posted on February 19, 2006 07:06:38 AM new
THIS WHITE HOUSE THINKS HAVING OUR SEA PORTS RUN BY AN ARAB COMPANY IS A GOOD IDEA DO YOU?
Updated: 08:00 AM EST
Worries Escalate Over Sale of U.S. Port Operations
Firm Sues, Says National Security May Be Endangered
By TED BRIDIS, AP
The Port of Miami is among the nation's busiest. It's a hub for U.S. cruise ships, which carry more than 6 million passengers a year.
WASHINGTON (Feb. 19) - A company at the Port of Miami has sued to block the takeover of shipping operations there by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. It is the first American courtroom effort to capsize a $6.8 billion sale already embroiled in a national debate over security risks at six major U.S. ports affected by the deal.
The sale, already approved by the Bush administration, has drawn escalating criticism by lawmakers in Washington who maintain the United Arab Emirates is not consistent in its support of U.S. terrorism-fighting efforts. At least one Senate oversight hearing is planned for later this month.
The Port of Miami is among the nation's busiest. It is a hub for the nation's cruise ships, which carry more than 6 million passengers a year, and the seaport services more than 30 ocean carriers, which delivered more than 1 million cargo containers there last year.
IF YOU LIKE OUR PORTS BEING RUN BY AN ARAB COMPANY VOTE FOR THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN'S AGAIN. ITS YOUR CHOICE.
posted on February 19, 2006 10:02:20 AM new
Peepa - Hysterical Racism at it's best. The UAE are our allies, there is no reason to block the deal unless you are simply saying that they are guilty of nefarious intentions based on absolutely nothing more than their geographical location.
Oh and BTW - It will be owns by a UAE company but still run by goo ole fashioned american unionized dock workers with oversight from Homeland Security.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 12:45:59 PM new
Peepa - don't misunderstand what you are feeling. It is racism built from hysteria. You have a racist attitude towards arabs. It stems from fear and hysteria. You don't know a single thing about this company other than the fact that they are frfom an arab nation so you cannot tell me that you objection is based on a single thing other than a negative opinion on arabs.
Don't sit here and try and paint it as anything less.
And enough with the f*cking "Corrupt Conservative Government" crap. It's called captalism you twit and it existed thru democratic administrations too. Foreign nations have been investing in this nation for decades.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 12:46:44 PM new
Based on What Doc?
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 12:53:03 PM new
No really.
There's an old saying that goes something like this; Keep your friends close but keep your enemies even closer.
Did anyone even think about the possibility that one reason why it's being allowed to have a Rab owned company run this sea port is so that Homeland Security can better monitor their possible ties to terrorist organizations? Think about it.
posted on February 19, 2006 12:53:55 PM new
::So far in a running straw poll below. I am not the only AMERICAN that feels our U.S. Sea Ports should be run by AMERICANS AND AMERICANS ONLY.::
And yet you left out the part of the article that mentions that the company that currently runs the Port of Miami (and New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, and others) is a British company.
Besides - how the hell does our government have any right to decide whether or not a UAE company can buy a British company which is how this change of hands is going to take place.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
[ edited by fenix03 on Feb 19, 2006 12:56 PM ]
posted on February 19, 2006 12:56:59 PM new
Besides that, if they blow up the Miami sea port they'll just kill a bunch of people from Cuber, so no big loss there.
posted on February 19, 2006 01:01:26 PM new
Now - in our next round we'll play... whose vote is he trying to curry now.
``It's unbelievably tone-deaf politically at this point in our history, four years after 9/11, to entertain the idea of turning port security over to a company based in the UAE, who avows to destroy Israel,'' Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said in a ``Fox News Sunday'' interview.
Idiot.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 02:38:59 PM new
"And yet you left out the part of the article that mentions that the company that currently runs the Port of Miami (and New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, and others) is a British company.
Besides - how the hell does our government have any right to decide whether or not a UAE company can buy a British company which is how this change of hands is going to take place. "
If it's on American soil and we choose not to allow the sale, then that's the end of it. The US government nationalizes the ports. Bam! It's ours again.
We're not at war with Iraq. We're not at war with Iran. We're not at war with UAE. We're at war with Islam, and the UAE is smack dab in the middle of it.
No Way, No How should this transfer happen.
Dr. Arcane, revelator of mystical secrets http://www.drarcane.com
Got questions about the secrets of the universe?
posted on February 19, 2006 03:08:07 PM new
My take is if the American government doesn't want Britain to sell to UAE, then we'll have to buy it....it's not our place to tell them what to do with their property, regardless of where that property is.
