911 Bankers to Run SIX Major U.S. Ports—Dubai(UAE). IMPEACH NOW!!!

[autorank]

911 Bankers to Run SIX Major U.S. Ports—Dubai (UAE). IMPEACH NOW!!!

Here’s another reason for IIMPEACHMENT.

Six ports will be run and protected by a Dubai based port management company (DP World):
New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

The deal was approved by a “U.S. government panel” coordinated out of the White House. Just prior to the deal, David C. Sanborn of Virginia was appointed as administrator of the Maritime Administration of the Transportation Department. Sanborn worked as DP World's director of operations for Europe and Latin America.

911 Bankers to Run U.S. Ports—IMPEACH BUSH NOW

“Dubai's links to suspected terrorist financing and money laundering have long been a point of contention between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. "There is no question the UAE was used by terrorists, the question is why," a U.S. official said. "It is no more lax and unregulated than many places. The answer is, Dubai is so damn convenient."
http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/corrupt/2002/0218gold.htm


Great AP article:

Associated Press
UAE Co. Poised to Oversee Six U.S. Ports
http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2006/02/11/ap2518368.html
By TED BRIDIS , 02.11.2006, 09:41 AM

A company in the United Arab Emirates is poised to take over significant operations at six American ports as part of a corporate sale, leaving a country with ties to the Sept. 11 hijackers with influence over a maritime industry considered vulnerable to terrorism.

<snip>

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI has said the money for the strikes was transferred to the hijackers primarily through the UAE's banking system, and much of the operational planning for the attacks took place inside the UAE.

Many of the hijackers traveled to the U.S. through the UAE. Also, the hijacker who steered United Airlines flight into the World Trade Center's south tower, Marwan al-Shehhi, was born in the UAE.

After the attacks, U.S. Treasury Department officials complained about a lack of cooperation by the UAE and other Arab countries trying to track Osama bin Laden's bank accounts.



Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
His firm will protect us.

IMPEACH BUSH NOW

[acmavm]

1. Where's the damn bush** admin on this one? Also, where's the link

to the AP article?

[autorank]

3. They approved it...can you believe it. I'm stunned. IMPEACH BUSH NOW

The secretive WH committed of cabinet officers approved this sucker!

Fuck them!

[acmavm]

16. The approved it? Well, what does that say about their committment

to 'protecting us against the terraists', you know them that make it necessary for them to tap our phones and intercept our conversations?

[lyonn]

129. Tapping phones hell, I'd just like to know what Our

Govt. is doing? Do we have any wire tappers out there to help us know what Our govt. is doing in Our name?

[aquart]

2. Wow. I feel safe.

[autorank]

5. Me too! Sheikh yur Bootie will care for us and "have ouri back"

Could the WH be any more negligent, any more stupid?

Do none of them have friends, family or associates in any of these cities?

Did they forget that DUBAI was the financial and planning conduit for 911!!!!!!!!

IMPEACH NOW

[RazzleDazzle]

52. Foxes guarding the hen house.

My God in Heaven.

[BeHereNow]

63. Or, as I like to say...

pedophiles investigating the pre-school molestations.
Somehow, I think my metaphor fits this
administration better as far as the volatility factor is concerned...
Business as usual, business as usual in the United States
of Multi National Corporate Interests.
BHN

[dubya_dubya_III]

152. Can't the NSA read their beads all day and night tho?

ANyhow anyone who doubts the CIA military industrial Mafia have not schemed and planned for years to utilizing Christian Fascism and carefully engineering terrorism launch it's junta to take absolute military control of the most powerful army on earth, in an inept plot to engineer a long global war to Armageddon?

Only a Three State Solution, with a City-State of Jerusalem under a Triumvirate Religious Veto will ever allow the conditions for Palestine and Israel (and the whole planet) to exist in peace and amity.

[aquart]

4. AP link?

In fact, you've left out more than one link. Any chance you could edit that?

[autorank]

6. thanks, right back

[autorank]

10. aquart, Thank you!!! Done

in the article and here it is too
http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2006/02/11/ap2518368.html

[AuntiBush]

103. This is Un-Believeable!

I'm at a loss for words since I live near one of those ports.

From the above link:

"Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI has said the money for the strikes was transferred to the hijackers primarily through the UAE's banking system, and much of the operational planning for the attacks took place inside the UAE.

Many of the hijackers traveled to the U.S. through the UAE. Also, the hijacker who steered United Airlines flight into the World Trade Center's south tower, Marwan al-Shehhi, was born in the UAE.

After the attacks, U.S. Treasury Department officials complained about a lack of cooperation by the UAE and other Arab countries trying to track Osama bin Laden's bank accounts."

Does anyone on the east coast think they want to get rid of us? And, I have a tin-foil hat on, though it's getting awfully old.

[Armstead]

7. OH Sheeit on a Shingle

This is the kind of thing that shows just how inept and blatant things have become.

[dchill]

98. Actually...

this seems perfectly "ept" from their point of view.

[EFerrari]

8. Great! Now we don't have to worry about our ports any more.

[autorank]

11. Right, they won't be there. Outsourcing democracy is now passe, its the

earth and water itself! New levels of calumny!

[blm]

121. The USS Cole was bombed because Halliburton-KBR was in charge of refueling

instead of the US Navy who used to handle their own refueling. When Dick Cheney was head of DoD he privatized alot of the logistic duties.

Too bad the media let THAT fact escape in Oct 2000 when the head of Halliburton was running for VP.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

9. and the massive power grabs continue . . .

. . . miserable fuckers.

:mad:

[EFerrari]

14. And the massive insanity.

Having pissed of the whole Muslim WORLD, Bush puts al Qaida financiers in charge of our ports so they can screen who and what goes in and out of the country.

Is that right? Or, am I messing that up somehow?

[CrazyOrangeCat]

41. No, you aren't messing up.

They're going to do another Lihop/Mihop incident.

Treasonous, poisonous scum.

Rat-Bastards!!! (I say that on behalf of the inimitable Ms. fooj :))

[autorank]

50. Hey, where is Ms. fooj?

:shrug:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

54. hopefully out having some fun . . .

. . . and avoiding piss-poor bird-hunters. . .

[fooj]

75. Had to take a few days off...

have some medical issues...bummer. Thanks for the page. I hope to join you soon!


Peace.

