Obscure US intelligence agency assessed ports deal

[deminks]

http://go.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=1097504§ion=news&src=rss/uk/worldNews

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deal that allows an Arab-owned company in Dubai to manage six major U.S. ports was scrutinized for security risks by an obscure intelligence agency that has existed for only four months, American officials said on Wednesday.

The Intelligence Community Acquisition Risk Centre, or CARC, overseen by the office of intelligence chief John Negroponte, was asked by the government committee that vets foreign investments in the United States to look into the ports deal soon after it came to its attention in early November.

But intelligence officials said CARC, which has little to do with counterterrorism activities, was formed just last October as the agency mandated to assess security risks posed by companies that do business with the intelligence community.

Only a small part of the center's resources are devoted to vetting commercial deals, officials said.

CARC's first director, William Dawson, was appointed in January, more than a month after the centre had been asked to begin work on the Dubai Ports World acquisition.

Dawson had been a senior information technology official for the intelligence community prior to his appointment.

[Lindsay]

1. Yet another secret agency

from that government-hating Repug cabal.

Yeesh.

[babylonsister]

2. This magnifies the importance of port security risks

to the * admin. Terra? What terra when it works to their benefit?

[MadMaddie]

3. If Negraponte is involved

there is something illegal involved

<snip>
The Intelligence Community Acquisition Risk Centre, or CARC, overseen by the office of intelligence chief John Negroponte,
<snip>

* has allowed an agency less than a year old make National Security type decisions.

[fob]

5. Negroponte = shady deal or grisly death

nt

[havocmom]

6. You forgot MIHOP coming down the pipeline

The man is the grim reaper. There is always death in his wake.

[fob]

8. I sit corrected! You are all too correct.

nt

[uppityperson]

4. And we are supposed to trust this? rhetorical question

thanks for the article.

[pinto]

7. I feel better now. Thank God this wasn't a hurricane....(sarcasm).

[sam sarrha]

9. ...Negroponte.??!!!!! the Butcher of Guatemala..!!! psychopath ass licker

[rodeodance]

10. information tecnnology?--does this anything to do with being an expert

in telligence?--does not sound like it to me.

Dawson had been a senior information technology official for the intelligence community prior to his appointment.

[rodeodance]

11. Bush always agencies as in plural Was this the only agency?--and not

evern counterintel. What is going on?



.....But the deal has since unleashed a political firestorm from both Republicans and Democrats, who see it as a potential risk to national security.

The White House sought to stem criticism on Wednesday by saying the port takeover had been reviewed by intelligence agencies, including counterterrorism experts.

"The intelligence community did assessments to make sure that there was no national security threat," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

But intelligence officials said CARC, which has little to do with counterterrorism activities, was formed just last October as the agency mandated to assess security risks posed by companies that do business with the intelligence community.

[columbusdem]

12. CARC seems to be a crock.

CARC seems to be a crock.

[Tamarin]

13. Another Office of Special Plans n/t

[alarcojon]

15. Yep

Boy, they have this shot down pat, don't they? Need some "intelligence" to back up what you're going to do anyway? Put together some cronies, form an "intelligence service," and arrive at just the conclusion you wanted.

Asswipes.

[NVMojo]

14. Singapore pulled out of buying the port company and UAE company stepped in

about the time this committee was formed. What a crock. They really don't think people can connect the dots.

snip...

What he does not understand is the xenophobic nature of some of the debate that took place in the course of the bidding process. There were allegations of 'dirty tricks' when reports appeared of the supposed involvement of Chinese backers for the counter-bid by Temasek of Singapore. The 'Johnny Foreigner' streak culminated last week in questions about Dubai's Middle Eastern ownership and possible terrorist threat.

'Dubai is a country that has not harboured terrorists, and I have great respect for the sultan, Ahmed bin Sulayem. I've had three and a half months of dealing with him, and he is a really professional businessman. With people like him running it, I'm not surprised Dubai is doing so well,' he says.

more...

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1712692,00.html

[CJCRANE]

16. Bushco is running a Covert Government -

everything done in secret.

[Roland99]

17. More proof that * was LYING when he said he didn't know of the port deal!!

How could the Intelligence Czar, Mr. Death Squads himself, be making deals w/o the President knowing???

[sofedup]

18. they're doing a heckuva job...n/t