Dubai keeping Ports Ops

SPOCAHP ANAR · 03-14-2006, 03:55 PM

You don't hear any yelling over this; must've been lip service we were getting!

Posted: March 13, 2006
8:30 p.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Despite its promise last week to turn over management of U.S. port operations to an American entity, Dubai Ports World has no immediate plans to sell its interests at Miami's seaport, according to a private e-mail reported by the Associated Press.

The e-mail today to business associates from Robert Scavone, a vice president for DP World's U.S. subsidiary, said even if the company were to sell its Miami operations amid fierce opposition in Congress, "that would probably take a while."

Last week, with Congress moving to overrule the White House, Dubai Ports World announced it would give up its management stake in a deal to operate some of the terminals at U.S. ports and transfer it to an American company.

"Because of the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States and to preserve that relationship, DP World has decided to transfer fully the U.S. operation of P&O Operations North America to a United States entity," said DP World's chief operating officer, Edward H. Bilkey.

But the government-owned Dubai Ports World has declined to clarify its statement or specify the timing of any sale, prompting critics in Congress to threaten intervention, AP said.

In an interview, Scavone told AP he wrote the e-mail to reassure officials at the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Co. – which is half-owned by a DP World subsidiary – that uncertainty surrounding the deal would not affect its work there.

"As for the 'pending situation,' I myself am not aware of anything about it that would alter the ownership of POMTOC, so unless one or both of our esteemed partners have separately advised you that they plan to sell their interests, you should assume for your own purposes of managing the company that ownership of POMTOC is not going to change," Scavone wrote.

"And even if they do plan to sell, that would probably take a while," he wrote.

DP World already has agreed to not begin any management of U.S. port operations until the completion of an additional review ordered by the Bush administration after critics raised security concerns about control of port terminals by an Arab country. The United Arab Emirates, they argue, has been a conduit for terrorist funds, spawned some of the 9-11 hijackers and refuses to recognize Israel.

A group opposing Islamic extremism sponsored rallies in New York City and Los Angeles to protest the deal in which DP World purchased P&O Ports North America, the U.S. subsidiary of London-based Peninsular & Oriental, for $6.8 billion.

The agreement was to give DP World management of two of Baltimore's 14 cargo terminals, three of 12 in Houston, one of three in Miami, one of four in Newark, two of five in New Orleans, one of five in Philadelphia and one cruise terminal in New York City and one in Boston.

DP World also was to help run stevedoring operations in some of those ports and a number of others.

Last week, the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to add an amendment to a military funding bill, essentially blocking the pact with the Dubai company.

In a meeting Friday at the White House with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., President Bush was told measures would be passed to block the deal by veto-proof majorities.

The president had threatened a veto of any legislation to scuttle the agreement.

Senate Democrats, seeing opportunity to seize ground from Republicans on a national security issue, tried to get their own measure passed by attaching an amendment to a lobby reform bill.

A recent poll suggested Democrats may have found an issue that could take away the advantage Republicans have enjoyed on national security issues.

The survey by Rasmussen Reports indicated Americans opposed the Bush administration's decision to allow the Dubai government to control terminals in U.S. ports by 64 percent to 17 percent.

Senate GOP leaders wanted to prevent a vote before the end of the 45-day review period, but those hopes were dashed when the House panel voted overwhelmingly against the ports deal.

Democratic leaders remained cautious following the Dubai firm's announcement.

A leading critic of the agreement, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, called the announcement Friday a promising development, but said if the Dubai-owned company retained ultimate control over the port operations, "I don't think our goals would be accomplished and obviously we will need to study this agreement carefully."

03-14-2006, 03:55 PM	#1
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,087 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 4	Dubai keeping Ports Ops You don't hear any yelling over this; must've been lip service we were getting! Posted: March 13, 2006 8:30 p.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Despite its promise last week to turn over management of U.S. port operations to an American entity, Dubai Ports World has no immediate plans to sell its interests at Miami's seaport, according to a private e-mail reported by the Associated Press. The e-mail today to business associates from Robert Scavone, a vice president for DP World's U.S. subsidiary, said even if the company were to sell its Miami operations amid fierce opposition in Congress, "that would probably take a while." Last week, with Congress moving to overrule the White House, Dubai Ports World announced it would give up its management stake in a deal to operate some of the terminals at U.S. ports and transfer it to an American company. "Because of the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States and to preserve that relationship, DP World has decided to transfer fully the U.S. operation of P&O Operations North America to a United States entity," said DP World's chief operating officer, Edward H. Bilkey. But the government-owned Dubai Ports World has declined to clarify its statement or specify the timing of any sale, prompting critics in Congress to threaten intervention, AP said. In an interview, Scavone told AP he wrote the e-mail to reassure officials at the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Co. – which is half-owned by a DP World subsidiary – that uncertainty surrounding the deal would not affect its work there. "As for the 'pending situation,' I myself am not aware of anything about it that would alter the ownership of POMTOC, so unless one or both of our esteemed partners have separately advised you that they plan to sell their interests, you should assume for your own purposes of managing the company that ownership of POMTOC is not going to change," Scavone wrote. "And even if they do plan to sell, that would probably take a while," he wrote. DP World already has agreed to not begin any management of U.S. port operations until the completion of an additional review ordered by the Bush administration after critics raised security concerns about control of port terminals by an Arab country. The United Arab Emirates, they argue, has been a conduit for terrorist funds, spawned some of the 9-11 hijackers and refuses to recognize Israel. A group opposing Islamic extremism sponsored rallies in New York City and Los Angeles to protest the deal in which DP World purchased P&O Ports North America, the U.S. subsidiary of London-based Peninsular & Oriental, for $6.8 billion. The agreement was to give DP World management of two of Baltimore's 14 cargo terminals, three of 12 in Houston, one of three in Miami, one of four in Newark, two of five in New Orleans, one of five in Philadelphia and one cruise terminal in New York City and one in Boston. DP World also was to help run stevedoring operations in some of those ports and a number of others. Last week, the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to add an amendment to a military funding bill, essentially blocking the pact with the Dubai company. In a meeting Friday at the White House with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., President Bush was told measures would be passed to block the deal by veto-proof majorities. The president had threatened a veto of any legislation to scuttle the agreement. Senate Democrats, seeing opportunity to seize ground from Republicans on a national security issue, tried to get their own measure passed by attaching an amendment to a lobby reform bill. A recent poll suggested Democrats may have found an issue that could take away the advantage Republicans have enjoyed on national security issues. The survey by Rasmussen Reports indicated Americans opposed the Bush administration's decision to allow the Dubai government to control terminals in U.S. ports by 64 percent to 17 percent. Senate GOP leaders wanted to prevent a vote before the end of the 45-day review period, but those hopes were dashed when the House panel voted overwhelmingly against the ports deal. Democratic leaders remained cautious following the Dubai firm's announcement. A leading critic of the agreement, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, called the announcement Friday a promising development, but said if the Dubai-owned company retained ultimate control over the port operations, "I don't think our goals would be accomplished and obviously we will need to study this agreement carefully." __________________ Spocrest Out!..........