[AntiFascist]

62. They have to sneak in the WMDs somehow n/t

[lyonn]

130. Ah, no, it sounds eerily dead on

[GuvWurld]

12. MIHOP

This is why the GuvWurld News Archive has a section called Sabotage.

[Melissa G]

28. looks like a set up for MIHOP II n/t

[HeeBGBz]

13. Why is dumbshit putting terrorists in charge of our ports?

Am I missing something here? WTF?

Can't someone make him stop:

[autorank]

36. We can. IMPEACH NOW!

Saw a story that the DEMs on Capitol Hill are debating impeachment. No, no.

No debate, act, act now! Boldly. This is the smoking gun!

[JohnWxy]

147. EMAIL YOUR OUTRAGE -- GO TO CONGRESS.ORG -

www.congress.org MAKES EMAILING GOV REPS AND MEDIA EASY

THIS IS INSANE. CONTRACTING OUT NATIONAL SECURITY!... TO A FOREIGN FIRM!! ..TO A FOREIGN FIRM IN THE MID-EAST -- WHICH WILL BE INFILTRATED BY TERRORISTS (COUNT ON IT!)!!!!

NOW CHENEY'S HAND-PUPPET SSAYS HE WILL VETOE A BILL PROHIBITING THE CONTRACT!!

THE PEOPLE SHOULD VETO BUSH. E-MAIL, TELEPHONE, TELEGRAM.

WHAT MORE CAN BUSH AND CO. DO TO RUIN OUR COUNTRY?! JESUS! GET THEM OUT OF THERE BEFORE THE WHOLE COUNTRY LOOKS LIKE NEW ORLEANS!

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Boy. Someone connect the dots.

[autorank]

19. Sadly, they're all here. The explanation is what gets me. Carlyle Group?

Why do they think they can shove this down our throats?

Do they think we won't notice? This AP article really lays it out.

How long will it take to get a story on this Dubai character and the Carlyle Group?

This is such total insanity!

[The Backlash Cometh]

30. That was a typo. I meant to say, "Someone connected the dots."

I agree with you that something stinks to high heaven.

[bleever]

17. Bing, five votes and up you go.

Protecting the American people is the LAST thing on this administration's mind.

[autorank]

20. You are my salvation;) "administration's mind" -- You think they have one

I think it's all Reptilian Mind (the brain stem only, survival, bodily functions, looking ugly!).

Amazing times. At least the West Coast is spared this lunacy.

btw, Singapore owned the competing company. Now if I wanted safe, orderly ports, I'd clearly pick them. They take no bull shit. But no, we get the loose and free terror bankers.

[fooj]

115. Hiya honey...the West Coast is still America.

We hurt. We worry. We rage. We are right there with you in every possible way. You can count on that. Always. :hug:

Two...No...No...THREE words come to mind. Treasonous, rat bastards!:grr:

Peace.

[lyonn]

131. Question, why are we not doing this job ourselves?

Why hire it out?

[paineinthearse]

18. Calling Senator Kerry....shades of BCCI

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/

Hello??????

[autorank]

23. DUers--check out the link in paineinthearse's post.

BCCI. I always felt Kerry would finish this job some day. He broke this and he's clearly looking for the final shot, the one that takes Bush out of the WH. Kerry wuould still be talking if his fellow Senators had supported his filibuster. Now, this.

They guy in the pic has money in with Carlyle real estate at least and probably more. BCCI. Lets do a search!

Thank you paine!

[NVMojo]

141. amazing!!!!

[blm]

149. I hope you contacted Kerry's office - they could USE this research.

.

[karynnj]

81. Kerry's list of further investigation needed is long

Was any of it done by Morgenthau or the British after they took it up when he was completely stopped from preceding? It's really sad that Clinton didn't pursue the Pakistan bomb threads once he got in office. Maybe they could have prevented the Khan network sales to Iran, North Korea or other places. It was really a lost opportunity.

I was surprised by one name mentioned:
. BCCI's financing of commodities and other business dealings of international criminal financier Marc Rich. Marc Rich remains the most important figure in the international commodities markets, and remains a fugitive from the United States following his indictment on securities fraud. BCCI lending to Rich in the 1980's amounted to tens of millions of dollars. Moreover, Rich's commodities firms were used by BCCI in connection with BCCI's involving in U.S. guarantee programs through the Department of Agriculture. The nature and extent of Rich's relationship with BCCI requires further investigation.


Maybe the uproar on his pardon was justified.

[blm]

120. SEND YOUR THOUGHTS TO HIS OFFICE - Send to Robert Parry, too,

at consortiumnews..... he understands the connections, too.

[berni_mccoy]

21. M.I.H.O.P.!!!!

CMON, what else do you need now?!?!?!

[Donailin]

55. AGREE

if one applies MIHOP, then they don't look so utterly incomprehensibly incompetent, do they?

[petersjo02]

22. Sent to senator and rep

I've sent this information to Senator Tom Harkin and Rep. Jim Leach. We'll see where it goes from there. Sounds like a recipe for sabotage to me.

[stevedeshazer]

24. And these are the guys who want us out of the United Nations?

Incredible.

[marmar]

25. More "Cash and Carry" government from BushCo...

Will this nightmare never end?

:yoiks:

[autorank]

27. Let's make this one the end...Write your Rep. Even Faux hates this!

That's how bad it is. F'ing Faux hates it!

[lyonn]

132. It is sad that we feel it would help if we wrote/called our

Congresspeople. Don't they read papers, watch tv,. . . . .

[MelissaB]

26. WTF?

:shrug:

Thanks, autorank!

[autorank]

29. And you never use those words. Must be real bad! Crazy-making stuff.

Well, in answer to your question:

--Dubai and the guy in the pic are tied to Carlyle through serious investments and

--at the time of the BCCI scandal, Dubai owned 77% of that lovely criminal enterprise that Kerry shut down.

That's two questions but not sufficient to answer the bigger question:

Are the people who run this country barking mad?'

YES. IMPEACH NOW

:hi:

[progressoid]

32. My thoughts exactly.

[ljm2002]

31. Another topic for the Dems to make hay on...

...if they were not themselves beholden to the corporate interests that are quickly becoming our Uber Lords.

While the Republicans gleefully lambaste the United Nations and the One World, Kumbaya types, they themselves are hastening a New World Order that will be (is, really) ruled by giant multinational corporate overlords, rather than by governments.

