After nearly a week after Dubai Ports World said they would transfer all port operations over to an American entity, a new report suggest that Dubai Ports World may have been misleading the American people.The following release has more on the story:
According to an article by the Associated Press yesterday, the foreign government-owned company that promised to divest all of its American holdings after the public uproar over its purchase of six of our nation's busiest ports, has indicated that it will not sell its interest in Miami's seaport. The company has also refused to discuss the timing of its divestment.
"These new revelations make it clear that the Administration and the foreign government-owned company have not been forthcoming with the American people," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda. "The American people have made it clear that they have serious concerns about the President's policy of outsourcing America's ports. Homeland security begins with hometown security. Republicans in Congress should once again join Democrats in fighting to stop this ill-advised ports deal, and stop standing in the way of Democrats' efforts to close the gaps in our nation's security."
Below are excerpts from the Associated Press article:
"The Dubai-owned company that promised to surrender its U.S. port operations has no immediate plans to sell its U.S. subsidiary's interests at Miami's seaport, a senior executive wrote Monday in a private e-mail to business associates....The e-mail, obtained by The Associated Press, added to questions raised since DP World's announcement last week that it will divest U.S. port operations it acquired when it bought London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co....
"The takeover touched off a political uproar over the Bush administration's earlier approval of the deal without an intensive 45-day security investigation. The company initially sought to quiet the dispute by submitting voluntarily to such an investigation. Last week, DP World backed away from the deal further. It pledged to 'transfer fully' its U.S. operations to an unspecified American company and said DP World will not suffer economic loss.
"The company has steadfastly declined to clarify its statement or the timing of any possible sale, and leading congressional critics have threatened to intervene if DP World's plans fall short of a full divestiture of its U.S. operations."
Congressman Ford was right when he said that we should not outsource our national security to anyone.
He has stood behind those words and has been a leader in seeing that our ports are not controlled by any government expcept our own.
Lets hope that the Dubai group chooses to keep their promise and had over all operations to the United States at the Port of Miami for the sake of security.
Clearly, that is what a wide majority of Americans want.
Read about Congressman Ford's efforts on national security here!
70 Days
Days of Congressional Inaction on Ethics
Above is the number of days that have passed since Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to bribing Congressman.
It is also the number of days in which Congress has failed to pass an ethics reform bill that would limit private travel, ski and golf junkets, and would call for a full disclosure of expenses by lobbyists on members of Congress.
It is time for Congress to step up and pass an ethics reform bill that would do all of the above. In addition, it is time to end the pork barrel spending system as we know it and establish an independent ethics commission that would review ethics complaints against members of Congress.
I am proud Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is fighting for that reform!
Read Congressman Ford's call for reform of the House rules here!
