Dubai company agrees to delay U.S. port deal

[ProSense]

Agrees?

Arab Firm Agrees to Delay U.S. Port Deal

By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 9 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A United Arab Emirates company has volunteered to postpone its takeover of significant operations at six major U.S. seaports, giving the White House more time to convince skeptical lawmakers the deal poses no increased risks from terrorism.

The surprise concession late Thursday cools the standoff building between the Congress and President Bush over his administration's previous approval of the deal. In early reaction, lawmakers praised the temporary hold. But some critics pressed anew for an intensive examination of the deal's risks.

As part of its new offer, coordinated with the White House, Dubai Ports World said it would agree not to exercise control or influence management over U.S. ports pending further discussions with the administration and Congress. It did not say how long it would wait for these discussions to be finished.

The announcement effectively leaves existing American and British executives in charge of the company's seaport operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060224/ap_on_go_pr_wh/ports_security

[Demeter]

1. What Dubai REALLY Ought to Do Is Sell Our Ports To US

Let them go through with the rest of their deal, just divest themselves of any US port (and let's see if any other country worries about their security.)

[beingthere]

2. And then the Repugs will

ok it as they intend all along, after they look good by acting concerned and then say now that we've had time to review it and we have demanded additional
safeguards etc.

[Virginia Dare]

3. Yes, delay it until someone holds something nice and shiny

in front of the American people and they forget all about it....you are getting very sleeepy...