Governments are bad and evil, except insofar as they further the interests of the corporations.

That is why leftist ideologies are demonized, because leftist ideologies put the needs of the people foremost. And yes, I understand that leftists and leftist governments can be misguided and brutal in their own right -- just commenting on our own political dialog, where leftists are simply and automatically disparaged as having some discredited world views, while rightists and capitalists are held up as the paradigm of All That Is Good In This World.

At any rate: we need to point out the dangers of this and actually prevent it if possible. We are allowing the ideology of free market capitalism -- itself a myth anyway -- remove our common sense about protecting our own shores.

And oh, by the way: here's a nice wedge against the Republicans and their mantra about the inability of Democrats to protect the nation. Something like this: while they deride our ability and commitment to protect our great nation, they are actively promoting policies and deals that undermine our security.

[autorank]

34. Democrats need to HAMMER. Shumers initial comments:

I loved Shumer as a Representative. I want him back to his "fighting form."

He needs to just Kirk-out!!!

This is a chance for Hilllary to say :wtf: :wtf:ing F! NO f'ing way!

I totally agree.

From the AP Article:

"America's busiest ports are vital to our economy and to the international economy, and that is why they remain top terrorist targets," Schumer 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."

[BookemDano]

94. F'IN RESIDENT IN THIEF

I live in NY and didn't you notice that the ports they would control are all blue states!I find that interesting I hold hope that Chuck and Hillary will do something about this.I will be sending them e-mails.I am sorry but the thief who says we need to wire tap you cause we wanna protect ya "i'm doing some bush speak"would actually outsource this sensitive issue !That man is one walking contradiction he makes me sick w/his ass up the Saudis and now this!:banghead:

[madmark]

33. Gross Incompetence does not even begin to describe this

gov's performance; this is reckless disregard mixed with cronysm and I am sure there is at the bottom of this an influence payment.

[autorank]

35. Whenever I think they hit bottom, they go lower. Been down so long, it

seems like up.

Can you believe this? I was stunned. Faux was accidentally on a tee vee in my vicinity last night and I saw them do the story. Even they were shocked!

DAMN this is strange.

[cascadiance]

37. Someone should call in on this issue to "Viewpoint with James Zogby" show

... which is a live call in show (worldwide) on Fridays on Link TV (on both Dish Network and DirectTV).

Normally Zogby is pretty good about putting forth "alternative" viewpoints of Middle Eastern viewpoints on his show (he made some pretty appropriate editorial comments during that infamous Sensenbrenner shutting down the Patriot Act hearing on CSPAN), but since his show is financed by Dubai (look at the show credits at the end), it would be interesting to see how he would field such a question! It would be a good test of how "independent" even independent media sources are...

[autorank]

38. Really, lets see what he has to say. Great stamp! n/t

[lyonn]

133. Zogby financed by Dubai

That is interesting. Since I changed from Directv to cable I don't get Link Tv, hate that. It was a must see in the a.m.

[mom cat]

39. OMFG:

Oh My Fickel Goat.
Buy stock in tin foil!

[MelissaB]

44. Gotta call my stock broker

well, if I had one...

[rucky]

40. doncha see. we're fighting terrorism by making them come to us!

it's all part of the strategery.

[autorank]

43. Correct for $800.00. And we don't even have to do it over seas.

No more out sourcing terrorist fly paper policies. You nailed it.

:evilgrin:

[fujiyama]

137. We're fighting them over there

...so we can fight them over here!

[kiteinthewind]

42. What a freakin' surprise!

:sarcasm:

[autorank]

45. Well...

:sarcasm:
I'm sure it was just a mistake. Probably thought UAE meant UAW and that
they were helping an American Labor Union. Wow, even when they try to
get it right, they screw up. I feel sorry for the whole crew.

[HamdenRice]

46. Get ready for major terrorist incident-WMD imported in shipping container

Ever since 9/11 there has been a huge amount of concern about WMDs being smuggled into the US through shipping containers, which are difficult to inspect.

How could the administration approve terrorism-connected firms to control US ports?

It's beyond belief unless this is in preparation for another MIHOP incident.

[Old and In the Way]

47. This truely is a national security issue.

There was a time when such a deal, even pre-9/11, would have been rejected by Washington as not in our national interests. After 9/11, it is impossible to believe that this administration could allow a country that has clear ties to AQ and terrorism, to take control of our ports of entry. What's next? Pakistan buying Logan Airport? Saudi Arabia buying Amtrak?

Anyone know what the new definition of treason is?

[AntiFascist]

64. the Bin Ladins bought stuff in Houston n/t

[Swamp Rat]

48. WHAT THE FUCK????!!!!!!!!??????

:mad:

[autorank]

49. What else can you say. It's so stupid, offensive, and counter productive.

But WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????? says it so much better!

Bush clearly has a blind spot:


by you, SwampRat

[BookemDano]

99. I AM HAVING THAT PIC MADE INTO A STICKER

My bf is a graphic artist and I have many wonderful anti-shrub and other members of the disministation made into stickers.You know whats so bad I carry them on me and when I see one of those stupid dubya stickers I cover it w/one of mine. Last time I had a great one as shrub as the devil and it says getting away w/murder I take joy in these things!I am young and I am so passionate in my beliefs I just can't take anyone w/those freaking bush stickers gosh I am loosing my damn mind I am so angry.Look what this administration has done to me=)

[Justpat]

51. This needs to stay up there so people can see it

[Divine Discontent]

53. this is horrible!!!!!!!!

and will anyone be able to stop their continued corruption???? all we can do is continue to speak out, teach others, and you ALL are part of that!



http://www.cafepress.com/sureshotcheney

[autorank]

57. Demand Impeachment Now! This is sufficient.

Article 1. The President deliberately manipulated intelligence information to mislead the American public into believing that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Article 2. The President did so with full knowledge that Iraq did not have WMD thus leading the country into a war under false pretenses.

Article 3. The President caused the approval of port operations in six major United States cities with the full knowledge that the ownership and management of the company was based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai had been named by the U.S. Treasury department, F.B.I., and C.I.A. as a cash transfer source, funding source, and base for operational training for the 911 attacks on New York, NY and Arlington, VA. Thus, the port operations contract placed the nation as a whole and the port cities in particular in danger from a known source of terrorism.

