Port Deal Closes This Monday!

With the firestorm of criticism that's taken place after the announcement of the sale of port operations to Dubai World, and the announcement that there would be a 45 day security review done regarding this deal, am I the only one who got the impression that the sale wouldn't be going through for at least another month and a half?

Well, it turns out we were mistaken. According the the U.S. Treasury Department, the ports deal closes this coming Monday.

That's right, the same deal that's been in the headlines for the past week or two, that's been the lead story on every single news show, and has been on the lips of every US politician, is going to go through on Monday, to hell with concerns about national security.

Here's the story:
news.yahoo.com...

If you ever had doubts that there is an Imperial Presidency in the United States since 2001, this ought to convince you. Even though congressional leaders, political pundits from all ends of the political spectrum, and a whopping 76% of the US Population believes the deal is about the worst thing we could do at this time, the closing goes through on Monday. Every bit of George Bush's talk about a careful review and all the "go slow" talk, it's still full speed ahead when it comes to taking care of a rich oil buddy, even when that buddy happens to be a supporter of the very terrorists that brought down the World Trade Center, even though that "good buddy" of Mr. Bush refuses to recognize the state of Israel, even though that "best pal" of Mr. Bush supports the Taliban.

Monday. Unbelievable. I want to know how bad it has to get before the last 34% of the American people who still support this president will finally wake up to the fiery wreck that's been leading this nation since January, 2001 (9 months BEFORE 9/11, in case you've forgotten)? It sometimes gets lost on certain people just who was the Chief Executive of this Nation the day terrorists struck.

The fact that people all over the political spectrum are fighting this ports deal scandal is proof that this is not a partisan issue. It's not a GOP vs Democrat issue at all. It might be, in the final analysis, that George Bush, who promised to unite this country after the 8 horrible years of Peace and Prosperity under Bill Clinton, will actually succeed in uniting the country.

Against him.

Let's hope the several trillion dollars this "War on Terror" has cost the US, and the thousands of dead American soldiers, and the wasteful partisan anger that's built up in this country, don't ruin us before Americans once again stand together.

the US can't do much of anything to stop a British business from selling it's assetts....to anyone. There's some sort of British angency that has to approve the sale, and well, there's a small company in Miami that is tied in someway to this business that has filed the british agengy to stop it or at least postpone it because of the ruckus here. they are worried that they will lose their part of the contract if the US government pulls the contract, which would cause a few hundred or so people in miami to lose their jobs.

but. I if push comes to shove, I don't think the US can do much to stop the sale.

Yeah i don't realy think the U.S realy has any choice but to stay out.
BUT on a completly diferent view.. I had no idea about this sale.. i'm in new zealand and this is news to me..
But in my home city christchurch, some billionare chinese guy is trying to secure our port. This guys has links with Rebel armed forces in china... is this just pay to much attention at the time

The british court okayed the deal....

www.breitbart.com...

So, okay this whole thing makes me dizzy.
And, I can't help but wonder what the real agenda is in making this big ruckus.
So, what is the deal with the 45 days?

I've seen paperwork that this has been in the works since last fall. So, why are we hearing about this now.
Is this is really a done deal

[edit on 2-3-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]

What can they be thinking:

On the House floor, Democrats failed for the second time in a week to force a debate and vote on separate legislation that would require congressional approval of the takeover for it to take effect after a 45-day security investigation.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been assailing the Bush administration for its decision to let DP World purchase Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation, a British company that holds leases at several U.S. ports.

news.yahoo

This BBC story has several side links witn nore info:
news.bbc.co.uk...

It now looks probable that Congress will scuttle the DP World deal next week. That would be another humiliation for an increasingly weakened president. But there is an awkward truth at the heart of this angry Washington storm. That truth is that Mr Bush, not Congress, is right about the takeover. Dubai is a wealthy, stable and autocratic sheikhdom, a Singapore of the Gulf. The threat to American security from its takeover of a few US ports is negligible. The forces driving the resistance to DP World are ugly and will not help the cause of reintegrating the US with the global consensus. But, as Edwardian Britain found out, the biggest beneficiary of global free trade can also turn into a ferocious protectionist when the winds of insecurity start to blow.

www.guardian.co.uk...

This is one of those screwy stories which served to silence the talk about the Cheney shooting...and who knows what else.

People, Washington DC is the real Hollywood now.:dn

Why all the flap about the 45 days when it isnt going to make a damn bit of good????

ITS ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!

then again maybe cheney shooting someone was just a diversion also..

maybe the main story they don't want anyone to see is what is going on with the economy? and all the rest is just a diversion....

who knows, but this is a nonstory, and both the republicans and the democrats have been great actors in the play!

I did see another angle on this last which mentioned that it would soften the blow a bit and satisfy security concerns if the Dubai company partnered with an American company in the deal.
The american company proposed was................Halliburton

Of course, this would be another no-bid contract handed to them on a silver platter!

Interesting also that GWB was so adamant that the Dubai deal would go through. I'm sure it has nothing to do with Dubai money funding his brother Neil's company. Funny how these little links turn up

This just in.... Dubai gives up on U.S. ports control.

WASHINGTON - Bowing to ferocious opposition in Congress, a Dubai-owned company signaled surrender Thursday in its quest to take over operations at U.S. ports.

“DP World will transfer fully the U.S. operations ... to a United States entity,” the firm’s top executive, H. Edward Bilkey, said in an announcement that capped weeks of controversy.

Relieved Republicans in Congress said the firm had pledged full divestiture.

....

Source

www.abovetopsecret.com..." target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow"> mod edit to use external quote code



[edit on 9-3-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]

This thread brings the UAE ports deal up to date:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Why is this in WoT? It's a US economic / political matter and should be in another forum.

Spanish group bids for UK airports - shock, horror.

www.tiscali.co.uk...

Remember the Armada!!

[edit on 10-3-2006 by Strangerous]

First of all, This relates to the WOT and national security. Haven't you heard the clamor that congress made of UAE and the US ports

Secondly, the purpose for this thread is over for the most part.
The next stage of this debate is being held here:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Please post your post your thoughts about the current situation there