Hey Mike, are the commies..er I mean Dems, wrong or right on this one ?

[sarettah]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsar...RTS.xml&rpc=22

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. Democratic senators said on Friday they would introduce legislation aimed at blocking Dubai Ports World from buying a company that operates several U.S. shipping ports because of security concerns.

Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Hillary Clinton of New York said they would offer a measure to ban companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from acquiring U.S. port operations.

"We wouldn't turn the border patrol or the customs service over to a foreign government, and we can't afford to turn our ports over to one either," Menendez said in a statement. The Senate Banking Committee also plans to hold a hearing on the issue later this month.

P&O, the company Dubai Ports World plans to buy for $6.8 billion, is already foreign-owned, by the British, but the concern is that the purchaser is backed by the United Arab Emirates government.

The UAE company would gain control over the management of major U.S. ports in New York and New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami and that has sparked national security concerns among lawmakers.

...................................

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a U.S. inter-agency panel that reviews security implications of foreign takeovers of strategic assets, already reviewed the transaction and did not object.

Despite that review, some Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress urged the Bush administration to conduct a more rigorous review. They expressed fears that the UAE was used as a conduit for parts used for nuclear proliferation and that the local banking system had been abused by financiers with possible links to terrorist organizations.

............................

U.S. officials have said the UAE has been a solid and cooperative partner in the fight against terrorism, and have praised the UAE for steps to protect its booming financial sector against abuse by terrorism financiers.

Money for the September 11 attacks was wired through the UAE's banking system, according to U.S. officials. Two of the September 11 hijackers were UAE citizens.

[JR]

dems hate arabs.

everyone knows that.

its a shame really.

[Mike AI]

Funny post JR.


Sar. - I have no idea why any foriegn country would be able to win a contract like this.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Funny post JR.


Sar. - I have no idea why any foriegn country would be able to win a contract like this.

Well, the one's who had it before this was a British company.

Outsourcing port control...lol... You gotta wonder what they consider security these days.

[SykkBoy]

Even a broken clock is right twice per day ;-)


(no, I haven't joined the evil right, I'm just tired of all the bullshit both parties deal out just trying to one up each other rather than work for the common good of the country)

[JoesHO]

No comment, I wouldn't want Mike to be on the same side of an issue as me. ( it would hurt my record)

[PornoDoggy]

My understanding is that this company handles Port operations, not security per se.

When I heard that this afternoon, I thought the distinction was pretty transparent.

I still don't like this idea - and am bothered by a UAE-based company only marginally more than I am bothered by a British one.

National security is not a place that I think we should let the market determine how it is run.

[Mike AI]

I find it amusing that liberals who refuse to allow airport screeners to racial profile, but they are in arms over the gov't hiring a company that is owned by a peaceful arab state just because they are arab/muslim.


Just to be clear, because I know Joe and other liberals have a hard time understaning my posistions.

I am FOR racial profiling when it comes to terrorist threats AND I am AGAINST allowing any company from outside the US to have control over US security - including port security.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

I find it amusing that liberals who refuse to allow airport screeners to racial profile, but they are in arms over the gov't hiring a company that is owned by a peaceful arab state just because they are arab/muslim.


Just to be clear, because I know Joe and other liberals have a hard time understaning my posistions.

I am FOR racial profiling when it comes to terrorist threats AND I am AGAINST allowing any company from outside the US to have control over US security - including port security.

Someone needs to tell Joe about the new anal profiling they do at the Atlanta Airport. HellPuppy told me hes going on a trip and hes going thru TWICE!

[bluemoney]

Originally Posted by gonzo

Someone needs to tell Joe about the new anal profiling they do at the Atlanta Airport.

I heard they found a wadd of cash up Bill Campbell's ass.

[Mike AI]

It is official, Bush's policy on this situation is DEAD WRONG!!

How do I know? Jimmy Carter is supporting it! Carter has never been right about anything!

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...iherald_nation

[TheEnforcer]

It's unbelieveable how they could think that this is ok.

[Mike AI]

Originally Posted by TheEnforcer

It's unbelieveable how they could think that this is ok.

Even if it would be ok in reality, the White House should have known this would become a major political hot potato. Especially if you want to keep beating up democrats for being weak on homeland security and terrorism.

Plain stupid, but not unique for this White House.

[SykkBoy]

I kind of wish I knew the Bush family...I have a few ideas for some cushy government contracting type stuff ;-)