That should be sufficient.

[seafan]

56. "A secretive US government panel" gave approval to the UAE

From the WP:

DP (Dubai Ports) World said it won approval from a secretive U.S. government panel that considers security risks of foreign companies buying or investing in American industry. The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States "thoroughly reviewed the potential transaction and concluded they had no objection," the company said in a statement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/11/AR2006021101112.html



This total secrecy by the * administration is killing our nation.

[autorank]

58. Look at this from the AP Release:

"The committee earlier agreed to consider concerns about the deal as expressed by a Miami-based company, Eller & Co., according to Eller's lawyer, Michael Kreitzer. Eller is a business partner with the British shipping giant but was not in the running to buy the ports company.

The committee, which could have recommended that President Bush block the purchase, includes representatives from the departments of Treasury, Defense, Justice, Commerce, State and Homeland Security. "

Eller & Co. has "concerns about the deal." How about that. They even have a lawyer to make sure the concerns are appropriately filed. They were a former partner to the British company acquired by Dubai. Well, what do you think that's about.

[seafan]

68. Eller-ITO Stevedoring Company: Some background info here.

Formerly the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P & O Cruises is a long-standing British company with an enviable pedigree that dates back to the early 1800s. Over the years, the line has amassed a loyal following amongst both passengers and crew members and is a good source of employment for British officers and staff.

snip

P & O Cruises comes under the corporate umbrella of the P & O Group - also the parent company of P & O Ferries and the giant American-based cruise line, Princess Cruises.

http://www.navis.gr/c_lines2.htm



PLANNING CARGO GROWTH: The Port of Miami Terminal Operating Co., a container-operations company owned by shipping firms P&O Ports North America, Eller & Co. and Florida Stevedoring, plans to invest $12 million in container-moving equipment to handle increasing business at the port. "We need the equipment in order to continue to grow," said Jorge Rovirosa, general manager of the company. "We need to increase our density and handle the containers faster and more efficiently." The company, known as POMTOC, has not set a date to complete the investment, he said, but is receiving bids for the equipment.

http://miamitodaynews.com/news/050623/fyi.shtml



Eller & Co, Inc, PO Box 13133, Port Everglades, FL, 33316, USA, (tel) 305 525-3381, (fax) 305 524-2644. Transportation, Shipping, Deliveries>>Steamship Agents & Companies

http://www.yachtworld.com/byp/categories/TransportationShippingDeliveries/SteamshipAgentsCompanies_FL.html.en



ELLER CASE ON HOLD FOR NEGOTIATIONS

The various legal dust-ups involving Port Everglades stevedoring firm Eller & Co., its ex-CEO and the widow of its former owner have all been put on hold while the parties try to resolve the lawsuits outside of court.

Eller last year sued former boss Louie Wainwright Jr. and Anne Hvide, widow of its former owner, Hans Hvide, claiming they used $900,000 in company cash to pay for a romantic relationship. Wainwright has countersued for defamation, while Hvide has filed a counterclaim to get a peek at the private company's financials.

The sides agreed last week to put the five lawsuits and countersuits on hold for 60 days while they draft a settlement, said Michael Kreitzer, a Miami lawyer representing Eller. He declined to share any details of the settlement negotiations.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:Zi5WmUBl_V0J:www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/11830665.htm+Eller+%26+Co.++Miami++Michael+Kreitzer&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1



And now, today, we read:

Washington- A company in the United Arab Emirates is poised to take over significant operations at six American ports as part of a corporate sale, leaving a country with ties to the Sept. 11 hijackers with influence over a maritime industry considered vulnerable to terrorism.

The Bush administration considers the UAE an important ally in the fight against terrorism since the suicide hijackings and is not objecting to Dubai Ports World's purchase of London- based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.

snip

Critics of the proposed purchase said a port operator complicit in smuggling or terrorism could manipulate manifests and other records to frustrate Homeland Security's already limited scrutiny of shipping containers and slip contraband past U.S. Customs inspectors.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1139748981245370.xml&coll=2




So, we have passenger cruise lines and container/cargo offloading business interests that all will be affected by this UAE purchase of control of our ports... the implications are chilling.

I wonder if this would be a good subject for 60 Minutes..... maybe the American people might be interested in this story about how * is selling off their port security to folks who are associated with financing the 911 hijackers? Will this mean that American taxpayers' money might be used to finance terr... nah, that can't happen.... could it?



I pray to heaven this country will wake up before it is too late.

[autorank]

84. seafan, Great Material!!! n/t

[EVDebs]

101. Using oil money profits (from US) to buy sensitive US targets, ports

What's next ? Buying the office buildings themselves that will be targets later ? Is Bush&Co insane ? It begs the question...

The entire LIHOP or MIHOP scenarios are now entirely feasible due to the lack of plausible deniabiliy eroding into 'blowback'. In July 2001 OBL was supposedly having kidney work done in the UAE (and a reputed meeting with the CIA at that time, as reported by Le Figaro). What gives ?

[ArmchairMeme]

59. A secretive U.S. government panel !

Wow!

A secretive U.S. government panel decided to outsource the management of these ports
to Arabs!

Six ports will be run and protected by a Dubai based port management company (DP World):
New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

Wow!

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Blue_In_AK]

61. I couldn't believe this

when I read it in the paper this morning. As if the ports aren't already vulnerable enough.

[autorank]

65. Right, they barely inspect cargo ships now. This is a crime!!! n/t

[NVMojo]

66. I want to know who specifically approved this deal??? This is an outrage!

[autorank]

69. Yeah, let's get the names from the "secretive" WH committee.

Write Harry. That's something he can get, I'll bet. He'd have a cow with this one.

:hi:

[NVMojo]

77. let's all write Reid and ask for an answer! Give em hell, Harry!

[peacetalksforall]

67. So, the right wingadmin created all this fear of Muslims and now they

they want those very same brainwashed lemmings to accept Muslims running our ports? What arrogance. This is a perverse reverse whammo tactic-gimmick-insult-trick and they won't be able to see it. George, our lord, must have agreed to this, so I I ah ah I guess ah it must be OK.

[autorank]

70. This is beyond Rove ... it's a Friars Club Roast on LSD in heavy traffic!

Heads are exploding now. * supporter: "...uh, Moslems bad, Bush good, Bush kind to Moslems...:wtf::wtf: Head exploding!"

