Chertoff defends review of ports takeover by Arab company

[sabra]

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060219/APN/602190621

Chertoff defends review of ports takeover by Arab company

Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff on Sunday defended the government's security review of an Arab company given permission to take over operations at six major U.S. ports.

"We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint," Chertoff said on ABC's "This Week."

...

"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history," Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C. said on "Fox News Sunday."

"Most Americans are scratching their heads, wondering why this company from this region now," Graham said.

[saltpoint]

1. Unless there are hidden trapdoors to this someplace, I am completely

stupefied that it slipped past KKKarl Rove's desk.

Wouldn't SOMEONE in that idiot White House have an inkling that this could be a grievous public relations disaster for the administration?

I accept that they are comprehensively evil. But I didn't think they were ALL this stupid.

[jimshoes]

2. I don't think they care any more

Time is short. Only 3 more years to loot and steal America. Then it's off to the Canary Islands or Switzerland to live like kings.

[saltpoint]

4. I'm left with few other choices, jimshoes. These people are dastardly,

and now they face a second rocky week in the media.

All last week it was the vice president, possibly the drunk vice president, gunning down some 78-year old GOP lawyer on the Armstrong Ranch.

This week the editorial pages wil be full of observations -- I'm guessing mostly very negative -- about the sell-out of U.S. port security to interests in the UAR.

If I were Michael Chertoff -- heaven forbid -- I would resign this afternoon and move to Bolivia. He's about to be buried alive under the Hurricane Katrina report and next the port security issue.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

25. Second rocky week in the media? you mean the third rocky week...

... eom

[henslee]

6. It;s like one of those dept. store shopping sprees u see on TV. The gun

goes off and GO -- grab what you can.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Same thing happened in FL

when the first batch of State Reps were term limited. They went nuts giving away the store.

[CJCRANE]

5. ...because theyve been getting away with worse for years. nt

[Timefortruth]

3. Republicans complain, but they support their man

no matter what.

[mac56]

8. There will come a tipping point

where they don't any longer.

Funny, I thought this would be it.

[Evergreen Emerald]

21. With evey incredulous blunder and abuse I awaited the tipping point.

I gave up after the elections. It was so evident after the debates that Bush was /is so incredibly wrong for America and such a complete lying dolt, that I thought for sure the masses would see that the Emperor had no clothes.

Diebold and fanaticism rule of the day.

[randr]

9. I feel safer now

If Chertoff, who did a heck of job on NO, says its ok what is the issue?

[Judi Lynn]

10. Chertoff says Dubai port deal includes safeguards

Chertoff says Dubai port deal includes safeguards
Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:32 AM ET

WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. homeland security chief said on Sunday a deal for a Dubai-based company to manage major U.S. ports would include security safeguards, but a Republican senator urged a probe and called the Bush administration "tone deaf politically" for approving it.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the Bush administration had approved the sale of British firm P&O (PO.L: Quote, Profile, Research), which manages six U.S. ports including New York, to Dubai Ports World after a classified review and the deal would include safeguards to protect U.S. national security.

"You can be assured that before a deal is approved we put safeguards in place, assurances in place, that make everybody comfortable that we are where we need to be from a national security viewpoint," Chertoff said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

But Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said it was a mistake for the administration to approve the sale and called on Congress to investigate it.

"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history, four years after 9/11, to entertain the idea of turning port security over to a company based in the UAE who avows to destroy Israel," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday."
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-02-19T163257Z_01_N19219437_RTRIDST_0_SECURITY-PORTS.XML

[C_U_L8R]

11. Safeguards... such as....

what ???

This whole bush admin is full of crap isn't it.

[fasttense]

12. Yeah, right, like Chertoff had plans in place for Katrina.

Like the repukes had plans in place for 9/11. Like they had plans in place for the poor and hungry. Like they had plans in place to get Iraq WMDs. Yeah right, tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies.

[emulatorloo]

13. "Trust us -- we would never screw up" EOM

[rodeodance]

30. He does project the " just trust us" attitude-yet all infor is classifed.

[buddysmellgood]

14. "I don't think anyone ever imagined that terrorists would

infiltrate a UAE company and then attack our ports." Condi Rice, December, 2006.

[Up2Late]

22. Good one!

I can almost hear it now!:toast:

[Up2Late]

15. Chertoff says Dubai port deal includes safeguards (Reuters)

(Well, since he's "doing such a Heck of a Job," that's enough for me...)

