From: "Rich Gauszka" 

I agree. At last it seems Bush has united liberals, moderates and
conservatives into one voice saying - What the Fuck?




"Mark"  wrote in message news:43f7f161$1{at}w3....
> 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.  as Chuckie Schumer> 
>
> "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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