[Old and In the Way]

71. Lets consider the ramifications.

UAE takes control of 6 ports. WMD get smuggled into each port. Boom. Bush declares martial law and never worries again about the Constitution. Would this be in the interests of the House of Saud and the House of Bush? Hmmm, let me think about that.

[understandinglife]

72. K&R!!!!

Peace.

[LynnTheDem]

73. kick

[Me.]

74. Spread The Word On This, Make A Big Stink

I've already sent the links to HuffPo and KO. Does anyone know the contact info for Kristen Breitweiser? She'd take this on I bet.

[bleever]

76. Another kick, especially for the Jersey Girls.

:thumbsup:

[pauldp]

78. Holy Fucking Shit.

God damn what is it going to take? The Bin Laden family running our ports?

[Amonester]

79. K & R. (& Actions)!

:grr:

[Labalanza]

80. can we mobilize the Minutemen for this? (nt)

[petgoat]

82. Dubai is Where Osama Got Treatment in 7/01

at the American Hospital by Dr. Terry Callaway.

While he was there, according to the French newspaper
Le Figaro, he met with Larry Mitchell, a local CIA agent.
He also met with Prince Turki al Faisal, who was then
the head of Saudi Security, is now the Saudi ambassador
to the USA, and who attended the State of the Union
Address.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/RIC111B.html

Somehow the fact that Stratesec, the company that did
security for the World Trade Center, is controlled by the
Kuwait-American Corporation (of which Marvin Bush was
a director for ten years) seems relevant to this Dubai
deal.

[autorank]

83. I'm feeling even more "secure" than I did earlier. "Coincidence" theory

says that means nothing. "Coincidence theory" says Bush wone the last two electioins.

Thanks for including this.

[passy]

85. I wonder how many dirty bombs from Iran these people will allow in?

Would seem to fit the script already written.
Whether or not these bombs explode they would be traced back to Iran.
But then again what is worst, the coming depression caused by the petroeuro, or the coming nuclear war with Iran?

[JCMach1]

86. Time to debunk some of the DU thread and the BS

So, you are saying that the Dubai Government was DIRECTLY involved in 9/11... let's see your evidence... Sorry, but that's not the case



from the Forbes article.


1. "a country with ties to the Sept. 11 hijackers with influence over a maritime industry considered vulnerable to terrorism..."

Yes, 1 or two of the people were from the UAE. I would like to see the article explain just what the country's ties are to these people!



2. The UAE had and still has a VERY OPEN capitalist business environment... If you have a residence visa, anyone can open an account here.

"Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI has said the money for the strikes was transferred to the hijackers primarily through the UAE's banking system, and much of the operational planning for the attacks took place inside the UAE..."

3. "Many of the hijackers traveled to the U.S. through the UAE."

The UAE is a free and open place... virtually everyone who travels between europe, north america, or africa to the far east will have a stopover in Dubai.

Gee, funding and accounts for terror (and should we forget planning) took place in Germany. Are the Germans responsible for that.

We all know the terrorists opperated almost undetected and unopposed in the U.S.

The vast majority of direct funding for 9/11 came through Saudi Arabia from FAKE charities setup to support such al Qaeda activities.


The paranoia over the Middle-east that I find on this board these days is really disgusting.

[The Magistrate]

87. You Make Excellent Points, Sir

[AntiFascist]

89. One thing that raises a red flag....

is the history of money-laundering in Dubai that is noted in the globalpolicy article. That would seem to imply 2 things: 1) Bankers allow this to happen and 2) they may never get investigated, for whatever reasons. Could this be due to the "very open" business environment?

I once had a friend who contacted Nigerian "government representatives" involving a Nigerian scam email, this was long before most people knew what a "Nigerian scam email" was. What they wanted to do, ultimately, was have my friend purchase construction equipment and have it shipped to Nigeria. Another consultant told him that what often happens is that drugs and other illegal items are often shipped in the containers along with the equipment, without being inspected, and convinced him not to pursue the deal, which he likely would not have pursued anyway since he was only curious.

Some of the more astute DUers may be aware of the history of illegal drug and arm trade deals, and alleged money laundering, stemming from the Iran-Contra days and involving arab banks. This is why I, at least, am extremely concerned about the news reported by the OP.

[JCMach1]

90. Money laundering happens all the time

the only question is where... the answer is wherever they can do business with corrupt bankers. Credit Lyonais, and HSBC are only a few of the more recent banks to be slapped on the wrist for this. The UAE Central Bank has become much tighter on laundering issues since the U.S. put pressure on after 9/11.

That doesn't excuse money laundering.

However, the takeover is being accomplished by the emirate of Dubai and has little to do with banking. This is more a product of the oil windfall of the past couple of years as prices have soared.

[autorank]

91. My response...more on Dubai.

Dubai's financial centers served as repositories to support the crime according to the Forbes article. The article also points out that Dubai dragged it's feet in the aftermath of 911 with regard to tracing financial ties to bin Ladin. Anyone familiar with investigations knows that the initial phase of an investigation is the most critical. The leads never materialized.

Here's some more on Dubai:


Middle East

Dubai and the criminal-terror nexus

By Ajai Sahni
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EB13Ak01.html
In the second such incident since December last, on February 3 Dubai arrested and subsequently released a number of high-profile organized criminals linked with international terrorism, despite Interpol red corner notices against many of these, and despite the fact that India had again handed over a list containing the details of some of these criminals to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) authorities as recently as on January 28.

Initial reports suggested that 26 members of the notorious Dawood Ibrahim gang, widely known as the D-Company, including two of the gang leader's brothers - Noora (Noorul Haque) and Mustaqim - had been taken into custody in Dubai. Both Noora and Mustaqim - along with Mohammed Dossa, another of the arrested gangsters - are accused in the 1993 Bombay blasts case involving a series of explosions in commercial centers that killed 257 persons, and injured another 713, and are believed by Indian authorities to be part of the network that provides operational support to terrorists in close coordination with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

Both Noora and Mustaqim are permanent residents of Dubai, the commercial hub of the UAE, with substantial business interests in the city. Subsequent reports indicated that the number of gangsters arrested by Dubai authorities was as high as 110. Despite the arrests and the clear documentation on this count, Indian authorities had little expectation that the culprits would be extradited to face Indian justice. For one thing, the Indian ambassador to Dubai was stonewalled by authorities in his efforts to secure official confirmation and details of the arrests; for another, the same drama had been played out with another of Dawood Ibrahim's brothers, Anees Kaksar Ibrahim, in early December 2002.