I also did not realize we were at war with Islam, or should I say all of Islam.
posted on February 19, 2006 04:41:10 PM new
fenix03,
Sorry,but calling me an Hysterical Racist or twit IS NOTHING. It doesn't change the fact or DRAW ATTENTION away from the fact that DUMBO BUSH supports having a GOVERNMENT BACKED UNITED ARAB EMIRATES COMPANY RUN 6 OF OUR SEA PORTS.
IF PERSONALLY YOU LIKE OUR PORTS BEING RUN BY AN ARAB GOVERNMENT BACKED COMPANY VOTE FOR THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN'S AGAIN. THEY ARE SUPPORTING THE IDEA AND YOUR CHOICE TO AGREE WITH IT BY SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT.
I PERSONALLY can not and will not stand by and let THIS CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT. A GOVERNMENT RUN BY A BUNCH OF CROOKS AND PHONIES RUIN THIS GREAT COUNTRY MORE THAN IT ALREADY HAS.
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WILL PUT A STOP TO THIS COUNTRY AND ITS LAWS BEING SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER IN THE 2006 ELECTIONS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE ARABS POISE AS MUCH THREAT TO AMERICA AS THIS GOVERNMENT FULL OF PHONIES AND CROOKS DO.
posted on February 19, 2006 04:57:49 PM new
Think about it for a minute i.e. sixty seconds. All the oil money the USA funnels to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, etc. has to be invested somewhere to provide a decent return. Port of Miami is a good investment - ergo let the UAE investors buy it. Your country, USA Inc., is already 18-26% foreign owned if I recall, by mostly UK, Dutch, Saudi, Chinese, and other investors. Welcome to the exciting world of free trade! (Obligitory: "I, for one, welcome our new <insert name here> overlords!"
posted on February 19, 2006 05:39:16 PM new
::If it's on American soil and we choose not to allow the sale, then that's the end of it. The US government nationalizes the ports. Bam! It's ours again.::
Oh yeah - now there is a great idea. Lets put the government in charge of our ports. That'll make things run smoother.
:::head shake:::
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 05:46:12 PM new
Well so far there is more people in support of having an Arab company run 6 of our Sea Ports on this board.
In another article below our government says they have a plan but won't say what it is LOL. SO WHAT'S NEW WITH THIS BUNCH OF LIARS AND CROOKS THEY ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN.
By WILL LESTER, AP
WASHINGTON (Feb. 19) - U.S. terms for approving an Arab company's takeover of operations at six major American ports are insufficient to guard against terrorist infiltration, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Sunday.
"I'm aware of the conditions and they relate entirely to how the company carries out its procedures, but it doesn't go to who they hire, or how they hire people," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told The Associated Press.
"They're better than nothing, but to me they don't address the underlying conditions, which is how are they going to guard against things like infiltration by al-Qaida or someone else, how are they going to guard against corruption?" King said.
King spoke in response to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's comments Sunday about conditions of the sale. King said he learned about the government's terms for approving the sale from meetings with senior Bush administration officials.
Chertoff defended the security review of Dubai Ports World of the United Arab Emirates, the company given permission to take over the port operations. Chertoff said the government typically builds in "certain conditions or requirements that the company has to agree to make sure we address the national security concerns." But Chertoff declined to discuss specifics saying that information is classified.
"We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint," Chertoff said on ABC's "This Week."
Quotes on the Deal
''We have to balance the paramount urgency of security against the fact that we still want to have a robust global trading system.''
-- Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security director
1/7
Source: AP
London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., was bought last week by DP World, a state-owned business. Peninsular and Oriental runs major commercial operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
Lawmakers from both parties are questioning the sale as a possible risk to national security.
"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history," Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said on "Fox News Sunday."
"Most Americans are scratching their heads, wondering why this company from this region now," Graham said.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, on CBS' "Face the Nation," said, "It is ridiculous to say you're taking secret steps to make sure that it's OK for a nation that had ties to 9/11, (to) take over part of our port operations in many of our largest ports. This has to stop."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Arab journalists in an interview Friday at the State Department, that it was "the considered opinion of the U.S. government that this can go forward." She pledged to work with Congress because "perhaps people will need better explanation and will need to understand some of the process that we have gone through."
At least one Senate oversight hearing is planned for later this month.
"Congress is welcome to look at this and can get classified briefings," Chertoff told CNN's "Late Edition." "We have to balance the paramount urgency of security against the fact that we still want to have a robust global trading system," he added.
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who is working on legislation to prohibit companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from running port operation in the U.S., said Chertoff's comments showed him that the administration "just does not get it."
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. joined some family members of Sept. 11 victims at a news conference Sunday to urge President Bush to personally intervene. The president "should override the agreement and conduct a special investigation into the matter," Schumer said.
