Are you aware that many foreign firms — from Singapore, Denmark and Japan — run major port terminals in the United States and have for years?  They include APL Limited, which is controlled by the government of Singapore and operates terminals in Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; Dutch Harbor, Alaska; and Seattle.
 
Because of this, now the Bush strategy is to play the “race” card?  Some administration officials, refusing to be quoted by name, suggested that there was a whiff of racism in the objections to an Arab owner taking over the terminals.

 This outrageous anonymous pronouncement tossed out by the running dogs of the Great Obfuscator is without a doubt authorized by a statement to the press.   In a highly irregular and chummy move, Bush invited the reporters on Air force One to the front cabin where he told them "I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company. I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, 'We'll treat you fairly.’"

Come on, Oh Great Obfuscator.  That is a diversion unworthy of your prowess.  The issue is not a bias against a Middle Eastern company.  It is not irrational for the United States to resist exposing port operations, a highly visible and vulnerable part of the security infrastructure, to terrorist penetration through a country that has a spotty record at best.

Senator Schumer, stating the obvious, responded to the Obfuscator in Chief with "I don't think China or Britain or many of the others have the nexus with terrorism that Dubai has. What kind of controls do they have to prevent infiltration?"

Dubai's (pronounced Dubya) record is hardly unblemished.

• Two of the Sept. 11 hijackers came from the United Arab Emirates.
• The Sept. 11 hijackers laundered some of their money through its banking system.
• It was also the main transshipment point for the world's largest nuclear proliferation ring, run by the Pakistani nuclear engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan, to ship centrifuge equipment, used to enrich uranium, from Libya to Iran.

And there is certainly nothing in the Homeland Security Department's record to make doubters feel confident in its assurances that all proper precautions will be taken.  Indeed Michael Chertoff, the Director of Homeland Security, argued before Congress the other day for a balance between the need for security and the need for global commerce.  This is the right hand man of our Great Protector?!?

The administration's review of the deal was conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) This august but secretive group was created in 1975 to review foreign investments in our country that might have national security ramifications.  It found nothing to warrant the next stage of review, a 45-day investigation with results reported to the president for a final decision.

A 1993 amendment to the law establishing CFIUS, however, stipulates that such an investigation is mandatory when the acquiring company is controlled by or acting on behalf of a foreign government. Administration officials said they conducted additional inquires because of the ties to the United Arab Emirates, but they could not say why a 45-day investigation did not occur.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Rummy when questioned yesterday in a press conference at the Pentagon admitted to being blindsided by the existence of CFIUS.  He nevertheless went on to praise the UAE as an important strategic partner.  "Nothing changes with respect to security under the contract."  he said. "The Coast Guard is in charge of security, not the corporation.  We all deal with the U.A.E. on a regular basis.  It's a country that's been involved in the global war on terror."  Well ya, there has to be two sides to a war, Rummy.  Duh!

Lou Dobbs revealed yesterday that two ports have been added to the list, and they are Army depots that supply sixty percent of the ordanance and other material to our forces abroad, including Iraq.  Is Rummy aware of that?  Perhaps he is aware of a secret committee called DUFUS (Defense Uninformed For US).  Of course as he so famously stated, “We don’t know what we don’t know.”

And back on the hill GOP leaders have their knickers in a knot because they were left out of the loop on an issue with such obvious political implications. "It's strange that the administration didn't consult Congress." a Republican leadership aide said. "They might not have had to, but it was going to be a big deal on Capitol Hill. To not know that is mystifying."

House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert and other GOP leaders flocked together and sent word to the White House that conservative lawmakers and voters are furious over the notion that a country with terrorism links would be managing U.S. seaports.

Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) upped the ante when he called Bush politically tone-deaf. "Of all the bills to veto, if he lays down this gauntlet, he'll probably have 350 members of the House ready to accept that challenge." Foley said.

Of course “old Stay the course” Dubya welcomed the fight and called his bluff. "They ought to look at the facts and understand the consequences of what they're going to do," Bush said. "But if they pass a law, I'll deal with it, with a veto."  Go for it George.  The electorate has a ringside seat to this donnybrook.  Put up your dukes, Macho Man.

The Bush Regime is pursuing its usual approach to the war on terror. It has been without exception willing to sacrifice individual rights in favor of security, but loath to do the same thing when it comes to the business interests of its cronies – national and international.  It has failed to impose reasonable safety requirements on chemical plants, one of the nation's greatest points of vulnerability, or on the transport of toxic materials. The ports deal is just another decision that has made the Bus***e Corporate Crony Cartel happy. 

The Bush Regime has aggressively pursued an antiregulatory agenda, and it has injected corporate leaders relentlessly into its highest positions. A prime example is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose department convened the panel that approved the ports deal.  He came to government after serving as the chief executive of the CSX Corporation, a major port operator when he worked there. (After he left, CSX sold its port operations to Dubai Ports World.).

Hmmm…