Chertoff says Dubai port deal includes safeguards

Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:29 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deal for a state-owned Dubai company to manage major U.S. ports includes security safeguards, the U.S. homeland security chief said on Sunday, but a Republican senator urged a probe and called the Bush administration "tone deaf politically" for supporting it. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the Bush administration had approved the sale of British firm P&O, which manages six U.S. ports including New York, to Dubai Ports World after a classified review.

"You can be assured that before a deal is approved we put safeguards in place, assurances in place, that make everybody comfortable that we are where we need to be from a national security viewpoint," Chertoff said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." But Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said it was a mistake for the administration to approve the sale and called on Congress to investigate it.

"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history, four years after 9/11, to entertain the idea of turning port security over to a company based in the UAE who avows to destroy Israel," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday." "I don't think now is the time to outsource major port security to a foreign-based company," he said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, criticized the secrecy of the Bush administration's review and said she would support legislation to block foreign companies from buying port facilities. "I don't think now is the time to outsource major port security to a foreign-based company," he said.

(more at link below)

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=11263976&src=rss/politicsNews>

[babylonsister]

16. Yes, we know how 'safe' DHS made the gulf coast on Chertoff's

watch. Why believe anything this rat bastard says?

[acmejack]

17. Yeah, the man reeks of credibility!

Heck of a job Mikey!

[ixion]

18. so now the only things protecting our borders are safeguards?

gee, for a group of folks who claim to be strong on defense, that makes no sense whatsoever.

[alfredo]

19. Maybe it gives US industries deni-ability when the inevitable

happens. They know there is no way to stop it without checking every inch of every ship coming to port, and the US is not willing to do that.

[mzmolly]

20. Well after his handling of Katrina I feel completely relieved!

:sarcasm:

[pfitz59]

23. Links......

http://www.dpa.co.ae/index.html

"The horse's mouth...."

No links to investors or ownership......

[pfitz59]

26. Links # 2......

Dubai Ports & WMDs!

http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/dubai/transshipment-milestones.html

Interesting article....

http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2006/Feb/EEN43f2b66ad4e0b.html

And the winner is?..... "Billionaire Sheikh Of Dubai!"

http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/09/cx_0211ukfaceweek.html?partner=iaci

[DinahMoeHum]

24. Chertoff: typical profits-over-patriotism, money-grubbing. . .

...oh, never mind...Nothing new here in the Repuke Party people.

:evilfrown:

[Sadie5]

27. What exactly are those safeguards?

Wanna bet they are classified?

[rodeodance]

31. yes, I believe it was the NYT that said it was classified.

[NVMojo]

28. tell Dubai to give us Osama and then we'll talk business!!

[tabasco]

29. Lord God Bush has decreed that it is best for the corporations !!

Lord Bush and the republicans exist solely to enrich multinational corporations. The selling of our sovereignty by the corporate cabal is no surprise to most of us here at DU. The freepers and other stupid Bush supporters will find a way to rationalize this terrible mistake and will fall in line with Lord Bush. They always do !!

[rodeodance]

32. nominated.

[leesa]

33. Chertoff belongs in jail.

[Spazito]

34. Hmmm, Chertoff "assures" Americans "that the deal is appropriate

from a national security standpoint" yet the NYT is reporting the following:

"The investigation did not include background checks on the senior managers of the company or an evaluation of how the company screens its own employees, Mr. King said. "Certainly, you would think they would talk to the Port Authority," he added."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/nyregion/17ports.html


Okay, since the clearance "DID NOT INCLUDE background checks on senior management or an evaluation of how the company screens its own employees", how, exactly, can Mr. Chertoff reassure Americans that their review is so thorough that everyone should relax and let it happen? Oh.....wait......this is the same Chertoff that thought everything was going well regarding NO and Hurricane Katrina, makes perfect sense, lol.

[tabasco]

36. You're doin' a heckuva job, Chertie !

I suppose it is inevitable that we will lose another city due to the corruption of the corporate cabal.

[Auntie Bush]

35. The Gov. is outsourcing our port security because they know we

can't protect them with the funds we have and they BELIEVE we will have an attack from our ports. The White House doesn't want the responsibility. When/if we are attacked bush et al can claim it ISN'T their fault...someone else was guarding the ports. We're not responsible so continue to vote for us...we can protect you. Wasn't our fault!

I'm sure that is their thinking. It's a CYA deal.