Mr. Conyers' take on the ports issue:

[babylonsister]

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000386.htm

Edit to add: I LOVE this man!!

What's More Important than National Security?

Lining the pockets of your friends, of course, if you happen to live in the White House. The news today that Bush has vowed to veto any legislation that reviews the security implications of the Dubai Port World's potential management of our ports is ludicrous and the entire Democratic Party is calling him to task for it.

The sale of companies in industries affecting national security requires a review of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) - a group comprised of several cabinet agencies with national security jurisdiction. AP quotes Scott McClellan as saying every cabinet secretary involved was consulted,

''The president made sure to check with all the Cabinet secretaries that are part of this process, or whose agencies or departments are part of this process. He made sure to check with them -- even after this got more attention in the press -- to make sure that they were comfortable with the decision that was made.'' -- White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

But this was news to Donald Rumsfeld who claims that he learned of the deal after it had already been approved. Apparently, Bush also wasn't notified either until after the decison was made. Who do you have to shoot around here or what national security laws must you break before it rises to the level that the President should be notified?

Existing law automatically requires a 45-day review of foreign state-owned companies seeking to acquire U.S. firms in industries that are critical to our national security. But the Bush Administration decided to that there are some rules that should always be followed, and some that can be overlooked when it involves giveaways to your cronies.

The real issue here is that sometimes national security just isn't as important as taking care of your friends. You see, Bush's Treasury Secretary, John Snow, used to run a company that sold its international ports business to Dubai Port World. The ties between DP World and the administration are so tight that Bush appointed the one of the firm's employees to run the U.S. Maritime Administration. The overwhelming public outcry has led even congressional Republican leaders to challege this deal and it appears there will be a quite a battle between the intransigent president and those that believe our national security shouldn't be up for sale.

The Bush Administration's proclivity to put its friends ahead of the country's well-being has led Congresswoman Louise Slaughter to look into the cost of Republican corruption and cronyism. She has just completed a 118 page report, America For Sale, that is well worth reading.

Blogged by JC on 02.22.06 @ 11:48 PM ET <11 Comments>