<snip?

Dubai's conduct in this and other cases raises critical questions about the role of the emirate in the evolving international network of organized criminals and Islamist extremist terrorists. One of the largest and most unregulated financial centers in the world, with huge turnovers in undocumented movements of gemstones - including those originating in the world's worst conflict areas - gold and cash, and located at the strategic crossroads of the Gulf, South Asia and Africa, Dubai has long been a financial hub for organized criminal and Islamist extremist groups, as well as a primary transit point for the shipping of contraband.


This is reality-based analysis, not paranoia. There was no intent to offend you or anyone else.

I think that US policy toward the Middle East in general insensitive and, in the case of Iraq, insane (on multiple levels). This is simply a matter of common sense. Dubai does not inspire confidence in terms of port security given the facts of Forbes article and the more detailed findings in this article.

[JCMach1]

108. UAE is the Switzerland of the Middle-east

And yes, stuff does happen...

There is NO goverment support for terrorism here. In fact, UAE is secretly training Iraqi soldiers and police here....

I even saw FRENCH soldiers involved with this. My work is right next to a big base. I happened upon a large contingent of French MPs. I asked them what they were doing... training Iraqi soldiers.

[AntiFascist]

116. It's interesting that Switzerland actually banned a book....

called "Forbidden Truth" which points out many of the various cash flows involving banks between both Osama bin Ladin, the Saudi bin Ladin Group, and BCCI.

[AuntiBush]

105. Maybe You Can Help Explain

why so many constant, all night long ER drills from every Fire Dept., Ambulatory house in town every 2 minutes. This occurred all last summer and into early Fall last year (not that long ago). Sometimes it went on till way past 1 a.m., seemingly every 2-3 nights. Area residents were extremely upset and couldn't sleep. Many were so terrified, they told grown children to help get them the hell out of areas they lived in for over 30 years and these folks know those ports since childhood.

If no biggie, why all the Homeland Security drills at one of those very ports listed?

[fujiyama]

138. It's worth noting

that the UAE was one of three governments that recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, along with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

I agree that the UAE is no Saudi Arabia (or even Pakistan for that matter), but they aren't clean by any stretch.

[JCMach1]

88. Port operations were sold down the river years ago to the British

There was no stink over that transfer... Nobody screamed about another sovreign nation's company running our ports then!

Just wait a few years, no doubt the Chinese will buy out the UAE stake so that can even own the ports to deliver the goods.

[autorank]

92. I agree with you 100% . The British had no reason to do this either.

The primary reason for domestic operations and security is simply that it allows for more control in matters of national security. I've objected to British control of about 1/3 of US voting (through De La Rue Corp. of GB) for quite a while and I continue to object to Venezuelan owned Smartmatic, which bought Sequoia from De La Rue. Voting is another issue where things should not be outsourced.

[JCMach1]

107. I agree, these are security assets... same thing goes

for companies like Boeing... And frankly, automakers such as Chrysler. In a time of real war, they would be needed heavily.

[sellitman]

93. The nightmare continues.........n/t

[Justpat]

95. I want to kick this again.

[klcjoey]

96. UAE to take over US port security?!?!

:mad:
Why isn't this HUGE news??? Why isn't this on the main page? Why isn't this being discussed on main stream media...well, ok, they are busy reporting snow fall & missing persons. But really. This is big....really big. I read it in the Atlanta paper yesterday...it was somewhere in the middle of section B I think. Yeah, I feel so much safer now than I did 4.5 years ago.

[Triana]

97. Why is a 'secret committee' required to approve this?

:wtf:

This whole thing is just scary. Hell. Why not just open all our ports to Saudi terrorists? 16 of the 18 9-11 hijaackers were from Saudi. Given that fact, HOW is this possibly justified or even ethical or anywhere near wise?

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

Scary....is this just the GOP's way of being CERTAIN there will be more attacks so they can fearmonger more, get more power and control, and blame Democrats more because they 'did nothing' to secure the country? (well, at least they didn't hand our ports over to terrorists, did they?).

:wtf:

[klcjoey]

100. can someone please recommend this for the main page

I just joined & don't have enough remarks/threads to recommend a topic for the main page yet....

[Amonester]

104. I don't know how to do it but if I knew how, I sure would!!

It's on top of the Greatest page with 53 nominations for now.

(Just behind that idiot Cheney's latest "attempt to murder", actually.)

Any way, it must be good because, it's a free country, and the banking system is free, so there can't be any better system, yeah: because it's free. /sarcasm

BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

[NVMojo]

142. welcome kicjoey!

[AuntiBush]

102. Many in Baltimore are Worried Sick

Watched drill after drill (we had to guess, no local news reports - nada) every 2 minutes of repeated fire engines, ambulances, you-name-it passing by all night long, repeatedly. Locals are very upset and quite frankly, they don't know who the real terrorists are.

[ima_sinnic]

106. kick--please recommend for main page--this is SO important

[NobleCynic]

109. Aren't we overreacting?

Last time I checked, just being Muslim doesn't qualify as being a terrorist. Not every company out of Dubai is a jihadist organization people. I dare say most aren't. This is just an easy issue to get ignorant people riled up over. Should it be used against the Bush administration? Possibly, but doing so is stooping to the same levels of racist and reactionary tactics used by the Republicans. If you're okay with victory by any means, sure go right ahead. It will play well in destroying support for Bush among ignorant small minded people, which is good as that seems to be his base. As long as you accept the moral taint that comes with pushing this issue in this manner.

More over, how could they make the security at our ports any worse than it is now? You can sneak practically anything into the country as is, as evidenced by the never ending supply of cocaine, heroin, and other narcotics that we can't stop from crossing our borders. We can't seem to stop anything or anybody from entering this country as is. Why and how would this change anything even if this company had said ties to terrorism?

I say back off the issue and let Faux news tear Bush a new one over this. Let the moral taint be on their hands. Besides, the people you want to convince Bush is an idiot all watch Faux news anyways. Everyone else already knows.

