United Arab Emirates firm to operate six major U.S. ports

[kach22i]

Oh, and Homeland Security says it just fine with them.

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/06/front2453780.0986111113.html

Monday, February 13, 2006

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has approved a deal in which a United Arab Emirates company would operate six major ports in the United States.

A U.S. government panel has determined that the UAE firm, DP World, would not endanger national security.

DP World, based in Dubai, has offered $6.8 billion for the purchase of a British firm that operates the ports of Baltimore, Miami, New York, New Jersey, New Orleans and Philadelphia, Middle East Newsline reported.

DP World intends to acquire the London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation [P&O] Co. The sale was expected to be approved on Monday.

"The P&O directors have withdrawn their recommendation of the offer by PSA, which was announced on Jan. 26, 2006, and unanimously recommend that P&O Stockholders vote in favor of the revised proposals at the meetings, which are now scheduled to take place on Feb. 13," DP World said in a statement.

The company said the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States "thoroughly reviewed the potential transaction and concluded they had no objection." The committee includes representatives from the departments of Treasury, Defense, Justice, Commerce, State and Homeland Security.

The United Arab Emirates has been described as a leading military ally of the United States. In 2005, the UAE acquired the first 10 of 80 F-16E/F Block 60 multi-role fighters in a $6.4 billion purchase.

But officials said the UAE has not fully responded to repeated appeals from the Treasury Department to halt money-laundering activities exploited by Al Qaida and aligned groups. They said that for years Dubai served as a base for Al Qaida operatives, including those who destroyed the World Trade Center and a Pentagon wing in 2001.

"America's busiest ports are vital to our economy and to the international economy, and that is why they remain top terrorist targets," Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. "Just as we would not outsource military operations or law enforcement duties, we should be very careful before we outsource such sensitive homeland security duties."

[kach22i]

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108074.html

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., the UAE was identified as a major financial center used by al-Qaeda in transferring money to the hijackers.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/United_Arab_Emirates

# We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates because of the high threat of terrorist attack.
# We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the United Arab Emirates. Commercial and public areas frequented by foreigners are possible terrorist targets.

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/entity.jsp?id=1521846767-531

1995-2001: Persian Gulf Elite Go Hunting with bin Laden in Afghanistan Complete 911 Timeline
After the Taliban takes control of the area around Kandahar, Afghanistan, in September 1994, prominent Persian Gulf state officials and businessmen, including high-ranking United Arab Emirates and Saudi government ministers, such as Saudi intelligence minister Prince Turki al-Faisal, frequently secretly fly into Kandahar on state and private jets for hunting expeditions. [Los Angeles Times, 11/18/01] General Wayne Downing, Bush's former national director for combating terrorism, says: “They would go out and see Osama, spend some time with him, talk with him, you know, live out in the tents, eat the simple food, engage in falconing, some other pursuits, ride horses. One noted visitor is Sheik Mohammed ibn Rashid al Maktum, United Arab Emirates Defense Minister and Crown Prince for the emirate of Dubai.” [MSNBC, 9/5/03] While there, some develop ties to the Taliban and al-Qaeda and give them money. Both bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar sometimes participate in these hunting trips. Former US and Afghan officials suspect that the dignitaries' outbound jets may also have smuggled out al-Qaeda and Taliban personnel. [Los Angeles Times, 11/18/01] On one occasion, the US will decide not to attack bin Laden with a missile because he's falconing with important members of the United Arab Emirates' royal family (see February 1999).
People and organizations involved: Wayne Downing, al-Qaeda, Mullah Omar, Taliban, Osama bin Laden, Sheik Mohammed ibn Rashid al Maktum, Turki bin Faisal bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, United Arab Emirates

MORE SHOULD YOU DARE TO OPEN YOUR EYES!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=united+arab+emirates+al+qaeda&spell=1

RECAP:
One noted visitor is Sheik Mohammed ibn Rashid al Maktum, United Arab Emirates Defense Minister and Crown Prince for the emirate of Dubai.” [MSNBC, 9/5/03] While there, some develop ties to the Taliban and al-Qaeda and give them money. Both bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar sometimes participate in these hunting trips.

