Last night, CNN reported, that Dubai Ports World will "postpone" its takeover of US ports on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The deal, which was originals reported to effect 6 US port operations, has since been revealed to include 5 more on the East Coast and 10 in the Gulf region. This would encompass 21 ports ranging from Portland Maine on the East Coast, to Corpus Christi Texas in the Gulf. This latest revelation may only prove to increase pressure on the Bush administration to back off from this deal.
Since the facts behind this deal were brought to the attention of Congress and the general public, the Bush administration has tried to force the deal through. After a bi-partisan show of defiance by senior Chuck shimmer (D-NY), Congressman Peter King (R-NY) and numerous others from across the American political spectrum, the administration has refused to give an inch. When both Senate Majority Leader Bill first (R-ten) and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) threatened to propose legislation blocking the deal, the President fired back with the threat of his first Veto.
Protests have broken out across the country, and whispers of a march on the White House are beginning to peculate across the internet. Just last night, after the story of the postponement broke, I was surprised to find that a Republican, who's name I will withhold, had joined in on a discussion thread posted on a leading Democratic web community describing the ports deal as "the last straw". I've also heard that Unions are banding together to oppose the deal for fear that this is another administration attempt at union-busting. Protests are also being reported at the Philadelphia Port Authority, where the P&O operated Tioga Shipping Terminal is located.
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