[AntiFascist]

117. You bring up an important point...

"the never ending supply of cocaine, heroin, and other narcotics that we can't stop from crossing our borders." What people don't realize is why our government allows this to happen, and perhaps what rogue entities are involved in enabling it to happen. I say DO NOT back off this issue because we demand to know what's going on.

Suppose that some foreign government, or other type of sovereignty, or group of sovereign individuals, want to have undue influence over the U.S. government? After all, we have state-of-the-art bombing capabilities and plenty of them, what if our government could be made to work for others, while the U.S. taxpayer foots most of the expenses? Enabling a money-laundering pipeline straight to our elected (Republican dominated) officials would make this all too possible.

On edit: whoops, I didn't mean to imply that some of them really got elected.

[autorank]

125. Not reacting harshly enough...our party isn't

Who said being a Muslim makes you a terrorist. In the OP and in the Asia Times article, there are specific charges about Dubai, not about Muslims. Here's the Asia Times citation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2454971&mesg_id=2456380

Dubai has a record of banking for terrorists and also housing them. Dubai continues to be fertile ground for Extremists, according to the Asia Times.

This is not an attack on Muslims at all. In fact, I'm supportive of an equitable resolution of the Israel-Palestine dispute and quick withdrawal from Iraq. Our behavior in both conflicts represents an affront to Muslims in general.

Having said that, Dubai is sloppy on terrorism, specifically 911, uncooperative in the hunt for terrorists according to these sources, which are non government, and is so sloppy, it doesn't cooperate with other nations seeking organized crime figures within it's borders.

That's enough for me to say, sorry, they don't get to guard six of our great cities.

[Virginian]

110. Why can't American companies run American ports?

This sucks for American workers. Why can't we run our own ports and employ loyal Americans to work there? Why is our own government putting Americans out of work?

[Virginian]

111. Why can't American companies run American ports?

This sucks for American workers. Why can't we run our own ports and employ loyal Americans to work there? Why is our own government putting Americans out of work?

[autorank]

124. What a great idea. We've had no job growth in five years.

What a lousy record. Wonder how he won in 2004? Could it be ... election fraud?

We'll have to ask candidate Miller;)

[sadiesworld]

112. kick

[pauldp]

113. kick nt

[GetTheRightVote]

114. This is unthinkable that anyone from the UAE would be allowed into

our nation more or less working to protect our harbors, this looks like a pay off by the * Admin but endangers our nation once again...... for his personal goals.

:kick:

[Independent_Liberal]

118. Dubya, I'm writing you up again!

This another one for the impeachment tally!

:D

[Uncle Joe]

119. How disgusting can you get,

traitorous bastards?!



:kick:

[seafan]

122. 2/15/06 Update: White House urged to review port deal with Arab company

White House urged to review port deal with Arab company

By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press Writer

February 15, 2006, 5:03 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee urged the White House on Wednesday to reconsider approval of a sale that would give a company in the United Arab Emirates control over significant operations at six American ports.

Other U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns about the sale's implications for maritime security. The Associated Press reported Saturday that government-owned Dubai Ports World had won approval for the $6.8 billion deal from a secretive U.S. panel that considers security risks of foreign companies buying or investing in American industry.

snip

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said he spoke to senior White House officials, whom he declined to identify, and urged them to review national security concerns over DP World's purchase of the London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which British shareholders approved Monday.

snip

Critics have complained that control over port operations by DP World could endanger U.S. security. They cite the UAE's history as an operational and financial base for the hijackers who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against New York and Washington.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--portsecurity0215feb15,0,214158.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[autorank]

123. Well, that's great news. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets see if they're

serious. The whole thing stinks.

[autorank]

126. .

[seafan]

127. It sure makes me feel better. NOT.

One more telling snip from this article...

"The White House can stop this deal ultimately, and I've asked them to go very slow and look at it very carefully," King told the AP. "The thing to do is find out if any of our departments have security concerns."

King added, "It was obvious to me that the White House is taking (the sale) very seriously and will look into it."

This statement is pretty rich, considering that *Co. has already given this move the GREEN LIGHT.

And the beat goes on.

[seafan]

128. This gives Dubai control of P&O ports on six continents.

One of the 12-member committee is John Snow, undoubtedly.

The Committee on Foreign Investment, ... run by the Treasury Department, includes officials from the Defense, Justice, Commerce, State and Homeland Security departments.

Treasury Secretary John Snow, asked during a hearing yesterday about the committee's approval, said he was not permitted to discuss transactions the panel considers.

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/02/16/business-nyportsec-02-16.html

Dubai Ports World said it had chosen Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) to act as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners to handle the financing for the purchase.

These include a $6.3 billion term loan facility and a $200 million revolving credit facility.

snip

Barclays and Deutsche have underwritten the five-year facility, which pays a margin of around 125 bps over LIBOR.

The loan is part of a debt package that also includes a two-year Islamic bond issue that raised $3.5 billion last month -- the biggest Islamic bond in history -- via Barclays and Dubai Islamic Bank.

Shareholders in P&O voted on Feb. 13 in favour of the takeover bid by Dubai Ports, creating the world's third-largest ports group.

The takeover ends 165 years of U.K. ownership of P&O, which was formed at the height of Britain's sea power and gives Dubai control of P&O ports on six continents.

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-02-16T191912Z_01_L16248119_RTRIDST_0_TRANSPORT-P-O-DUBAIPORTS-UPDATE-1.XML

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Thursday rebuffed criticism about potential security risks of a $6.8 billion sale that gives a company in the United Arab Emirates control over significant operations at six major American ports.

snip

Four senators and three House members asked the administration on Thursday to reconsider its approval. The lawmakers contended the UAE is not consistent in its support of U.S. terrorism-fighting efforts.
"The potential threat to our country is not imagined, it is real," Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., said in a House speech.
DP World said it had received all regulatory approvals for its purchase and noted that the administration did not object.

snip

Lawmakers said the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to
Iran,
North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan. They also said the UAE was one of only three countries to recognize the now-toppled Taliban as
Afghanistan's legitimate government.