[kach22i]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nypost/20060214/cm_nypost/portinsecurity

Tue Feb 14, 6:00 AM ET

Do the feds really want to place the ports of New York and New Jersey in the hands of a Middle East country with ties to the Sept. 11 hijackers? As The Post reported on Sunday, that's what's about to happen, now that Dubai Ports World has won control - for $6.8 billion - of British-owned Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
ADVERTISEMENT

The purchase gives Dubai Ports control of six U.S. ports - including, in addition to New York-New Jersey, Miami, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

True, the deal reportedly was approved by the top-secret U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which decided there was no security risk.

But at a time when security in the ports remains unacceptably lax, we wonder whether this is a wise move.

Dubai Ports, after all, is owned by the United Arab Emirates, whose banking system - considered the commercial center of the Arab world - provided most of the cash for the 9/11 hijackers. Indeed, much of the operational planning for the World Trade Center attacks took place inside the UAE.

And while the Bush folks now consider the UAE a major ally in the war against terror, the
Treasury Department has been stonewalled by the emirates, and other Arab countries, in trying to track
Osama bin Laden's bank accounts.

The new leader of Dubai, one of the seven small countries that make up the UAE, has said all the right things about fighting radical Islam since 9/11.

But this remains very much an Islamist nation, where preaching any religion other than Islam is prohibited.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), for one, thinks this is a case where it's better to be safe than sorry.

Noting that the nation's ports "remain top terrorist targets," Schumer rightly argues that "we would not outsource military operations or law-enforcement duties."

Likewise, he says, "we should be very careful before we outsource such sensitive homeland security duties."

The fact is, control of America's ports increasingly is being placed in private - and foreign - hands. And there's no guarantee that today's ally in the War on Terror will remain such tomorrow.

There already is reason enough for concern about security in the ports:
Homeland Security officials concede that it is impossible for them to fully inspect all but a tiny percentage of the containers that enter from abroad.

Though no one likes to discuss it publicly, smuggling in weapons of mass destruction likely can most easily be done through the ports.

Supporters of the deal insist that it doesn't give al Qaeda opportunities it doesn't already enjoy. That's no comfort.

[targa911S]

W is such a moron. When will this stop?

[kach22i]

The quote below is from another forum, and a well informed poster:

cookie12
http://boards.charlierose.com/board/topic.asp?ti=16314
Realist, glad to hear you wrote to your Congressmen. Please copy to your Senators too? I urge everyone to do the same. If this is not an important issue, what is?

On Lou Dobbs' news program tonight, he spent considerable time on this story. It is out in the news now, with Senators and Congressmen speaking out in outrage.

Apparently, the Committee on Foreign Investment which okayed this deal, is highly secret and is accountable to NO ONE in government. It is headed by the Secretary of the Treasury, John Snow. Its other members are unknown, held secret!

And this is the same Committee that okayed the sale of Unical to China! Do you kind of get the picture that we have major traitors running this country????

Interestingly, Mayor Bloomberg of NYC has said he would scrap any deal with the UAE company to run New York's port. Lou Dobbs seemed to think he would not hve the authority to overrule the federal gov't in this matter. Interesting legal debate there...I don't know if the feds have the authority rather than the state or this city to appoint the Port Master.

Btw: in Lou Dobbs' CNN poll asking viewers to pronounce their views on this deal, 98% replied in outrage, saying that Congress should put a stop to it.

GoKnow - GK



US Lawmakers Question Foreign Management of US Ports
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200602\POL 20060216b.html

By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
February 16, 2006

(CNSNews.com) - Both Republicans and Democrats are urging the U.S. government to take a closer look at a deal that would turn over management of major U.S. ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates.

Right now, a private company in Britain manages major ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. But a UAE-owned company called Dubai Ports World is buying the London company, which will put Dubai Ports World in charge of the U.S. ports.

At a press conference on Thursday, a group of Democratic and Republican senators and representatives will ask the U.S. Treasury Department to "review the new arrangement and carefully and openly scrutinize all security issues before control is turned over."

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has warned that U.S. ports remain top terrorist targets. "Just as we would not outsource military operations or law enforcement duties, we should be very careful before we outsource such sensitive homeland security duties," the Washington Post quoted him as saying.

Schumer is among the lawmakers calling for a closer look at the UAE deal. The others include Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Reps. Vito Fosella (R-N.Y.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.) and Mark Foley (R-Fla.)

They believe a U.S. government panel that oversees foreign investment in American industry was too quick to approve the deal.

Various newspapers agree.

Allowing a country like the United Arab Emirates to take control of American ports is a "step in the wrong direction," the New York Times opined on Thursday.

