Domestic Policy

Dubai Ports World Cries Uncle, And Gives Up

March 9, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

The DP World deal fell through and the Bush Administration is apparently standing around with egg on their face. This was the issue that finally showed we should still have some faith in our politicians. If the Republicans were willing to buck the President and side with the Democrats then I believe the issue deserved more scrutiny and suspicion than it received. The trend in the last few years has been that the partisan politicians line up behind their man and they support them come hell or high water.

However, the recent Dubai Ports World deal has Republicans bucking the President and making joint partnership with their arch-enemies across the aisle. If this type of behavior does not raise an eyebrow to the whole deal then nothing will peak your interest. I have always felt that the President should have allowed congress to further scrutinize the potential Dubai Ports World deal and then have their say, to threaten them with a VETO was absurd, and it strikes at a hint of dictatorship.

We strive to implant democracy around the world, so why is the President threatening to stifle our very own democracy? He says how things deserve a fair an honest discussion yet all he wanted to do was fast track this Dubai Ports World deal. This makes me think that there is more than meets the eye and it makes me want to know even more than what I have found out already.

In response to the Presidents threat of the almighty VETO, Congress fired its retaliating strike right back at the President. The House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to block the DP World deal which would allow Dubai Ports World to operate several terminals at American ports. I believe this was the straw that broke the camels back in regards to this deal.

Politicians also got down and dirty in this debate, they resorted to the Bush Administrations own trick of tying their needs into a bill so that the President could not deny their requests. Congress created an amendment that was inserted into an emergency supplemental funding bill for military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill was said to have also includes about $19 billion in disaster assistance in relation to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Some in Capitol Hill are still trying to save the ports deal; these actions are being spearheaded reportedly by Congressman John Warner of Virginia.

Reportedly it was Congressman Jerry Lewis of California, who is the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who worked with other GOP leaders to amend the $68 billion Iraq war spending bill to include the items that address the security anxieties raised by the deal.

For now you can rest assured, our ports will still be handled by trusted individuals.

Bush And The Dubai Ports World Deal Cry Uncle

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