Is Haliburton Poised to Take Control of the U.S. Ports for Dubai Ports World?
by Pamela LeaveyWith the details still being sketchy on just what Dubai Ports World means to do about divesting their interest in the 6 U.S. ports involved in their buy out of P&O Operations North America, the speculation is already starting. The big question is what U.S. company would be in the position to handle such a deal? Online News Hour asked these questions tonight and the answer that came up — Halliburton. But, of course. (hat tip to ThinkProgress)
Here’s some quips of Margaret Warner talking with Simon Romero of the NY Times and Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute (note this ain’t over yet):
MARGARET WARNER: How many American companies, because they did say they were selling it to a U.S. entity, are in a position to, one, buy this — these — these port operations, and, two, to run them?
SIMON ROMERO: Well, that is a great question. You know, of the top eight terminal operations companies in the world that do these type of — this type of work at — at big international ports, only one is American. And that company is based out of Seattle. It is called SSA Marine. It is a family-owned company.
MARGARET WARNER: So, Norm, the congressional reaction, at first, it sounded a little cautious. How do you read it now? Was this enough to avert a collision?
NORMAN ORNSTEIN: No, it wasn’t. And while a number of Republicans breathed a sigh of relief that, at least in the short run, they have averted a disaster, and some were saying publicly, well, it’s fine now, many, privately, were almost as cautious as Democrats. And it’s partly because of that first scenario that Simon mentioned. In fact, what Dubai Ports had offered earlier, what the administration had been talking about, was having a kind of separate U.S. entity. That wasn’t acceptable to Congress. If this is done now through the backdoor, where D.P. has any role at all, Congress is going to go ballistic, and it’s going to be a disaster, I think, for the administration.
They have got a dilemma now, because there simply aren’t American companies that have the know-how and the breadth to do this. Interestingly, and perhaps ironically, what I had heard earlier in the day, as they were looking at those that have the — the kind of resources, Halliburton was a name that came up. And Democrats, I’m sure, are saying, please, God, let that happen.
It just keeps getting deeper and deeper…
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I should have thought of Haliburton taking over our ports. Of course the VP is going to get his way. I mean after all, he did shoot a man in the face and got away with it.:mrgreen:
Now why did we not see this coming, Haliburton always seem to be in the mix of things somewhere. I don’t know whats worse now, the Dubai company or Haliburton owning the ports
Not so fast guys…just because an Arab government makes an announcement, it ain’t necessarily so:
Dubai Port Capitulation Likely Fraudulent
(Via Little Green Footballs)
The only upside for Democrats was for this deal to go through without the Republican congress paying attention to the political implications.
Security issues were clearly being addressed and the real issues of hypocricy, incompetence and cronyism were coming to the fore.
The deal reveals the profound contradictions between the RW business class and the “America First” anti-foreigner base they manipulate.
I was not wise for Democrats to join the NeoCon chorus for demagoguery that scared the
public and warned off the RW congress.
Goodbye Dubai
Hello Cheney Land
isn’t chenney still getting checks from Haliburton?
I do wonder if the so call withdrawl is a smoke screen and dubai is still going be involved with our ports.
Look bush and the GOP have fan the fear of arabs for eons and the fact is I don’t see how anyone can expect people in NYC, and newark to not get riled up after 9/11.
I don’t want anyone owning security plans to any american transportation systems, ports, nuclear facilities.
If america doesn’t have the capabilities to protect her own ports and move the goods in a productive manner then the question are to be raised as to why?
If dubai or any other country is insulted by americans not wanting foreign governments to have access to our most sensitive security outlets then to bad.
I would expect any country to have control over their ports and other security aparatus and we are to have the same for ours.
How is america going to have run and control her ports I don’t know but she will have to come up with something.
I’m for being a part of the global economy and world but that doesn’t mean americans should be unguarded. Many lower and middle income Americans have been getting the short end of the stick in the drive for globalization while seeing their jobs go oversees and not coming back.
Globalization is really New World Order. The name was changed to put a better looking face on it.
I personally think that Dubai was going to show us how they can come over here and help our government rule every aspect of our lives, just like the USA business owners do now.