The State Department describes the UAE as a vital partner in the fight against terrorism. Dubai's own ports have participated since last year in U.S. efforts to detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials.
Rep. Vito Fossella (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y., urged congressional hearings on the deal.
"At a time when America is leading the world in the war on terrorism and spending billions of dollars to secure our homeland, we cannot cede control of strategic assets to foreign nations with spotty records on terrorism," Fossella said.

snip

The lawmakers pressing the White House to reconsider included Sens. Schumer, Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Reps. Foley, Fossella and Chris Shays, R-Conn.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060216/ap_on_go_pr_wh/port_security

[lyonn]

134. Lou Dobbs just said he was about to talk about this subject

It is 5:20 p.m. Central time now.

[Nikki Stone1]

135. Makes you wonder if 9-11 and "terra" wasn't all political theater to fool

us and enrich some elite.

[Tsiyu]

136. This is beyond bizarre

This sounds like a planned attempt to destroy our nation's security as quickly and conveniently as possible.

And the truth is, dumbasses on the right will go right along with this cuz Dumbya says so. He has raped us, impoverished us, made a mockery of our Constitution and now he wants to finish us off.

If this doesn't prove that ** is behind 911 NOTHING will.

[Boo Boo]

139. 911? That's a lot of bankers!!! /nt

[autorank]

140. Kick for "the official record" and DU being first!!!

:hi:

[NVMojo]

143. add this research on Sir John Parker, deal broker!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x473600

[autorank]

144. Just recommended it. Wow. I hope he finds some volunteer work;) n/t

[CarlSheeler4U]

145. The issue should be what is the perception of the American public

Bush administration hurts itself by doing such a bone head move regardless of the rationale. Puts more checks in the blue camp. So thanks W.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/19/1730/42036

Carl
Sheeler for US Senate
www.carlsheeler.com

Be a patriot and pass the bulletin board link to every person you know and every blog you can and ask the same from them, too.

[autorank]

146. CarlSheeler4U...Will pass it along. Great link. You've got my support...

...and a contribution, which I'm making right now.

Rock on! You and Reed, what a combination. RI leads the Restoration of Democracy!!! Perfect.

Thank you for your service to your country and for taking on Tyranny.

Here's a good link for your site or to pass along (I'm biased because I wrote it;):

Al Gore's Devastating Indictment of President Bush (the 03/16/06 DC Speech

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0601/S00122.htm

[CarlSheeler4U]

150. I'm on that. Thanks for the strong support.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/19/1730/42036

Carl
Sheeler for US Senate
www.carlsheeler.com

Be a patriot and pass the bulletin board link to every person you know and every blog you can and ask the same from them, too.

[katinmn]

148. K&N! It's time to Impeach!

Tell your Do-Nothing representatives to co-sponsor H Res 635
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HE00635:@@@N

Support Carl Sheeler!
http://www.carlsheeler.com/

PDA has bumper stickers, too.
https://www.pdamerica.org/impeach-bumper-sticker.php

[Blaze Diem]

151. That Photo of SheikMohammed bin Rashid Should Be Shown

on Front Page, full size and full color,in every Newspaper and on Billboards at every highway and street intersection, and advertisement space on the sides of every city bus in our beautiful AMERICA.

It is the absolute culmination of why George Bush was ever seated in our White House.

Is this waht America needs to finally feel threatened by Bush and Cheney?

The sight of this Arab Sheik protecting our ports gives me chills. It is the total sellout, and slap in the face of all generations who have gone before us, those who fought to protect our Nation and others, as well as all generations yet to come. George W Bush has given our Great Nation Away.

This photo is the "visual" that America's braindead need to see. The rest of us have been aware all along.
It is the best tool we can use.

I am sickened.

Can some savvy DUer somehow post this photo on the Freeper site? Stir the pot while its boiling..throw a chilling visual their way. Maybe it will hit home for some of them.
(and please report their reaction if you can)

Thanks
Blaze

[calimary]

153. ABSOLUTELY. Make him THEIR "Willie Horton."

ABSO-FRICKIN'-LUTELY!!!

One HELLuva campaign image, if you ask me!

It's the one strong card they had to play - the We'll-Keep-You-Safer-than-the-Dems-Will card. And now, bush has completely hosed that one. AHHH... the blessings of outsourcing. That ol' bidniss contract-it-out, delegate-it-out mentality. Combined with that ol' grover norquist shrink-the-government-so-small-you-can-drown-it-in-the-bathtub crap. Reason enough why government SHOULD NEVER BE RUN LIKE A BUSINESS. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER-EVER. Reason enough, also, why the "CEO-president" or "MBA-president" is a hugely-grotesque LIABILITY to America, rather than a benefit.

This guy needs to be LAMINATED to the GOP. With industrial-strength epoxy.

[FogerRox]

154. Kickin for Autorank and this story-- good one dude

[Jeffersons Ghost]

155. great post!

:kick:

[autorank]

156. Gracias Senor Jefferson...

...help get that revolutionary spirit back in the Commonwealth again.

[Binka]

157. Here Is Some Mind Boggling Information

As Treasury secretary, Snow chairs the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which approved the Dubai deal. The panel includes the secretaries of state and homeland security and other administration officials.

And here is some info on the committee and who serves on that committee.


The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") was originally established by Executive Order 11858 in 1975 mainly to monitor and evaluate the impact of foreign investment in the United States. In 1988, the President, pursuant to Executive Order 12661, delegated to CFIUS his responsibilities under Section 721. Specifically, E.O. 12661 designated CFIUS to receive notices of foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies, to determine whether a particular acquisition has national security issues sufficient to warrant an investigation and to undertake an investigation, if necessary, under the Exon-Florio provision. This order also provides for CFIUS to submit a report and recommendation to the President at the conclusion of an investigation.

In 1993, in response to a sense of Congress resolution, CFIUS membership was expanded by Executive Order 12860 to include the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. In February 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was added to CFIUS. This brought the membership of CFIUS to twelve under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Treasury. The other members are the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Commerce, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. ~snip~

From: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
http://www.treas.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon ... /


So, in addition to Snow (old bio here), the other members that approved this include:

Dr. John Marburger (Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy); Stephen John Hadley (Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs); Allan Hubbard (Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council); Condi, Rumsfeld and Gonzales, Carlos M. Gutierrez (US Secretary of Commerce), Joshua B. Bolten (Director of the Office of Management and Budget), Robert B. Zoellick (United States Trade Representative), Ben S. Bernanke (Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers -- ? -- or his replacement after he became Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)

Did I miss anyone?

According to the article in the OP, Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is also part of the committee.