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emmie
Supporter
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 696
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |     |
The Newark Star Ledger
Mideast firm's deal at Port Newark stirs terrorism concerns
Friday, February 17, 2006
BY RON MARSICO
Star-Ledger Staff
A deal that will allow a Middle Eastern company to take over some port operations along the East Coast, including a section of Port Newark, has a group of lawmakers worried about security.
The seven lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), want the Bush administration to reconsider its approval of the $6.8 billion deal, under which Dubai Ports World, based in the United Arab Emirates, would take over half the operations of a terminal at Port Newark.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, chaired by U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow, signed off on the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports.
In addition to Port Newark, P&O, the world's fourth-largest ports company, has holdings at terminals in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans.
Lautenberg and the others are seeking a 45-day review of the deal. In a letter to Snow, the four senators and three House members said they are concerned the Bush administration is "not giving this case the appropriate level of scrutiny" required by law.
"Most importantly, our ports are our most vulnerable targets for terrorist attack," the letter said. "A single terrorist incident could shut down our system of container transportation, affecting our entire economy, as well as facilities relied on by the Department of Defense as military load-out ports."
Brookly McLaughlin, a U.S. Treasury spokeswoman, said the committee "reviewed the transaction and didn't have any problems with it going forward. All national security issues are identified and considered."
That did not alleviate the lawmakers' concerns.
"(The UAE) has allowed terrorists to pass freely through their own country," Lautenberg said in a statement. "Why in the world should we let this rogue government control ports in the United States."
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) agreed.
"Outsourcing the operations of our largest port to a country with a dubious record on terrorism is a homeland security and commerce accident waiting to happen," he said.
Though the United Arab Emirates is considered a U.S. ally, the 9/11 hijackers had financial ties to the nation, according to the FBI. In addition, two of the 19 hijackers have been identified as being from the UAE. Dubai is one of seven emirates (similar to states) in the UAE.
The lawmakers also noted that the UAE was one of just three nations that had recognized the Taliban as the ruling government in Afghanistan. It was also was "a key transfer point" for shipments of nuclear components to North Korea and Iran, they said.
In Dubai, the UAE's foreign minister declined to respond directly to the lawmakers' concerns, though he maintained his country's alliance to Washington.
"We have worked very closely with the United States on a number of issues relating to the combat of terrorism, prior to and post Sept. 11," Sheik Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan said.
Dubai Ports said it had received "all the necessary regulatory approvals" regarding the acquisition and that the company has international certifications for port operations.
"We intend to maintain and, where appropriate, enhance security arrangements," the company said in a statement. "It is very much business as usual for the P&O Terminal."
In a separate letter to Snow, Port Authority Chairman Anthony Coscia raised concerns that the Committee on Foreign Investment does not issue public findings of application approvals.
"Was a specific security review conducted on Dubai Ports World prior to approval of this application?" Coscia asked in his letter.
Coscia said the Port Authority, which operates Port Newark, is conducting its own review. P&O entered a 30-year lease with the agency in 2000, Coscia said.
McLaughlin, the Treasury spokeswoman, said she could not discuss specifics of the committee's action, including when it approved the sale. The committee has representatives from 12 federal agencies. The panel is chaired by Snow and includes the attorney general and secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense and State.
Stephen Flynn, author of "America the Vulnerable" and a major critic of U.S. port security initiatives, said the focus should be on securing the cargo supply chain and beefing up anti-terrorism resources.
Ownership is less of a concern because the system has the "same controls with all terminals," Flynn said.
"I worry that it is really distracting us from some of the more critical issues of protecting us on port security," Flynn said of the controversy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ron Marsico covers the Port Authority. He can be reached at rmarsico@starledger.com or (973) 392-7860.
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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4052
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 5:16 pm: | |
I think this is a VERY bad move!!! I sure hope our state officals can prevent this from happening. |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 2206
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 6:22 pm: | |
So, sooo scary! |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1560
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 7:41 pm: | |
The Bush administration is fork-tongued: it tells us, the citizenry, one thing, and does another for the sake of a buck.
