Bush’s Bogeyman fear turns to backlash on port deal
Bush threatens veto in ports: follow the money
By Sinclere Lee
WASHINGTON (BNW) — Stupid Bush has never vetoed a bill in his life, but Bush says he will veto any law blocking a deal giving an Arab company control of six US ports. Why?
Because, Bush, Rove and Cheney have already taken the money for the Dubai Ports deal, and the United Arab Emirates will want their money back if the deal falls through. These crooks will do anything before they give that money back — follow the money — which could be as much as $10 million a piece for these crooks.
It serves them right, because they have created such a fear of the Bogeyman in the minds of the American people, and the port deal fell from their money plate because of the very fear they cerated. Ironically, the same fear they have created is the same fear that has the American people afraid of having an Arab country running US ports. As a result, no good deed goes unpunished!
Everybody is piling-on; a threat came from Bill Frist, leader of the Republican Party in the Senate, who said he would introduce a blocking law if the government did not delay the deal.
The issue has developed into a very serious political standoff between Stupid Bush and senior Republicans, the BBC's Justin Webb reports.
The administration is to brief a Senate committee on the deal on Wednesday.
Administration officials will address an unusual session of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the planned takeover, which would put six of the largest ports in the hands of Dubai Ports World of the United Arab Emirates.
The ports are New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans and Miami.
Critics say this would make the US more vulnerable to terrorism.
'Terrible signal'
Stupid Bush said that the government had looked at the issue carefully and that he believed the deal should go ahead.
He called on opponents to explain why they opposed a Middle Eastern firm taking over when they did not oppose a British company being in control.
"I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, 'We'll treat you fairly'," he said.
"It would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through," he told reporters.
Senator Frist, the majority leader in the Senate, said the deal "should be put on hold until the administration conducts a more extensive review of this matter".
It would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through
If it did not call a delay, he said he would introduce legislation to ensure the postponement.
Sen. Frist is the most senior Republican and the most senior figure in the Senate to oppose the deal.
Senior Republicans believe Mr. Bush should have paid more attention to the way the deal would be perceived in the US, our correspondent says.
Security risk
However, the deal has alarmed lawmakers from both parties.
Critics fear an increased risk of terrorist attacks, pointing out that the UAE was the home of two of the hijackers involved in the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said: "This company is coming out of a country that has had a strong al-Qaeda presence.
"In this post 9/11 world, we cannot consider approving this contract until a much more thorough investigation takes place on this security matter."
The administration has rejected the concerns, saying the deal was thoroughly vetted.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: "Nothing changes with respect to security under the contract. The Coast Guard is in charge of security, not the corporation.
"We all deal with the UAE on a regular basis. It's a country that's been involved in the global war on terror."
P&O and DP World say they are confident the deal will go ahead, the latter insisting that security was "at the forefront" of its business.