Port security investigation is a face-saving game for Bush

[ProSense]

That is more important to the Republicans than anything else.

Dubai Expected to Ask for Review of Port Deal

By DAVID E. SANGER
Published: February 26, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 — After two days of behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Bush administration and Congress, the Dubai company seeking to manage terminals at six American ports is expected to announce by Monday a deal inviting the government to conduct a broad new review of security concerns, senior administration officials and a company adviser say.

Gaps in Security Stretch From Model Port in Dubai to U.S. (February 26, 2006)
The Nation: U.S. Security: Failures, Near-Failures and an A-Minus (February 26, 2006) If an agreement is completed, the state-owned company, Dubai Ports World, will "voluntarily" ask the Bush administration to pursue the lengthier, deeper investigation that Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been demanding since controversy over the transaction erupted at the beginning of the week.

The White House plans to portray the action as the company's own decision, giving administration officials a face-saving way of backing away from President Bush's repeated declarations in recent days that there is no security risk in having the port terminals operated by a company controlled by the emir of Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates.

The people who discussed the negotiations, two senior administration officials and the company adviser, spoke on the condition of anonymity because final details had not been worked out. Dubai Ports lawyers and lobbyists spent Friday and Saturday talking with Congressional leaders, including the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/politics/26Radio.html

[reality based]

1. They're going to try to sweep it back under the rug.

Hopefully Congressional Democrats won't let it happen.

[rwheeler31]

2. this is not a company

nt

[Erika]

3. They allow a foriegn govt with ties to 9/11 and OBL here

but force me to endure denigration every time I fly. No thanks. Most of us have had it with W and his doublespeak. They can all go to hell.