Bush, GOP resurrect plans to sell off US port operations to Dubai Cronies

[farmbo]

http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=849F046D-E0C3-F08F-991D793F942625E6

From David Sirota

REPORT: Oman Trade Pact Permits Foreign Ownership of U.S. Nat’l Security Assets
In an explosive report tonight, top House Democrats discovered provisions in the controversial Oman Free Trade Agreement that would permit foreign ownership of U.S. ports and other key national security assets. Three Democrats and one Republican held an emergency press conference today to expose the provisions just before the House is scheduled to vote on the Oman pact on Thursday. As Reuters reports, "Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who serves on the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said the pact would allow companies such as Dubai Ports World to acquire U.S. port operations by establishing a shell company in Oman." Those provisions might also allow foreign ownership of other key national security assets, considering just after the recent Dubai Ports controversy, that country went ahead with plans to purchase a major U.S. defense contractor.
Last month, lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. Senate joined hands to pass the Oman Free Trade Agreement - which is being pushed aggressively by the Bush administration and its largest corporate donors. Lawmakers ignored major labor, human rights and environmental objections to the pact put forward by more than 400 union, religious and consumer groups. Among those voting for the pact in the Senate were Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), two Senators facing tough re-election bids who could face renewed criticism in their home states that they have sold out their constituents. <snip>

Rove to Bush 90 days ago: "I know...Let's give it a rest for 90 days, then we'll have our lackeys in the Senate ram something through that changes their name and approves the sale."
:grr:

[luckyleftyme2]

1. JUST LIKE DAD

during bush seniors reign,he almost slipped thru a contract that would allow foriegn shipyards to build our navy ships. a sect. at the yard i worked in sent the memo to our union. god bless the unions -they had the power to expose it and stop this insanity

[rfranklin]

5. One can only assume that the Bush crime family gets a cut...

on all these deals.

[Turbineguy]

2. They will keep

selling US based assets. It's the only way to bring the money back.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go to the Walmart. They have a sale on some items I have no use for.

[Cobalt-60]

20. It only works

If we swindle the asset back from them once its been bought.
Now I'll grant you swindling is in the GOP skill set, but it isn't happening.
The greedy traitors really do prefer the enrichment of all others over Americans.

[BlueJac]

3. No surprise here..........

It is the same old song and dance from the neo-cons in this country.

[leesa]

4. Well, this is no surprise. They will do this until it's a done deal.

[sellitman]

6. SEND THIS TO KO. N/T

[Jacobin]

7. I see Lieberman has his grimy palm prints all over this one, too

[gratuitous]

11. More "bipartisan" cover from Joe

I'd really like to hear more about what a swell Democrat Lieberman is supposed to be. Because when I see things like this, I doubt all over again that Lieberman has any party loyalty at all, as he tries valiantly to snatch defeat from the gullet -- make that the lower intestine -- of victory.

[TankLV]

19. Yep - another new reason to hate this piece of shit TRAITOR.

A TRAITOR not only to the Democratic Party, but now to the US in general.

Wow!

[originalpckelly]

8. Oman and UAE are different countries by the way...

Oman:

UAE:

Dubai is a part of the UAE.

[Bretttido]

10. As quoted in the OP

"Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who serves on the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said the pact would allow companies such as Dubai Ports World to acquire U.S. port operations by establishing a shell company in Oman."

[DinahMoeHum]

12. so the common denominator is Dubai Ports World,

still a matter of OUR ports being under FOREIGN management. That shit will not go down well in Ohio or Connecticut. I think now we can say goodbye to DeWine and Lieberman; their challengers certainly won't cotton to this.

:kick:

[Supersedeas]

9. Foreign ownership of US security assets....permits to contributors

[long_green]

13. as a New Orleanian, I say...

let 'em do this. If they can sell off our port security to foreigners, then we should be able to kick the Army Corps of Engineers out and have the Dutch build our flood protection.
on the port deal itself. Let them try this. It cost Shrub in the polls and now it's closer to November. Do they not see how this undercuts them in the NEWOT?

[xxqqqzme]

14. once they have their sights on

any legislation that benefits their Korporate Kontributing Kronies, they don't let it go - even if the majority of Americans are against it. They find a way 2 attach it 2 legislation that NO congress critter would dare vote against. These democracy destroyers are not going 2 allow Social Security 2 go w/o privatization either. You just know that policy upheaval is on a back burner simmering away. The ONLY reason they moved it off the front burner is they realized they didn't have a snappy name for it - like the Generational Enhancement Equity Act. Once they have their appetite whetted by a shitload of money they do not yet control, they do not let it go.........ever.

[EVDebs]

15. Makes the Ptech/GoAgile "investigation" all the more interesting...

Ptech
www.cooperativeresearch.org/entity.jsp?id=1521846767-2254

and WBZ Channel 4, Boston, stories on Ptech and what the FBI knew or obstructed re the company's FAA and WhiteHouse accesses prior to 9-11 all the more imperative that the public get the complete story !

[liberal N proud]

16. Someone must be making some big ass bucks off this deal

To keep trying to push it down our throats.

SOB's

[Virginia Dare]

17. "Someone" indeed....n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. ***ANOTHER THREAD ON THIS URGENT SITUATION - VOTE UP SOON***

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1673740
THREAD TITLE {7-19-06): URGENT: Oman Trade Pact - US port foreign ownership close to passing

Much additional information in the other thead. I'll post a crosslink (to this current thread) there too.

[NVMojo]

21. but of course and they've been pissing all over this for more than 90 days