http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11494815/

What do you guys think of this.  I'm somewhat troubled.

Sorry for the politics.  Tard this if you must.  I'm staying out of it other than to say it is troubling. 

If they can do a good job with our ports, what's next? Delta is in trouble, perhaps some Middle-Eastern business types can buy Delta and hire some cost-efficient pilot types If the Middle East operates our ports, the print media had better be very careful about using cartoon caricatures to lampoon their operations, or else ......

"Mohammed.  Mo problems" ~ John Stuart, The Daily Show

Not to say that necessarily this is a problem, but if many Republian senators are outraged, then it is okay for me to be, too.  Right? 

Sorry, what's the problem it's not as though they were U.S. owned anyway. They were and are currently owned by P&O ports the Brit firm I have just retired from after 33 and a bit years. This is part of a huge deal P&O selling out worldwide, mainly Europe, Australia, India and the far-east, to DPW. The ownership was loads of Brits like me selling out to a Dubai Royal Family, Sultans and so forth who's politics are probably just to the right of Ghengis Khan. Natural Republicans (in the U.S. sense) if ever there were. Their only passion or vice seems to be breeding racehorses.

It's just business, it's a global economy, I know we don't always like it but we are where we are we can't uninvent the wheel or Nuclear power, nor can we own everthing within our national borders. The only other big players with expertise in the Ports business are Hong-Kong or Singapore based, who owns them ? would it be any different ?? Better ? Worse??

As a Port management person for many years I can assure you that both parties are pretty damn good at it and DPW have a good reputation amongst their many foreign employees. Not having to account to shareholders they are not plagued by short-termism and are prepared to invest in businesses looking at the thirty to fifty year period for returns and therefore tend not to lurch with trends upsize one year, downsize the next. This would be good for U.S. jobs and the growth of the Ports/Businesses over the long term.

Maybe some of the Sultans have met some unsavoury people but then so has Donald Rumsfeldt. I don't think you need to loose sleep over this one.

Quote from: Jake DWhat do you guys think of this.  I'm somewhat troubled...

i think the problem is that you have a problem with whatever politic issues you don't agree with and posted about it in this thread.

when it comes to politics and religion, every single one of us has the 'right' opinion and everyone else is pretty ignorant.

I really think, big deal, so what... but if congress has doubts about the decision, why not grant them some extra time to investigate the matter.  Bush's "sending a wrong message to our allies in the middle east" excuse doesn't float with me.  Delay the decision already, why rush something so vital?  I hope they override his veto should that occur.

Quote from: subc on February 23, 2006, 10:14:00 AM

Quote from: Jake DWhat do you guys think of this.  I'm somewhat troubled...

i think the problem is that you have a problem with whatever politic issues you don't agree with and posted about it in this thread.

when it comes to politics and religion, every single one of us has the 'right' opinion and everyone else is pretty ignorant.

Really?  I said somebody was ignorant?  Huh.

Oh, it a Dubai company from the United Arab Emerates?  No problem.  Why do I say that?  I've been there.  If this doesn't mean anything to you, then ignore me.

Quote from: Jake D on February 23, 2006, 10:34:32 AM

Quote from: subc on February 23, 2006, 10:14:00 AM

Quote from: Jake DWhat do you guys think of this.  I'm somewhat troubled...

i think the problem is that you have a problem with whatever politic issues you don't agree with and posted about it in this thread.

when it comes to politics and religion, every single one of us has the 'right' opinion and everyone else is pretty ignorant.

Really? I said somebody was ignorant? Huh.

no you didnt, thats just Subc's opinion...

I think its astonishing that it would have such approvals in gov't what with the suspicions americans now have toward anything middle-eastern. I'm sure they do a fine job of it and I bet they own more things american than any of us could imagine...just not american airlines.

Bill O'Reilly doesn't think it is a big deal either.  Which kind of makes me question it. 
So the UAE is okay.  DPW is okay.  But what about its employees?  Are they ALL okay?  Is there a chance a foot could be kept in a door that wouldn't have been kept there before?  I don't know. 
It warrants a further look.  DPW has agreed to open their records for inspection at any time.  But are records the kind of thing that will help us foil a plot?  I doubt it.  Did we question the UAE when they harbored terrorists post 9/11 or laundered their money or recognized the Taliban?  Yes, I think we did. 

It all just seems so incongruant with our stance in the war on terror thus far and homeland defense.

I appreciate your post Cal and yours too Scratch. 
I would be interested in hearing more from Scratch about it all. 

The ports are owned by their local port authorities. The workers are Americans, the administrators are Americans, security is handled by the Coast Guard and U.S. Customs. DP World handles the paperwork and collects the management fee. If it's so important they be managed by a U.S. firm, why didn't any U.S. firm put in a bid to buy P&O? The only other bidder was from Signapore.

Excellent points.  I'd bet the right wing will be less opened minded about this than the left. 

It will be interesting to see how this all shakes down.  I expect bi-partisan disapproval across the board, no matter how unjustified it may be.  Most people won't take the time to learn as much about it as you have and will let their knee jerk reactions suffice. 

Good timing.
Cheney hasn't been mentioned since this issue was suddenly discovered.

These six ports are a fairly small part of a deal where a company from one friend and ally of the US is selling global assetts to a company in another friend and ally of the U.S. This all started in late November '05, plenty of time for a U.S. bidder to have emerged had any been interested, it's simply business. I can see how some people might be uncomfortable with it being a foreign goverment rather than company buying but many of the oil producing states are awash with cash to invest, surely it's a good thing they are investing in U.S. industrial infrastructure. Ports can be expensive long-term investments, something that in recent years private capital has not been doing opting instead for quick returns.