Take your ports but leave your wallet
Today's statement from Dubai Ports World drips with bitterness.
"Because of the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States ..."
(We tried to be your friends, you cursed infidels!)
"... and to preserve this relationship ..."
(When camels fly.)
"... His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai ..."
(Just so you know you're not dealing with some second-rate poohbah here.)
"... has decided that DP World would do the following."
(Just so you know His Highness is still calling the shots.)
"DP World will transfer fully the U.S. operations of P&O Ports North America Inc. to a United States entity."
(If you want Halliburton, you can have Halliburton.)
"This decision is based on an understanding that DP World will have time to effect the transfer in an orderly fashion ..."
(Stop trying to bully us.)
"... and that DP World will not suffer economic loss."
(You don't expect us to walk away empty-handed, do you?)
"We look forward to working with the Department of the Treasury to implement this decision."
(Cash only.)
Comments (6)
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And this little deal will come back to bite those who kicked the UAE in the teeth, in the butt.
Posted on March 9, 2006 8:06 PM
"... and to preserve this relationship ..."
(When camels fly.)* Doug
And the answer from the Republican Congress was " Screw you and the camel you rode in on since we want to keep our job and fool the American people again"
Posted on March 9, 2006 8:42 PM
It's that "and that DP World will not suffer economic loss" part that I'm concerned about. It's bad enough when taxpayers subsidize private local companies; I sure don't want to start subsidizing a company owned by another country's government, too. (Not saying that's actually happening in this deal, but it's something I'd be looking for as details emerge.)
Posted on March 9, 2006 8:58 PM
Bad politics. Karl Rove where were/are you?
Bush, as a result of lack of heads up from underlings, stumbled big time on this one. He's taken some hits in the past three weeks and needs to do some shaking up in his administration. His VP Cheney doesn't inform him until 18 hours after he winged his only friend, the Dubai port security matter (citizens overwhelmingly opposed to this), now Congress usurps some of the presidential powers by watering down the Patriot Act (citizens were overwhelmingly on the side of the WH on this matter) without a whimper from the WH. Bush is appearing to be mighty weak at this juncture of his administration.
Drudge Reports that Dubai might be taking a second look at the 10 billion Boeing multi plane order they signed last year. Tit for tat.
I bet these lower level bureaucrats in the Treasury and other depts won't be making these type of decisions without input from the WH.
Posted on March 9, 2006 9:38 PM
These quotes from the Australian say it all. A non issue which in an election year got blown out of proportion. It's all about votes and in the long run it is going to come back and bite this Congress, Dems and Repubs alike, in the butt.
"Fearing they are being outflanked by Democrats on a national security issue and ahead of critical mid-term congressional elections in November, a Republican-run House of Representatives committee voted overwhelmingly to block a UAE government-owned company taking control of the US ports."
"To kill the deal without a comprehensive solution to port security is just living for the political moment," South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham said yesterday.
Posted on March 10, 2006 8:07 AM
Nice to know you are intrested in the taxpayers wallet. Shame you do not show it when TAX HIKE MIKE raises taxes . You always endorse them. Along with all his pork projects. Civil Rights Musuem ring a bell? More gone and you and your paper wanting more $ for this pork.
Posted on March 11, 2006 5:24 AM