"Do we really want our major ports in the hands of an Arab country where al Qaeda recruits, travels and wires money?" the Washington Times opined on Wednesday. "President Bush should overrule the committee to reject this deal," the newspaper said.

"If that doesn't happen, Congress should take action. The country's ports should not be owned by foreign governments; much less governments whose territories are favored by al Qaeda."

[kach22i]

FYI: They already fly into NYC.

Emirates destinations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_destinations

North America

* United States
o New York City (John F. Kennedy International Airport)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_(airline)#Services

United States astronaut Buzz Aldrin and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were passengers on the airline's first flight from Dubai to New York City.

Emirates Airline (shortened form: Emirates) (Arabic: الإمارات al-Imārāt) is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates owned by The Emirates Group. It operates services to the Middle East, Far East, Europe, Africa, Indian subcontinent, Asia-Pacific and North America. Its main base is Dubai International Airport

[kach22i]

I'm giving this thread a bump because the story has finally made the main stream press.........plus members of Congress (including Republicans) have been speaking out against the UAE takeover of US ports.

[kach22i]

Come on guys, this is not a party issue - it's a matter of National Security .

................ 27 minutes ago.

GOP Governors Threaten to Block Port Deal
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060221/ap_on_go_co/port_security;_ylt=AlmEOt4dFFxWY2_wt9rNXeWs0NUE;_y lu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

WASHINGTON - Two Republican governors are threatening legal action to block an Arab company from taking over operations in major U.S. ports and some GOP lawmakers say the deal should be closely examined.

[widebody911]

Follow the money

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/393375p-333478c.html

The Dubai firm that won Bush administration backing to run six U.S. ports has at least two ties to the White House.

One is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose agency heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.

Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.

The other connection is David Sanborn, who runs DP World's European and Latin American operations and was tapped by Bush last month to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by widebody911
Follow the money

http://nydailynews.com/front/story/393375p-333478c.html

The Dubai firm that won Bush administration backing to run six U.S. ports has at least two ties to the White House.

One is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose agency heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.

Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.

The other connection is David Sanborn, who runs DP World's European and Latin American operations and was tapped by Bush last month to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.

That might explain it.

And this too:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060221/ap_on_go_co/port_security;_ylt=AlmEOt4dFFxWY2_wt9rNXeWs0NUE;_y lu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

Ehrlich, concerned about security at the Port of Baltimore, said Monday he was "very troubled" that Maryland officials got no advance notice before the Bush administration approved the Arab company's takeover of the operations at the six ports.

[kach22i]

From the NYDailynews link Thom gave:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/393375p-333478c.html

The Daily News has learned that lawmakers also want to know if a detailed 45-day probe should have been conducted instead of one that lasted no more than 25 days.

According to a 1993 congressional measure, the longer review is mandated when the company is owned by a foreign government and the purchase "could result in control of a person engaged in interstate commerce in the U.S. that could affect the national security of the U.S."

[Rodeo]

Not a single Bush apologist on this thread. Not one.

Start a thread about our young men and women dying to secure Iraq for radical Muslims aligned with Iran and Syria, they stay away. Nothing.

Start a thread about this insane decision to turn port security over to the U.A.E., nothing.

Say Bush is incompetent or doing a bad job somewhere else, they are all over you like flies to *****.

[914GT]

I see that Chuck Schumer expressed support for Halliburton to take over the port deal. I am not kidding.

[Tobra]

Originally posted by Rodeo
Not a single Bush apologist on this thread. Not one.

Start a thread about our young men and women dying to secure Iraq for radical Muslims aligned with Iran and Syria, they stay away. Nothing.

Start a thread about this insane decision to turn port security over to the U.A.E., nothing.

Say Bush is incompetent or doing a bad job somewhere else, they are all over you like flies to *****.

That is because Conservatives are not as stupid as you like to think. This is a bad policy, obviously. This is a British company trying to sell a business to an Arab company. It is a bad idea and it will not happen. There, you have your reply, have a nice day.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by 914GT
I see that Chuck Schumer expressed support for Halliburton to take over the port deal. I am not kidding.

Just beacuse he has a "D" in front of his name does not mean he can't be bought. Is this the lesser of evils?

It's getting political, But I maintain that the GOP better do something before the Dem's gain power on this one.



Menendez, Clinton seek to stop UAE port deal
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVs N2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2ODgxNDc1JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRX l5Mg==

Saturday, February 18, 2006

By TOM DAVIS
STAFF WRITER



Sens. Robert Menendez and Hillary Clinton announced Friday that they'll introduce legislation next month to bar companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from buying port operations in the United States.

