"The company's from a country that's been an ally in the war on terror"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Remarks by the President upon Arrival at the White House Feb. 21

2/21/2006 4:32:00 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk

Contact: White House Press Office, 202-456-2580

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush upon arrival from his three-state trip to promote his energy policy:

The South Lawn

3:50 P.M. EST



THE PRESIDENT: I've just come back from a really good trip to the Midwest and the West talking about our need to change how we use energy -- very encouraged by the technology that I saw and inspired by the scientists and engineers that are working on these new technologies.

And I also want to address another issue I just talked to the press about on Air Force One, and that is this issue of a company out of the UAE purchasing the right to manage some ports in the United States from a British company. First of all, this is a private transaction. But it -- according to law, the government is required to make sure this transaction does not, in any way, jeopardize the security of the country. And so people responsible in our government have reviewed this transaction.

The transaction should go forward, in my judgment. If there was any chance that this transaction would jeopardize the security of the United States, it would not go forward. The company has been cooperative with the United States government. The company will not manage port security. The security of our ports will be -- continue to be managed by the Coast Guard and Customs. The company is from a country that has been cooperative in the war on terror, been an ally in the war on terror. The company operates ports in different countries around the world, ports from which cargo has been sent to the United States on a regular basis.

I think it sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's okay for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world can't manage the port.

And so, look, I can understand why some in Congress have raised questions about whether or not our country will be less secure as a result of this transaction. But they need to know that our government has looked at this issue and looked at it carefully. Again, I repeat, if there was any question as to whether or not this country would be less safe as a result of the transaction, it wouldn't go forward. But I also want to repeat something again, and that is, this is a company that has played by the rules, that has been cooperative with the United States, a country that's an ally in the war on terror, and it would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through.

I want to thank you for your interest in the subject.

END 3:53 P.M. EST

http://www.usnewswire.com/

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=61295

[jean]

1. The company is OWNED and RUN by a foreign country.

[Sawber1000]

6. Actually

It looks like that was the case before too.

"Dubai Ports World recently acquired the British-based firm that currently directs commercial operations at those ports, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation. The takeover by Dubai Ports World means that it will be in charge of those operations."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/21/port.security/index.html

[jean]

8. It was British-based, not owned and run by the British government.

[caledesi]

2. Let me remind you "Mr. President" that 2 of the highjackers

on 9/11 were from the UAE and that it is a known fact that the UAE funded 9/11 as well as your "friends" Saudi Arabia.

Oh, and hello? Why don't we have the good ol' USA doing the job?

Why all this outsourcing?

I wish that we could outsource you!

[fknobbit]

4. It is supposed to look like outsourcing but it's

A chicken shit paying protection to the terrorist SOB's.

[CJCRANE]

3. People trusted you before 9/11

to protect them...and look what happened...

People trusted you that there were WMD in Iraq...and look what happened...

People trusted that you'd learn the lessons of 9/11 and could respond to an emergency...and looked what happened in New Orleans...

Are they going to trust you now?

[leesa]

5. Yes, they have been Bush's ally, not the United States ally

Bush is a terrorist and they support terrorists

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. How can Bush say that the UAE plays by the rules

when they won't even recognize Israel has a country?