[Laurasia]

British ports should be run by Britons, American ports by Americans. No corporation, be it multinational, local or extra planetary, should be running anyone's ports. That should be done by that particular nation's government - until this unseemly mess blew up I had no idea that the corporations were that entrenched in the most basic structures of our lives. I don't give a hoot about the fact that it is an muslim country involved, I would have been just as incensed knowing that a British firm might be running the 6 ports. And I am a Briton.

[Laurasia]

Well I hit the 'submit' button instead of the preview button, so I didn't even sign off. Sorry for the rant. I just feel leery about corporations running prisons, working side by side the military but being paid double the wages, or even running ports. And yes I work for a corporation and I stay there for the health benefits, because I'm no spring chicken and neither is my retired hubby.

Regards,

L.

[RonMN]

It's time to look in the mirror & ask yourself (myself)...do i want to heat my house in the winter? Or do I want this ports deal to fail?

you & i can play polotics all we want...the bottom line is...can Americans even car pool to cut oil/gas consumption in half? (nope).

Can we turn down the thermostats in the winter & turn them up in the summer? (nope).

Can we eat less? (look at our stomaches).

The ugly truth is...We have seen the enemy, and it is us

The sale of the ports is only a symptom of a MUCH larger problem!

[rogerhb]

Interesting possible resolution that let's everyone win.

Dubai firm to 'transfer' US ports

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BBC', 'D')ubai Ports World (DPW) is to transfer its US ports business to a "US entity" to end a row over its takeover of P&O.

[Jellric]

I wonder if the entity is named "Halliburton"?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jellric', 'I') wonder if the entity is named "Halliburton"?

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jellric', 'T')hey act like they were entitled to the deal. Someone should inform them that doing business with another country is a privilege, not a right.

[jaws]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Laurasia', 'B')ritish ports should be run by Britons, American ports by Americans. No corporation, be it multinational, local or extra planetary, should be running anyone's ports. That should be done by that particular nation's government - until this unseemly mess blew up I had no idea that the corporations were that entrenched in the most basic structures of our lives. I don't give a hoot about the fact that it is an muslim country involved, I would have been just as incensed knowing that a British firm might be running the 6 ports. And I am a Briton.

[Jellric]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ep. Same goes for us too, of course.

[Shadizar]

For anyone interested I suggest they watch Lou Dobbs. He has had good coverage on this deal thoughout. If you want to watch the right wing (not that its bad) viewpoint, Fox News is good (or Kudlow).

I'm torn between both opinions on this issue.

On one hand, I don't believe any foreign national country should own strategically important assets in the U.S.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the U.S. really doesn't have, and can't afford (see budget and trade deficits) its own security any more.
Beyond that, our economy and world politics are globalized now. Like it or not. If we don't accept this deal the dollar will lose strength. A small thing can have great consequences. Money is about confidence, and this decision will send a negative message about the worth of the US dollar by telling the world that they may not be able to trade in their dollars for real assets.

I see a great threat to our fiscal security in sending the message that we will not accept foreign investment anymore. We are truly seeing protectionism. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing (or that we can change that perception at this point).

I believe this is a direct result of our energy security problems. It all comes down to our ability to project power and influence in the Middle East. Without Middle East oil this county is doomed. Our leadership knows that. Or at least thinks that.

Right now I think this issue is about politics, and every party involved knows that. Elections are closing in and politicians know this is a sure fire win in their districts.

I'm reluctant to say this, but I think the U.S. is in decline as a world power (or a civilization). Our only hope is to preserve the standard of living.

Dubia and other countries have US dollars to spend. If they can't buy assets with those dollars we are in trouble. Other countries will take note, and act accordingly.

This is more that just a security issue in my honest opinion.

And just to address the issue of security of ports I'd like to add that port security is NOT the sole responsibility of the US government. The first line of security consists of those that manage the ports. The U.S. Coast Guard only checks around 5% of cargo that comes into this country. Internal company security, and cargo security is the responsibilty of the management corporation. The goverment does its part, but port securtiy is largely handled by the managers.

These corporation hire guards, and check each incoming package before the Department of Homeland Security ever sees the shipped package. Security is more about the 95% of cargo that DOESN'T go through customs (the part the shipping company worries about),

-Shadizar

P.S. Peak Oil is about the unknown. This is a symptom of the problem.



-Shadizar-

Edited for spelling and grammar-repeatedly.
Just my thoughts....

[Jellric]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') see a great threat to our fiscal security in sending the message that we will not accept foreign investment anymore.

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jellric', '
')Does anyone think Bush and Cheney would be open to the idea of outsourcing their Secret Service protection?