The legislation would block Dubai Ports World's recent acquisition of operations at six major American ports -- including the Port Newark Container Terminal -- and all similar transactions in the future.

Dubai is one of six emirates in the United Arab Emirates, which was home to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers and a transfer point for at least some of the money used to finance the attacks.

Menendez, D-N.J., criticized the Bush administration for allowing the transaction to move forward. Congress, he said, must act "to protect our security."

"Our ports are the front lines of the war on terrorism," Menendez said. "They are both vulnerable targets for attack and venues for smuggling and human trafficking. 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."

The Port Authority signed a 30-year lease in 2000 with P&O Ports North America, a subsidiary of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., to operate 50 percent of the Port Newark container facility, one of five major terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Dubai Ports World recently bought the company for $6.8 billion.

While the deal hasn't been completed, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States recently reviewed the transaction and did not object. The committee, run by the Treasury Department, also includes officials from the departments of Defense, Justice, Commerce, State and Homeland Security.

The Treasury Department on Thursday said the consensus of the panel's 12 members was that the sale did not present national security problems. The review included an assessment from U.S. intelligence agencies.

Menendez alleged that, in addition to the UAE's Sept. 11 connection, Dubai has served as a transfer point for shipments of nuclear components to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

"The Bush administration has neglected port security for years, and now they're ready to turn port operations over to the control of a foreign government that is a known transit point for smuggled nuclear technology," Menendez said.

E-mail: davist@northjersey.com

6881475

[914GT]

And Jimmy Carter supports the port takeover by the UAE.

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by Tobra
That is because Conservatives are not as stupid as you like to think. This is a bad policy, obviously. This is a British company trying to sell a business to an Arab company. It is a bad idea and it will not happen. There, you have your reply, have a nice day.

Thank you.

Care to comment on whether we should continue the flow of American lives and dolars to tidy up Iraq for this guy and others like him?

[kach22i]

Found this off the Matt Drudge site...........about Carter, also read carter was on Larry King.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/13921401.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_nation

WASHINGTON - President Bush is taking a battering from fellow Republicans, even the governors of New York and Maryland, over the administration's support for a decision that gives an Arab company control of some commercial operations at six major seaports -- including Miami-Dade's.

But he got a boost Monday from an unlikely source, frequent critic and former president Jimmy Carter, who downplayed fears that the deal poses a risk.

''The overall threat to the United States and security, I don't think it exists,'' Carter said on CNN's The Situation Room. ``I'm sure the president's done a good job with his subordinates to make sure this is not a threat.''

The show of support from the Democrat, who has not hesitated to criticize Bush, underscores the odd political lines that have emerged since news broke last week that the United States gave the thumbs-up to the $6.8 billion sale of the British firm P&O Ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates.

Both Democrats and Republicans have called on the president to scrap the deal. On Monday Republican Govs. George Pataki of New York and Robert Ehrlich of Maryland questioned the decision. And congressional outrage persisted even as the White House signaled it's unlikely to block it.

Political analysts suggested that challenging the president gives Republican lawmakers a chance to deflect Democratic criticism.

''This is a homeland security, national security issue and I think Republicans think they own this issue and they don't want to give Democrats an opening,'' said Stuart Rothenberg, editor of The Rothenberg Political Report, a Washington newsletter..

[Rodeo]

''The overall threat to the United States and security, I don't think it exists,'' Carter said on CNN's The Situation Room. ``I'm sure the president's done a good job with his subordinates to make sure this is not a threat.''

How could you trust this administration to do anything right? What competence have they shown in any area that would justify this trust.

Not to mention the fact, that the president DIDN'T EVEN KOW ABOUT THE DEAL UNTIL CONGRESS STARTED COMPLAINING.

Lou Dobbs said this morning that the entire thing was done in 25 days! Think about it ... 25 days! You cant get a permit to install a spetic system in 25 days, but this was doen inthat time frame, without the president's knowledge.

Carter is wrong.

[ZOA NOM]

So there is no concern about a British company running several American ports? There are no terrorists in Britain? The UAE is one of very few allies in the Muslim world. The US retains the control where it is needed, and the wrong people will still be identified and prevented from entering the country. If the US stops this deal, we can forget ever seeing any progress between the West and the Muslim world.