I would ever agree with Barbara Boxer,D-calif.,however this time,I feel that both the right and left wings are goin unite and stop this deal dead in its tracks.This is enough to wake up all of America,even Ted Kennedy might put the plug-in-the-jug for this one.Once again,the Bush adminisration won’t take homeland security serious.Perhaps we need to a form group liken to the “Minite Man” movement,to override this incompetence and insanity and go do the job our selfs.This perchese of P&O and control of our ports By UAE “MUST NOT HAPPEN” at any cost!!!Well,the the control part anyway…
“Well, now my question is, how often does this come up and what other national security assets have been placed in the hands of a foreign government?”
Tammy – may I point out:
Unocal’s potential sale to the China National Offshore Oil Company.
IBM’s sale of it’s PC manufacturing division to Lenovo (Chinese National PC company).
I don’t know the status of Unocal – it may have already been sold. Granted, only the oil company is really a ‘national security’ risk but it just doesn’t seem right when a private/public business has to try and compete againsts a state backed business. Imagine the Unocal sale if CNOOC had to compete against a Chevron backed by the US Treasury.
Michael Chertoff’s assurances about this deal don’t assure me in the least. Homeland Security appears to be anything but secure. With FEMA and Homeland Security involved in a CYA war, there seems to be little time left for their respective missions. The more CYA talk, the more likely that something of embarassing importance is being buried under a mound of manure. Neither Chertoff nor Brown are coming across as competent.
Jimmy Carter has now signed on to the Bush port deal. That alone should cause Bush to fire everyone on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and reverse this execreble decision.
I was a bit shocked to hear that President Bush would veto any efforts made stop the UAE-based company. I live half an hour away from one of the six ports and I am very unsettled about this. I am aware that state officials, Republican and Democrat, are working together to see about ending the contract.
I realize that everyone is up in arms about this issue of the ports – but I too think is more to it than what it seems.
My understanding so far of the situation is that the company would not be in charge of security of the ports (that belongs to the coast guard) nor would it control anyone coming in through the ports (that belongs to immigration) nor would it control what goes on or comes off the ship (I forget who is in charge of that). As near as I can tell, what this company would do is more of an administrative function – more a management of the administrative issues with the port.
That being said, I will say that I am not comfortable at this time with any foreign company being involved with anything in our country that affects national security, commerce or immigration. That includes England, France, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, Canada, etc.
I think there may be what are believed to be sound reasons this decision was made and approved, however, what seems to have been overlooked on the part of the Administration is the emotional impact this news would have on the country at large. We are all nervous and twitchy – especially about Middle Eastern countries. Fair or unfair as that may be. I think that this should have been brought up by the Administration before the it was allowed to become an incident, and explain the why’s and the whats.
But maybe we should all take a deep breath, let the facts come out before we all decide to commit hari-kari or have our heads explode.
Thanks for reading.
Anniemr
That says it all when CAIR and JImmy Carter are for this idea. What’s next, put NASA out for the lowest bidder, like China or Russia?
It is very scary because of the sloppy control that people in the United Arab Emirates have over their own borders and the escape of several prisoners with al Queda connections from Yemen. They also apparently launder huge amounts of money from Afghanistan and Pakistan, much of it through their underground black market methods (hawala?) which are impossible to trace but probably are also intertwined with al Queda, Hisbollah and other terrorists. Perhaps the executives in Dubai are friendly to us, but who knows down the line how their company may be infiltrated with Islamofascists.
We are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan against the terrorists and particularly al Queda, Osama bin Laden, al Zawahiri, and al Zarqawi. Moslems throughout the world are rioting concerning freedom of speech issues and calling for censorship and shari’ia laws to be enacted. It seems that in this climate, we need to have a lot more discussion and research before opening ourselves up to something this risky to our national security. As it is, only a small percentage of the containers that come in through these ports are ever inspected and could easily carry a portable nuke, and/or a chemical or biological weapon.
Sometimes I just cannot understand W at all–absolutely fearless in developing the first new foreign policy strategy since HST and yet so wimpy when it comes to illegals and now this. Or am I missing something? Is this another Rope-a-Dope strategy possibly cooked up by Karl Rove;-)
Anyone listen to Tony Snow this morning? May be another side to this?
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