[thor]

The port deal is a major security risk. You don't want any weapons being imported right under your noses, now do you?Of course not, unless you think the US is truly being loved, hugged and respected in the Mid East.

[backstop]

Beside demonstrating US Congress' hypocricy with regard to the globalization of ownership of strategic assets,

to my mind the best bit of this farce is the fact that these were among the very last US ports that were still US owned, but nobody has told the US public !


regards,

Backstop

[Eli]

Well it looks like this deal is dead.

Here are some good articles about this from CNN.

Economic fallout?

Bush is sad

Here is a good quote from Bush.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')Outside of our own country, Dubai [the emirate where DP World is based] services more of our military ships than any country in the world,"

[LadyRuby]

Bush's enthusiasm for the port deal is all about the Middle-East Free Trade Agreement (MEFTA). As usual it all comes down to money, and helping the rich get richer.

Middle East Free Trade Agreement

But now the US has to stall/postpone further trade agreements with the UAE.

This whole thing is about negotiating free trade with the middle east so that ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Dow, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Intel, JR McDermott, Motorola and PhRMA, among others can get their paws in into the middle east and get some of that oil away from the middle east monarchs. Why Exxon and Chevron? Oil. Why Dow? Petrochemicals.

The Players


A fuller list of players:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'U').S. - Middle East Free Trade Coalition Adds to
Steering Committee

With the addition of several new companies, the U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Coalition Steering Committee, which guides the direction and activities of the coalition, has now reached twenty
organizations. Steering Committee members include: American International Group, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, The Boeing Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, the Business Council for International Understanding, CMS Energy, ChevronTexaco, Coca-Cola Company, Dow Chemical Company, ExxonMobil, The Herman Group of Companies, Intel, J. Ray McDermott, Motorola, the National Foreign Trade Council, Occidental Petroleum, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Raytheon, TECORE Wireless Systems, and Washington Group International. Over a hundred U.S. companies and organizations supporting the creating of a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013 make up the coalition.

[LadyRuby]

More on how it's all about trade and money-making.


NFTC Supports CFIUS Decision on Port Management Transfer

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'N')FTC Supports CFIUS Decision on Port Management Transfer
Date: 2/24/2006
Written By: Susan Mora, The Fratelli Group, 202/822-9491

Discriminating Against UAE Would Damage Long Term U.S. Interests

Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council supports the decision of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to permit transfer in management of six U.S. port cargo operations from a British company to Dubai Ports World, a company headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Nobody cares about the security of our critical infrastructure more than the business community, as it is our lifeline to international trade. However, the real issues surrounding port security are related to the proper selection of personnel at the ports and proper procedures for inspecting cargo, which necessarily involves close cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security,” said Bill Reinsch, President of NFTC.

“The President has pointed out quite correctly that the UAE has been an ally in the war against terrorism and has cooperated with the Department of Homeland Security on port security issues. In any event, Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard are in charge of safeguarding the ports, not the company managing cargo operations,” he continued.

NFTC is particularly disappointed by the call of some in Congress for legislation to prohibit foreign companies from owning port management operations, an impractical suggestion. Many U.S. ports are currently managed by foreign companies, including 90% of America’s west coast port facilities.

“If cooperation and improved relations with the Middle East is our goal, singling out the UAE will send exactly the wrong signal to the region,” Reinsch continued. “It will make it much more difficult for the President to achieve his foreign policy goals and do further damage to the U.S. image in the Middle East, and it runs directly counter to the idea that open trade and global economic engagement are good things.”

The NFTC has supported the President’s proposal to establish a Middle East Free Trade Agreement (MEFTA), in the belief that increased economic ties with the U.S. will lead to jobs and economic growth in the region, which in turn will help the cause of lasting peace.

“It’s time for cooler heads to prevail. If Congress succeeds in blocking this acquisition, it will set back progress on our economic and political goals there for some time. Moreover, our leadership in opening markets will be less credible in important forums like the WTO,” Reinsch concluded.

[cube]

Isn't it funny that the basic argument of the protesters is that they feel uncomfortable with a foreign corporation controling $6.8 billion of our "strategic assests" in this case sea ports...... but when the USA hands off over $600 billion of our debt (mostly to foreigners) every year in the form of our current account deficit, strangely enough I don't hear to many protesters complaining our national security is being threatened?

*hypocrisy???*

[mekrob]

Doesn't hypocrisy require knowledge of both sides? I'd say it's stupidity. They haven't been told to care about it by the media yet.

[Novus]

Bush was right. Congress got it wrong. We could be facing a dollar crisis very shortly. This might be a good time to sell everything you own and buy gold and silver.