From: "Mark" 

No, the Neocons are not okay with this. This marked the very first time I
sent an email to comments{at}whitehouse.gov something I've avoided so as not
to get put on yet another "list" 

Frankly, I don't care if they make an argument, and prove it, that Dubai
will provide the best security in the history of mankind, it's still
nonsensical.  

"Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
news:43f7e5df{at}w3....
> The neocons are ok with this? Maybe we should outsource the army to Saudi
> Arabia?
>
> http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3669663.html
>
> Fear Escalates on Foreign Control of Ports
>
> By TED BRIDIS Associated Press Writer
> C 2006 The Associated Press
>
> WASHINGTON - A New Jersey congressman said Saturday he wants to require
> that security officials at U.S. ports be American citizens to prevent
> overseas companies operating shipping facilities here from hiring
> foreigners in such sensitive positions.
>
> Republican Frank A. LoBiondo, chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime
> Transportation Subcommittee, cited "significant" security
concerns over a
> $6.8 billion sale that gives a company in the United Arab Emirates control
> over operations at six major American ports.
>
> LoBiondo said he wants the new mandatory citizenship requirements approved
> by Congress and President Bush before state-owned Dubai Ports World
> completes its pending purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental
> Steam Navigation Co.
>
> The British company, the world's fourth-largest ports company, runs major
> commercial operations at shipping terminals in New York, New Jersey,
> Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
>
> The Bush administration earlier approved the deal, which has drawn
> escalating criticism by lawmakers who maintain the United Arab Emirates is
> not consistent in its support of U.S. terrorism-fighting efforts.
>
> Caught by surprise over the breadth of concerns expressed in the United
> States, Dubai Ports World is cautiously organizing its response. The
> company quietly dispatched advisers to reassure port officials along the
> East Coast, and its chief operating officer _ internationally respected
> American shipping executive Edward "Ted" H. Bilkey _ was expected to
> travel to Washington soon for meetings on Capitol Hill and elsewhere.
>
> Meanwhile, the Bush administration is defending its approval of the sale,
> and strongly resisting demands by Congress to reconsider.
>
> State Department spokesman Sean McCormack described the United Arab
> Emirates on Friday as "a long-standing friend and ally" and said the
> United States and UAE had a good relationship.
>
> Bush visited the port in Tampa, Fla., on Friday but did not mention the
> dispute. Bush said an important element of defeating terrorism was taking
> precautions domestically and working with local officials.
>
> "We've got to protect ourselves by doing smart things in
America," Bush
> said. "I appreciate working with the mayors on homeland security
issues."
>
> In New York, families of some victims from the September 2001 terror
> attacks planned to criticize the deal Sunday during a press conference
> with Sen. Charles Schumer, a leading critic of the sale. Schumer, D-N.Y.,
> said he is dubious any assurances can justify the UAE's involvement in
> American ports.
>
> Schumer and others have cited the UAE's history as an operational and
> financial base for the hijackers who carried out the attacks against New
> York and Washington.
>
> "A lot of families are incensed by this, because you're talking about the
> safety of the country," said William Doyle, whose son Joseph died at the
> World Trade Center. "We have a problem already in our ports because all of
> our containers aren't checked, but now they want to add this unknown? It's
> not right."
>
> LoBiondo's legislative proposal would amend federal maritime laws to
> require facility security officers, which operate at terminals in every
> U.S. port, to be American citizens. LoBiondo said there now are no
> citizenship requirements, which he said permits foreign companies with a
> stake in U.S. terminal operations to employ security officers who are not
> Americans.
>
> "We cannot be lax about our nation's security nor fail to recognize that
> our ports are realistic targets of terrorists," LoBiondo said.
>
>
>

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