Dubai Ports World should not be excluded automatically from such a deal because it is based in the UAE, Chertoff said.
Critics have cited the UAE's history as an operational and financial base for the hijackers who carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, they contend the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist.
Dubai Ports World has said it intends to "maintain and, where appropriate, enhance current security arrangements." The UAE's foreign minister has described his country as an important U.S. ally in fighting terrorism.
"I would hope that our friends in Abu Dhabi would not be offended by the fact that in our democracy, we debate these things," Rice said in the interview with the Arab journalists.
posted on February 19, 2006 06:19:09 PM new
::"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history," Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said on "Fox News Sunday."::
Love the edit.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 07:04:17 PM new
"Critics have cited the UAE's history as an operational and financial base for the hijackers who carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, they contend the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist".
AGAIN IF YOU WANT ARABS TO RUN OUR SEA PORTS JUST KEEP SUPPORTING THE REPUBLICANS.
BUSH AND CHERTOFF HAVE A PLAN FOR SECURITY THEY JUST WON'T TELL US WHAT IT IS. LOL
THE PROBLEM WITH THE CONSERVATIVES PLANS ARE THEY DON'T WORK.
posted on February 19, 2006 08:08:11 PM new"Most Americans are scratching their heads, wondering why this company from this region now," Graham said.
Actually most USAians are probably scratching their heads wondering where the UAE is? The emirates are quite small with friendly people of all colours and races since it's a trading nation. Their national flag carrier, Emirates, is one of the world's fastest growing airlines.
The UAE investors bought P&O as it's a good company as many mutual funds can attest. (By the way P&O made its fortune selling opium to China, just as certain US businesses sold machine parts and supplies to Germany via neutral countries during WWII, but I digress.)
posted on February 19, 2006 09:32:33 PM new
Have any of you noted who currectly owns the port managent company P & O?
It isn't a US owned corporation. It is a British company.
A Miami ports company has taken legal action to block the takeover of Britain's P&O by a state-owned business from the United Arab Emirates, citing national security concerns. The suit has been filed amid a growing political storm in Washington about the takeover.
posted on February 19, 2006 09:56:41 PM new
I pointed that out earlier Bear. I think it you start down a dangerous slope when as a nation you try to start dictating what foreign copanies can purchase other foreign companies based on a subsidiary that exists in the US. That's one of those things that can seriously come back to bite our own companies in the ass.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 10:19:23 PM new
my small humble opinion which don't make a damn is --We are Americans our American country ought to be American owned so Lets all pool our nickles and dimes and buy it ourselves. If that fails lets hope an American owned company not foreign-- steps up and wants it. I personally don't like foreign countries owning anything in our land and I am not a racist, just a concerned American and yes I am American a lot of the Natural first Americans part Indian. Hey that is good idea lets have the original Americans buy it with their casino money. kidding sort of.
Just WHO is going to run for next president we need a GOOD one fast. But I would hate to try and fix the messes we are now in so I would think it would have to be a super human strong person.
**************
Can't touch this! uh huh, uh huh.
posted on February 19, 2006 10:20:01 PM new"BooBoo, you want our AIRPORTS? Sure, NOT a problemo, buddy! My dumb countrymen swallowed that PORTS BS we feed them, right?"
NOW...
Just imagine this...
Can you imagine IF Clinton had SOLD OUT America to the ARABS like DUMBO has done?
Ole "Poppa-Pill" Limbaugh would be screaming: "Traitor!"
Course, it NEVER would have happened, cause there AIN'T nobody DUMBER than DUMBO...
posted on February 19, 2006 10:49:33 PM new
Irked - the problem is that when you start trying to deny foreign investment in this country, what happenes to the companies in foreign nations that are US owned? If they cannot take advantage of our economy, why should we be alllowed to take advantage of theirs?
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on February 19, 2006 11:07:09 PM new
fenix you are correct, I was just musing I guess about a perfect world but then we don't have that. Sure would be nice if we- ALL counties could get along and be nice and fair and buddy buddy. I just was not thinking past my own little fairytale. Free enterprise is partly what we are about so I'm just hoping our ports can stay American--owned. Again my no count opinion is it is one thing to own a factory or what ever but another to have another country in control??? of any of our ports which are a big access point to lots of possibilities. It boggles my pea sized brain.
OK , OK I know I admit it I am a pea brain. The wife calls me other nefarious names DA for one. She also says "If You (me) had brain you would take it out and play with it." LOL
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Can't touch this! uh huh, uh huh.
"Por favor, no exprima el Charmin."
[ edited by irked on Feb 19, 2006 11:14 PM ]
