COAST GUARD WARNED BUSH ON UAE PORTS DEAL

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON - Citing broad gaps in U.S. intelligence, the Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration that it was unable to determine whether a United Arab Emirates-owned company might support terrorist operations, a Senate panel said Monday.

The surprise disclosure came during a hearing on Dubai-owned DP World's plans to take over significant operations at six leading U.S. ports. The port operations are now handled by London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

"The breadth of the intelligence gaps also infer potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities," the document says.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_on_go_ot/ports_security

[me b zola]

1. Further proof that bush* admin. intentionally broke the law

...AGAIN!!!!

Incredible. K&R

[HereSince1628]

2. Well, we know BushCo just ignores info they don't like, but loyalty

OMG loyalty must always be rewarded.

It would seem that this DPW deal has got more than a little bit of the same old same old going.

[BootinUp]

3. Into the fire

* isn't done roasting yet.

[MissWaverly]

4. Did you hear that Osama actually went hunting with a UAE royal

Oh, but they're different now, they are loyal to the Bush family, they gave money to the Bush library fund.

[radfringe]

5. the catch

Coast Guard cautioned the Bush administration

it cautioned the administration - not bush* directly - so he can still claim he didn't know...

it was probably in the PDB titled "DUBAI NOT A GOOD IDEA"

[Bluebear]

6. Well, no matter. He knows about the Coast Guard warning NOW!

So, he is ignoring a branch of our armed services who say due to broad intelligence gaps they cannot guarantee our safety!

[annabanana]

7. and it's that branch

directly responsible for the security at the ports, too...

[Bluebear]

9. I tend to trust the Coasties assessment over this bizarre President

[Critters2]

13. I'd say that's wise

[bigtree]

8. the Coast Guard was cited by Scotty as a security safeguard

I know they don't want the additional burden.

[wicket]

10. Wow, they keep getting caught with their pants down, eh?

:rofl:

[threadkillaz]

11. So Chertoff says he didnt know...

..but the Coast Guard is under DHS.

So, Stewart Baker decided to suppress the Coast Guard Report?

The House That Straw Built
The administration finds out that what you don't know can hurt you.
http://www.slate.com/id/2137002/

"In a bureaucratic tick-tock on the Dubai Ports deal, the Post says DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker was "caught flat-footed by the controversy." The Dubai deal was "a relatively noncontroversial decision," Baker says, "so I didn't brief" either Chertoff or his deputy."



Hmmm, it all continues to unravel.

[Bluebear]

12. Unravel indeed.

There is no way they can paint this as being good for them. Or us as Americans.

[Dr. Jones]

14. For those DUers who claim this is all about racism and xenophobia,

is the Coast Guard racist? Or just practicing common sense and rational thought in terms of protecting our national security?

Just a question...

[Bluebear]

15. Excellent point. nt

[Bluebear]

16. Now on CNN "Situation Room"

Poor George. It's all coming apart at the seams.

[spanone]

17. This is BIG.

"There are many intelligence gaps, concerning the potential for DPW or P&O assets to support terrorist operations, that precludes an overall threat assessment of the potential" merger," an undated Coast Guard intelligence assessment says.

I think these people have lost their minds. I don't think the people will just let this go away.

The question to me is Why did Bush* come out and threaten the Veto? Cheney tell him to? