Sen. CLINTON Sponsors Bill Against Foreign Port Ops Sale!

[Nickdfresh]

Bill would stop sale of port operations to Arabs

Democratic senators cite security issue

By NICHOLAS JOHNSTON
Bloomberg News
2/18/2006

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey have introduced legislation to prohibit companies owned or controlled by foreign governments from buying U.S. port operations.

The measure is intended to block the $6.8 billion sale of a company that operates six U.S. ports to a firm controlled by the United Arab Emirates.

"Our port security is too important to place in the hands of foreign governments," Clinton said in a statement Friday.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday called for hearings on the purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., the U.K.'s largest port operator, by DP World, Dubai's port company. With the acquisition, DP World would gain control over most operations at ports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore and New Orleans.

"Ports are the front lines of the war on terrorism," Menendez said. "We wouldn't turn the Border Patrol or the Customs Service over to a foreign government, and we can't afford to turn our ports over to one either."

Lawmakers have also asked the Bush administration to conduct a more thorough review of the purchase. Seven lawmakers sent a letter Thursday to Treasury Secretary John Snow asking a government panel known as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to look into the purchase.

Snow said Friday that while he had not seen the congressional requests for an additional review, the committee was "thorough, and carefully considered the issue of national security in that acquisition."

"The process worked as it is intended to work," Snow told reporters in Carol Stream, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago. The Departments of Defense and Homeland Security are part of the process, he said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the administration continued to support the sale and would brief members of Congress on its decision.

"It's the considered opinion of the U.S. government that this can go forward," Rice told a roundtable of Arab journalists Friday at the State Department in Washington. Rice, who will visit the UAE next week as part of a three-country Middle East tour, said there had been a "thorough review" of the sale and "it was decided that this could be done and done safely."

Rice described Abu Dhabi as "a very good friend" of the United States.

Two of the Sept. 11 attackers in 2001 were citizens of the United Arab Emirates and the country's banking system helped transfer money to the plotters, according to Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. He was one of the signatories to the letter. "I approach this with a great deal of dubiousness," Schumer told reporters in Washington. "The chances for infiltration are just too great."

Jarrod Agen, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said Thursday that the U.S. government would still control the ports.

Link (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060218/1054738.asp)

[4moreyears]

I have to say, I am not for the sale of our ports to foreign companies.

[bueno bob]

Absolutely fucking NOT.

Good for her!

[Hardrock69]

Good for anyone who can get legislation like this underway.

Here is ANOTHER example of GW Bush being a FUCKING TRAITOR!!!!

If he TRULY cared about preventing terrorism in this country, he would have already blocked such a deal.

But NO!

He wants to give control of our 6 largest ports to an ARAB GOVERNMENT!

WHAT IN THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH CHIMPY?

Goddamnable FUCK!

He needs to be removed from office and charged with treason.
:mad:

[BigBadBrian]

Originally posted by 4moreyears
I have to say, I am not for the sale of our ports to foreign companies.

Neither am I. Gotta support her on this. This crap has got to stop.

:gulp:

[blueturk]

The bad part is that in the Dubya Era, we find ourselves applauding something that is really just basic common sense.

[LoungeMachine]

Please file this under.......




WHAT THE FUCK WERE BUSHCO THINKING??????????

[Warham]

This might actually be the only thing Hillary's done in her political career worth mentioning.

[blueturk]

Originally posted by Warham
This might actually be the only thing Hillary's done in her political career worth mentioning.

And all because of Dubya. What irony!

"Give me a chance to be your president and America will be safer and stronger and better." —Still-President George W. Bush, Marquette, Michigan, July 13, 2004

[Phil theStalker]

They're all werking t2ogther f4or da NWO, and aff da Hil could doo tit rite she'd fakk up her Chinese comrades strategic bases plans (commercial ports are cuntsidered military bases by da Red Chinese).;)

BRAINWASHED!


:spank:

[Warham]

From another article:

The Bush administration got support Monday from former President Carter, a Democrat and frequent critic of the administration.

"My presumption is, and my belief is, that the president and his secretary of state and the Defense Department and others have adequately cleared the Dubai government organization to manage these ports," Carter told CNN. "I don't think there's any particular threat to our security."

[Nickdfresh]

An article about Senator CLINTON. She's far from ineffective, not that anyone outside NY would know that:

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060220/1050859.asp

Actually, I rather her stay NY Senator than become the Dem Nominee...

[ULTRAMAN VH]

Nick, you can have her. Hitlary is a Socialist/Opportunist. I don't have a problem with a woman running for President, just not her.

[thome]

Bush doesn't own those ports whoever ownes them can sell them to
whoever they want .

You libs jump on anything .Think first.

I still don't think its a good idea for other Govt's to own pieces of america.

Hilary is acting like she discovered this. She is jumping on band wagon
bs and i hope she gets FUKKED!

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by thome


I still don't think its a good idea for other Govt's to own pieces of america.



Who the fuck do you think owns our debt, you fucking moron?

Your BUSHCO has sold us off to the Chinese and the Saudis, dumbass.

Get another 18 pack and call it a day, Clem

[thome]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
Who the fuck do you think owns our debt, you fucking moron?

Your BUSHCO has sold us off to the Chinese and the Saudis, dumbass.

Get another 18 pack and call it a day, Clem

Read my sentence again birthday boy it makes perfect sense.
-Pieces of America- is different than -debt- dowel rod
Happy B-Day Lougie...Yu I'nes'pay

:)

[4moreyears]

Originally posted by Warham
From another article:

The Bush administration got support Monday from former President Carter, a Democrat and frequent critic of the administration.

"My presumption is, and my belief is, that the president and his secretary of state and the Defense Department and others have adequately cleared the Dubai government organization to manage these ports," Carter told CNN. "I don't think there's any particular threat to our security."

I heard him. Go figure this would be the only thing this moron backs Bush up on.

[Warham]

Originally posted by Nickdfresh
An article about Senator CLINTON. She's far from ineffective, not that anyone outside NY would know that:

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060220/1050859.asp

Actually, I rather her stay NY Senator than become the Dem Nominee...

I'd rather her stay in New York as well.

[Warham]

Bush isn't selling off anything.

[thome]

Originally posted by Warham
Bush isn't selling off anything.

Much like Bush caused Katrina and now he don't want no chocholate
cities...

Pappa Bobo sent the hurricane to keep a black man down..


As soon as I saw the Port contoversy a few days back on a news station
i immediately thought the libs will say -Bush Selling of America- .
Al Franken must be really showing his ass somewhere..

Iv'e just been waiting
And am amazed it took this long for a post about it.

I sound angry in the above post I'm really not too much of a biggot
i just think it's funny how they Immediately blame Bush and
he may.? not even have known of the sale and shurely had little
knowlege of how devastateing Katrina became overnight.

[Nitro Express]

Good legislation is good legislation nomatter who backs it. Hilary is right on this.

Bush has me scratching my head. It's like he's for sale to the highest bidder. I would say the Bush Administration should be tried for treason on this dumb ass move.

[LoungeMachine]

February 21, 2006 |
ABC News
Bush: Arab Co. Port Deal Should Proceed

Bush Says Deal With Arab Company to Run U.S. Ports Should Proceed,

Vows to Veto Efforts Otherwise


By BEN FELLER

WASHINGTON Feb 21, 2006 (AP)— President Bush said Tuesday that a deal allowing an Arab company to take over six major U.S. seaports should go forward and that he would veto any congressional effort to stop it.

The Senate's Republican leader had promised just such an effort a few hours earlier.

"After careful review by our government, I believe the transaction ought to go forward," Bush told reporters who had traveled with him on Air Force One to Washington. "I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company. I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, `We'll treat you fairly.'"

Bush took the rare step of calling reporters to his conference room on the plane after returning from a speech in Colorado, addressing a controversy that is becoming a major headache for the White House. He said the seaports arrangement had been extensively examined by the administration and was "a legitimate deal that will not jeopardize the security of the country."

Earlier, Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist urged the administration to reconsider its decision to allow the transaction, under which a British company that has been running six U.S. ports would be acquired by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. Frist said he'd introduce a bill to delay the deal if the administration doesn't do so on its own.

The British company, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., runs major commercial operations at ports in Baltimore, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia.

"The decision to finalize this deal should be put on hold until the administration conducts a more extensive review of this matter," said Frist. "If the administration cannot delay this process, I plan on introducing legislation to ensure that the deal is placed on hold until this decision gets a more thorough review."

Frist, who spoke to reporters in Long Beach, Calif., where he was on a fact-finding tour on port security and immigration issues, said he doesn't oppose foreign ownership, "but my main concern is national security."


Continued

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine



he would veto any congressional effort to stop it.



So, Chimpy has been saving the VETO for a bill stopping the US from allowing those with DIRECT TIES TO AL QAEDA to oversee our ports.



Sheep?

Care to back up your Prez?:rolleyes:

[LoungeMachine]

LINK TO FULL STORY

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1645919

[Warham]

Jimmah says it's fine.

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by Warham
Jimmah says it's fine.
So JC is a terribible Pres, unless he sides with Chimpy....then you quote him

:rolleyes:

You're so fucking pathetic with your flip flop hypocricies....


Weak.

You're just plain weak.

[Warham]

No, there was another point by using his quote, but it flys over your head like most other things.

Who said I'm for this anyway? Where did I approve of this action?

[blueturk]

Originally posted by Warham
No, there was another point by using his quote, but it flys over your head like most other things.

Who said I'm for this anyway? Where did I approve of this action?

Where did you disapprove of it? Just wondering.

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by blueturk
Where did you disapprove of it? Just wondering.


LMMFAO

"Flys" over your head, too.

Nothing ever FLIES over Hamster's head though...:D

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by Warham

Who said I'm for this anyway? Where did I approve of this action?

There's the flip.....



wait foir the flop :cool:

[blueturk]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
LMMFAO

"Flys" over your head, too.

Nothing ever FLIES over Hamster's head though...:D

Evidently Warham borrowed a spelling book from 4moreyears.

[DLR'sCock]

This is par for the course with the Bush Admin....

[blueturk]

Bush is literally selling us out on this one. Even the most loyal sheep must surely question the motivation for Bush's surprisingly adamant stand in favor of this deal. A veto? WTF?

[FORD]

Originally posted by blueturk
Bush is literally selling us out on this one. Even the most loyal sheep must surely question the motivation for Bush's surprisingly adamant stand in favor of this deal. A veto? WTF?

Follow the money.... The Carlyle Group and other BCE affiliated companies stand to profit from this deal.

At the expense of America's safety, naturally. :mad:

[Warham]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
LMMFAO

"Flys" over your head, too.

Nothing ever FLIES over Hamster's head though...:D

Oh, like you've never misspelled anything here, Mr. Perfect.

:rolleyes:

[4moreyears]

Originally posted by blueturk
Bush is literally selling us out on this one. Even the most loyal sheep must surely question the motivation for Bush's surprisingly adamant stand in favor of this deal. A veto? WTF?

Hey Dickwad, if you can read Brian, War and I actually agreed with you. Now move the fuck on.

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by 4moreyears
Hey Dickwad, if you can read Brian, War and I actually agreed with you. Now move the fuck on.

I haven't read where Hamster comes out AGAINST this.....

Link/Quote please....

[Hardrock69]

Hamster-style?

[Hardrock69]

:D

[bueno bob]

Of course, as is usual, Bush is taking flack for this...left and right...and just shrugging it off, promising again to veto any legislation that comes up to oppose it...business as usual...

[bueno bob]

But the people are still moving :)

From Yahoo, front page link...

By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 6 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Lawmakers determined to capsize the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates said President Bush's surprise veto threat won't deter them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bush on Tuesday brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House that the $6.8 billion sale could raise risks of terrorism at American ports. In a forceful defense of his administration's earlier approval of the deal, he pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement.

The sale's harshest critics were not appeased.

"I will fight harder than ever for this legislation, and if it is vetoed I will fight as hard as I can to override it," said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. King and Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record) of New York said they will introduce emergency legislation to suspend the ports deal.

Another Democrat, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, urged his colleagues to force Bush to wield his veto, which Bush — in his sixth year in office — has never done. "We should really test the resolve of the president on this one because what we're really doing is securing the safety of our people."

The White House and supporters planned a renewed campaign this week to reassure the public the sale was safe. Senior officials were expected to explain at a press conference Wednesday what persuaded them to approve the deal, the first-ever sale involving U.S. port operations to a foreign, state-owned company.

The sale — set to be completed in early March — would put Dubai Ports in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. "If there was any chance that this transaction would jeopardize the security of the United States, it would not go forward," Bush said.

Defending his decision, Bush responded to a chorus of objections this week in Congress over potential security concerns in the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.

Bush's veto threat sought to quiet a political storm that has united Republican governors and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee with liberal Democrats, including New York Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Schumer.

To assuage concerns, the administration disclosed some assurances it negotiated with Dubai Ports. It required mandatory participation in U.S. security programs to stop smuggling and detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials; roughly 33 other port companies participate in these voluntarily. The Coast Guard also said it was nearly finished inspecting Dubai Ports' facilities in the United States.

A senior Homeland Security official, Stewart Baker, said U.S. intelligence agencies were consulted "very early on to actually look at vulnerabilities and threats."

Frist said Tuesday, before Bush's comments, that he would introduce legislation to put the sale on hold if the White House did not delay the takeover. He said the deal raised "serious questions regarding the safety and security of our homeland.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., asked the president for a moratorium on the sale until it could be studied further. "We must not allow the possibility of compromising our national security due to lack of review or oversight by the federal government," Hastert said.

Maryland's Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich, during a tour of Baltimore's port, called the deal an "overly secretive process at the federal level."

Bush took the rare step of calling reporters to his conference room on Air Force One after returning from a speech in Colorado. He also stopped to talk before television cameras after he returned to the White House.

"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," the president said. "But they need to know that our government has looked at this issue and looked at it carefully."

A senior executive from Dubai Ports World pledged the company would agree to whatever security precautions the U.S. government demanded to salvage the deal. Chief operating officer Edward "Ted" H. Bilkey promised Dubai Ports "will fully cooperate in putting into place whatever is necessary to protect the terminals."

Bilkey traveled to Washington in an effort to defuse the growing controversy.

Bush said protesting lawmakers should understand that if "they pass a law, I'll deal with it with a veto."

Lawmakers from both parties have noted that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used the United Arab Emirates as an operational and financial base. In addition, critics contend the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist.

Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, and Rep. Jane Harman (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., said they would introduce a "joint resolution of disapproval" when they returned to Washington next week. Collins heads the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Harman is the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

Bush's veto threat didn't stop local efforts to block the deal. New Jersey's governor, Jon S. Corzine, said the state will file lawsuits in federal and state courts opposing the agreement. Corzine, a Democrat, cited a "deep, deep feeling that this is the wrong direction for our nation to take."

[LoungeMachine]

Threatening his first VETO over this?

UnFUCKINGbelievable.


I thought we were a nation at war????? We need to spy on our own, but a country that assisted the 9/11 hijackers can run our ports????

Why haven't we occupied Dubai yet?

This is the same country that has aided Iran, Syria, and North Korea...

[blueturk]

Move along...nothing to see here...

[DrMaddVibe]

GW says he'll veto it...I hope that our House & Senate are unified in securing our borders.

[ULTRAMAN VH]

I don't think our borders are going to be secured anytime soon. As I type, Mexican soldiers are wreaking havoc on American soil trouncing are border patrols while our fat cat bloated Government looks the other way. On the topic of the ports, it is a bad idea to allow foreign governments to set up shop in our port systems.

[Hardrock69]

This is another attitude of Chimpy's that the American People are refusing to accept.


Perhaps more Busheep will someday wake up and realize they have a genocidal terrorist President on their hands who is bent on destroying the United States!
:mad:

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by DLR'sCock
This is par for the course with the Bush Admin....

Please get rid of that signature, that's been what a year of everyone having to page past it. You think anyone reads it anymore.

And there has been a red 'x' in it for over six months. Just so you know...

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
"I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company.


Fucking hell, lol.

Can anyone here help your genius President with an explanation?

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
"I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, `We'll treat you fairly.'"


I think the key word there is "now".

[MeDumbAssOU812]

troll shit removed.

[thome]

Originally posted by Hardrock69
This is another attitude of Chimpy's that the American People are refusing to accept.


Perhaps more Busheep will someday wake up and realize they have a genocidal terrorist President on their hands who is bent on destroying the United States!
:mad:
What happend to global domination ..?..NWO... now he is destroying The USA..?

It takes a Village-- Hillarys' communist manifesto. GW is not the Enemy.

[Angel]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
Who the fuck do you think owns our debt, you fucking moron?

Your BUSHCO has sold us off to the Chinese and the Saudis, dumbass.

Get another 18 pack and call it a day, Clem

Don't forget Canada. You owe us over $4 Billion from illegal softwood tarrifs. ;)

[Angel]

Originally posted by MeDumbAssOU812
faggits!

What the hell is a faggit? Is that when you want to get rid of a faggot and you say "Hey fag, git?"

[Hardrock69]

Oh great....3 Suck Cock has a new alias...
:rolleyes:

What a gay fucktard...

[FORD]

Originally posted by Hardrock69
Oh great....3 Suck Cock has a new alias...
:rolleyes:

What a gay fucktard...

It's not 3 Suck Cock. It's Pastor Phelps the AOL troll.

[Hardrock69]

????

They are one and the same.

Kinda obvious he is a "faggit".

[Hardrock69]

Administration Failed To Conduct Legally Required Investigation Before Approving UAE Port Deal

In ordinary cases of foreign direct investment the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) first conducts a 30-day $B!H(Breview$B!I(B of the transaction. After the review, the committee makes a judgment as to whether a 45-day $B!H(Binvestigation$B!I(B is necessary to address national security concerns.

Here is THE LAW:

http://www.outsourcing-law.com/Foreign%20Investment%20Law/Foreign_investment_USA_Exon-Florio_2005-0109.htm

The law, however, was amended in 1993. That amendment makes the 45-day investigation mandatory in cases like the Dubai World Ports transfer. From the CFIUS website:

http://www.treasury.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/


The Dubai World Ports purchase triggers the automatic investigation. First, the company is $B!H(Bcontrolled$B!I(B by a foreign government. Second, it$B!G(Bs undeniable that port operations $B!H(Bcould affect the national security of the United States.$B!I(B

Yet, the investigation never happened. Bush administration officials $B!H(Bcould not say why a 45-day investigation did not occur.$B!I(B (As can be seen here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/22/politics/22port.html?_r=1&oref=slogin )

[Hardrock69]

UPDATE: Bush Nominated UAE Port Executive To Key Post in January!
Tue Feb 21, 2006 at 03:03:36 PM PDT

According to a January 24 press release on the company's website, President Bush nominated one of its senior executives, Dave Sanborn, to be Maritime Administrator, which the press release notes is "a key transportation appointment reporting directly to Norman Mineta the Secretary of Transportation."

Here is the press release:


Here's the text of the press release from the DP World:

Dubai, 24 January 2006: - Global ports operator DP World today welcomed news that one of its senior executives, Dave Sanborn, has been nominated by US President George W. Bush to serve as Maritime Administrator a key transportation appointment reporting directly to Norman Mineta the Secretary of Transportation and Cabinet Member.

The White House has issued a statement from Washington DC announcing the nomination. The confirmation process will begin in February.

Mr Sanborn currently holds the position of Director of Operations for Europe and Latin America for the Dubai-based company

Mohammed Sharaf, CEO, DP World said:
"While we are sorry to lose such an experienced and capable executive, it is exactly those qualities that will make Dave an effective administrator for MarAd. We are proud of Dave's selection and pleased that the Bush Administration found such a capable executive. We wish him all the best in his new role."

Ted Bilkey, Chief Operating Officer, DP World said:
"Dave's decades of experience in markets around the world, together with his passion for the industry and commitment to its development, will allow him to make a positive contribution to the work of the Maritime Administration. We wish him well for the future."

Mr Sanborn, a graduate of The United States Merchant Maritime Academy, joined DP World in 2005. He previously held senior roles with shipping lines CMA-CGM (Americas), APL Ltd and Sea-Land and has been based, besides the US, in Brazil, Europe, Hong Kong and Dubai during his career. He has also served in the US Naval Reserve.

Mr Sanborn is due to take up his new role based in Washington DC later in 2006.

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/21/17336/2076
___________________________________________


How interesting...that such a nomination should occur, JUST BEFORE this major conctract is given to the comapny.

ASIDE FROM THE SECURITY ISSUES.....consider how much CASH this contract is worth!!!

Chimpy wants to funnel BILLIONS of our tax dollars to an ARAB company so it can own the operations at OUR PORTS!!!!

IS this not further evidence that Chimpy is sucking the Arab Cock?


Here is another article, which also mentions the second tie between The White House and this Arab company, that is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose agency heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.

Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.:


http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/220206firm.htm

Chimpy is trying to sell us out.

Just in the past few days, he has been on a Grande Tour of energy-related organizations...as a public-relations ploy to make it seem as if he is trying to remove our dependence on Arab oil....when in reality he is trying to figure out even more ways to shell out our tax dollars to the Middle East.

You think the Arabs are pissed off at us now....and you think they are irate over a fucking cartoon....you ain't seen SHIT!

Watch what would happen if the U.S. was to suddenly announce we were going to stop purchasing oil from the Middle East entirely!

They would go fucking berserk!

Chimpy wants to be a whore for the Middle East....and he does not give a fuck about domestic issues...

He is such a pathetic loser.

:mad:

[Angel]

Notice he says "remove dependence on Arab oil", not dependence on oil period. That's because he plans on annexing Alberta:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P138885.asp

O Canada, can we have Alberta?
advertisement

Canada's oil sands could rival Saudi Arabia's vast reserves as a source for oil. And even if we don't annex, investors can buy a piece of the action. Consider these 4 companies.

By Jon D. Markman

Last month, Canada threw out its namby-pamby liberal government and ushered in a new era of conservative rule. Thank goodness for small favors. Now when we run out of crude oil and natural gas down here in the United States, we won’t have to invade our neighbors to the north to make sure the lights stay on. We can just arrange a friendly annexation.

O Canada! We love your beer, your funny accents, your flag with the botanical theme. Now be a dear and just let us have Alberta. Hey, it’s just one province. You have nine more, plus three territories. You can keep the ones named after a dog (Labrador) and an SUV (Yukon) and all the rest. We just want the one with those nasty, dirty tar sands. We’ll practically be doing you a favor.

Why the tar sands? It’s not just that it sounds like "Tarzan" after a couple of Molsons. (Funny, eh?) It’s just that, well, we think all that sticky, gooey mess up in the Athabasca region is North America’s answer to Saudi Arabia, as I explained back in mid-2004. And most of North America is already chez nous anyway, as they say in Quebec. So hand it over. Or else.

Stable, with a capital C
You may have heard that President Bush, in his State of the Union address last week, mentioned that the U.S. must slash its dependence on oil from “unstable nations” in favor of cute little science projects like ethanol, nuclear plants and solar panels. But surely you knew that was sort of an inside joke. Most of those projects are a decade away from viability.See the news
that affects your stocks.
Check out our
new News center.



What he really meant was that we’d rather strip-mine our BTUs from the perfectly stable Alberta tar pits, which are so close to home that they might as well be ours.

Federal energy officials figure U.S. oil imports from Canada will almost double over the next 20 years, to 2.7 million barrels a day from 1.6 million. That would go a long way toward cutting our imports of Mideast oil to 3 million barrels a day from 6 million. But it’s only a start.

It’s a little hard to believe, but the tar sands in Alberta -- also sometimes called “bitumen,” which rhymes with vitamin -- hold 175 billion barrels of recoverable oil. That rivals Saudi Arabia’s reserves, and would help get us well in a hurry. Might as well call it Vitamin

[Nickdfresh]

BTW, BUSH didn't even know about it...:rolleyes:

Bush Unaware of Ports Deal Before Approval
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 6:39 PM EST
The Associated Press
By TED BRIDIS

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush was unaware of the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates until the deal already had been approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday.

Defending the deal anew, the administration also said that it should have briefed Congress sooner about the transaction, which has triggered a major political backlash among both Republicans and Democrats.

Bush on Tuesday brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House that the $6.8 billion sale could raise risks of terrorism at American ports. In a forceful defense of his administration's earlier approval of the deal, he pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement involving the sale of a British company to the Arab firm.

Dubai Port's top American executive, chief operating officer Edward H. Bilkey, said the company will do whatever the administration asks to enhance shipping security and ensure the sale goes through. Bilkey said Wednesday he will work in Washington to persuade skeptical lawmakers they should endorse the deal. At least two Senate oversight hearings already are scheduled.

"We're disappointed," Bilkey told The Associated Press in an interview. "We're going to do our best to persuade them that they jumped the gun. "The UAE is a very solid friend, as President Bush has said."

Bush faces a rebellion from leaders of his own party, as well as from Democrats, about the deal that would put Dubai Ports in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

While Bush has adamantly defended the deal, the White House acknowledged that he did not know about it until recently.

"He became aware of it over the last several days," McClellan said. Asked if Bush did not know about it until it was a done deal, McClellan said, "That's correct." He said the matter did not rise to the presidential level, but went through a congressionally-mandated review process and was determined not to pose a national security threat.

"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," the spokesman said. "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."

"And every one of the Cabinet secretaries expressed that they were comfortable with this transaction being approved," he said.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, told the AP in an interview: "They are not in charge of security. We are not turning over the security of our ports. When people make statements like that you get an instant emotional reaction."

Treasury Secretary John Snow said failure to complete the transaction would send the wrong message overseas.

"The implications of failing to approve this would be to tell the world that investments in the United States from certain parts of the world aren't welcome," Snow told reporters Wednesday following a speech in Connecticut to a fuel cell manufacturer. "That sends a terrible message."

The sale's harshest critics were not appeased.

"I will fight harder than ever for this legislation, and if it is vetoed I will fight as hard as I can to override it," said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. King and Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said they will introduce emergency legislation to suspend the ports deal.

McClellan dismissed any connection between the deal and David Sanborn of Virginia, a former senior DP World executive whom the White House appointed last month to be the new administrator of the Maritime Administration of the Transportation Department. Sanborn worked as DP World's director of operations for Europe and Latin America.

"My understanding is that he has assured us that he was not involved in the negotiations to purchase this British company," McClellan added.

"In terms of David Sanborn, he was nominated to run the Maritime Administration because of his experience and expertise," the spokesman said. Sanborn is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He is an operations professional.

Earlier, several lawmakers determined to capsize the pending sale said they would not be deterred by Bush's veto threat.

Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., said the bipartisan opposition to the deal indicated "a lack of confidence in the administration" on both sides. "Sure, we have to link up with our Arab friends but ... we want to see and those in Congress want to know what ... safeguards are built in," Biden said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Bush's veto threat sought to quiet a political storm that has united Republican governors and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee with liberal Democrats, including New York Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Schumer.

To assuage concerns, the administration disclosed some assurances it negotiated with Dubai Ports. It required mandatory participation in U.S. security programs to stop smuggling and detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials; roughly 33 other port companies participate in these voluntarily. The Coast Guard also said it was nearly finished inspecting Dubai Ports' facilities in the United States.

Frist said Tuesday, before Bush's comments, that he would introduce legislation to put the sale on hold if the White House did not delay the takeover. He said the deal raised "serious questions regarding the safety and security of our homeland.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., asked the president for a moratorium on the sale until it could be studied further.

Lawmakers from both parties have noted that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used the United Arab Emirates as an operational and financial base. In addition, critics contend the UAE was an important transfer point for shipments of smuggled nuclear components sent to Iran, North Korea and Libya by a Pakistani scientist.

———

Associated Press writers Ben Feller, Will Lester, Terence Hunt, and Devlin Barrett in Washington, Matthew Verrinder in Newark, N.J., and Tom Stuckey in Annapolis, Md., contributed to this report.

[flatbroke]

The UAE has has a is checkered past to to say the least.

- The UAE recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
- al Qaeda used it in 9/11 preparations.
- Dubai, a Middle Eastern banking “Mecca,” has long been the crossroads of money laundering and terrorist financing.
- The UAE has ties to Iran, and Pakistan’s A. Q. Khan, used the Emirates as a shipping hub for his nuke network.

A very fucking arrogant move by the president and the administration. "Trust us" just doesn't cut it. This is the most politically tone deaf thing the Bush administration could be doing right now.

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by flatbroke
The UAE has has a is checkered past to to say the least.

- The UAE recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.


To be fair I think Bush did too in Texas.

[Hardrock69]

He has a Dubai cock in his mouth, and a Saudi cock rammed all the way up his ass right now.

He sucks more Arab cock than a $1,000-a-night call girl....

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by Hardrock69
He has a Dubai cock in his mouth, and a Saudi cock rammed all the way up his ass right now.

He sucks more Arab cock than a $1,000-a-night call girl....

That's a lot of Arab cock sucking! :eek:

[Hardrock69]

But Chimpy is very good at it.

He does not want to see his supply of Arab petro-dollars go away, and will do anything to keep those Arab cocks stuck up his ass and crammed down his throat.

[Guitar Shark]

Originally posted by Seshmeister
Please get rid of that signature, that's been what a year of everyone having to page past it. You think anyone reads it anymore.

And there has been a red 'x' in it for over six months. Just so you know...

Well, he's fixed the red "x", but left the rest.

Hey DLRC, any chance of you removing the bulk of that signature? It's extremely annoying to have to scroll through that all the time. If not, no big deal, I'll just put you on my ignore list. I'd rather not do that though.

[ODShowtime]

Originally posted by Seshmeister
I think the key word there is "now".

I think "trying" is the key word, actually.:rolleyes:

[thome]

I thought this mite deserve its own thread because it is opposite
of this topic but it's a good thread...... here how it go:

Hillary Clinton Rips Bill's Panama Ports Deal
2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is expanding her complaint about foreign companies owning U.S. ports - and now says a 1999 deal to let a Chinese company takeover the ports at each end of the Panama Canal was a mistake.

Speaking at the 92nd Street YMCA in Manhattan yesterday, Clinton told the Jewish Community Relations Council: "There are those who say we can't [prevent foreign governments from operating U.S. ports] because look what happened in the last 20 years ... You know, we have the Chinese running the Panama Canal. We have other government-controlled entities controlling our ports."

According to the New York Observer, she then declared: "Well, just because it's been happening doesn't mean we should let it continue."

Mrs. Clinton neglected to mention, however, that it was her husband who approved the deal in question, when the Chinese company, Hutchison Whampoa, sought to buy the Panama Canal's ports.

When security concerns arose, then-President Clinton insisted that Chinese ownership posed no threat to canal operations, explaining that Hutchison was "bending over backwards to make sure that they run it in a competent and able and fair manner."

This WHAMPOA co is the same one i mentioned in my Red chinese
thread Hmmm Hilary stabbin her old man in the back.

helping her old man sell the panama canal and now saying
she is all about protecting amer ports how convinient that the two
faced Klunt Let two of our most strategic ports go in the sale
one on each end of the canal that is a great american.

Hillary in 08!!!

[thome]

Originally posted by Hardrock69
He has a Dubai cock in his mouth, and a Saudi cock rammed all the way up his ass right now.

He sucks more Arab cock than a $1,000-a-night call girl....

you may want to reconsider that post as per mine above .....