By the same token, this administration has done really nothing to encourage the sacrifices, the focus, and the human energy level necessary to make businesses and industry in this country reach the necessary levels of innovation that will bring attractive jobs to our children, make us really competitive against China and India, and help secure the next 30-40 years of this country's future.
The Dubai Port operations deal for Newark is just another thread in the seamless fabric of stupidity that this administration has been weaving since it came to power. |
Scrotis Lo Knows
Citizen
Username: Scrotisloknows
Post Number: 773
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 8:42 pm: | |
Innisowen-
Yet another thing to fault Bush on? Gosh, it is so out of the ordinary of you...
The Bush haters can't see beyond their own hatred, such a new and refreshing concept.
-SLK |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1564
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 9:30 pm: | |
Scrotey-Otey:
If, for one blessed moment, you would bother to pull your head out from where the sun never shines, you might even want to question (ah, that Socratic method again)the reasoning behind outsourcing a vital transportation entity to a Dubai-based operation.
There is no valid motive for such a deal, and it can have ramifications that jeopardize our security and the workings of a major US port.
On the other note I brought in (which I admit is thread drift), I just returned from a four day conference in Carmel with CEO's and technowizards from Silicon Valley. These brainshop people are amazed that the MBA president and his administration seem to be stuck on 1950's policies regarding US industry, businesses, and support for innovation.
At this rate, my friend, your children's future employment may be sailing off to Thailand, the Phillipines, India (becoming the world's back office), and China (becoming the world's manufacturer), without this administration's lifting a finger to figure where we go as a nation from here.
If you were less blind to opinions other than your own, you might see that my reaction doesn't signal "Bush hatred," but instead "disappointment, bewilderment, and fear for the directionless drift of this country." |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 1885
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 10:41 pm: | |
The largest container port operators in the world are Dubai Ports World (now owner of P&O), the Port of Singapore Authority, AP Moeller-Maersk (Denmark) and Hutchison Whampoa (Hong Kong - China).
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Dogbert
Citizen
Username: Dogbert
Post Number: 22
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 19, 2006 - 7:17 am: | |
To my mind this is like blaming the country of Denmark for what a Danish newspaper prints. This port management company obviously has an extensive record on its own, even here in the US, and they checked that record. Does anyone think if we hired, oh for example, a French company, that the people operating it would be any more trustworthy? All the criticism in this article is innuendo. And besides, this is Dubai we're talking about, not Sudan. |
emmie
Supporter
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 697
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 1:40 am: | |
Well, I was just wondering if anyone else was concerned about this. Guess not, based on the number of responses. So be it, I think it is a done deal. I think we are in big trouble....the United Arab Emirates has been given permission to take over 6 major ports in the US. I just can't believe that we will all sit back and let this happen!! WTF??
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Scully
Citizen
Username: Scully
Post Number: 174
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 8:44 am: | |
Actually I think I heard that the affected governors
are suing to stop it.
It is of course a very BAD idea at this point.
(To let the UAE take control of the ports. The
suing is GOOD). |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4071
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 9:06 am: | |
How to they plan to staff this company? |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1161
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 9:44 am: | |
It's simply unbelievable. Chertoff says that they have been well screened....oh that makes me feel so much better about it. Bin Laden's plan is to infiltrate and destroy our society. Round 1 would go to him if this is allowed |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 811
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 9:54 am: | |
Its like the fox watching the hen house. There is no way that this company would not be infiltrated with people who are interested in murder and violence against this country.
This move is only about the dollars. A law should be passed that does not allow foreign corporations / governments from operating key US assets. No ports, no airports, no border crossings, no powerplants, no chemical companies.
I am more then certain that the USA has enough expertise to run these things on our own. |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 1794
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 9:57 am: | |
According to an article I read yesterday, upper management was been well screened, but mid-level employees a down to rank and file have not been thoroughly screened. |
Jennifer
Citizen
Username: Jkohan
Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:29 am: | |
I just can't get over how far up the tushes this administration is of these oil interests! And sure, to make it look better, let's have Bush do a 2 day trip to start talking about alternative energy sources.....My head is spinning from all of the spin.
For me, this is particulary sensitive as I have a family member that works at Port Newark.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060221/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_energy;_ylt=AmQkP_A2FAbF W.vFe.er1WJvzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--. |
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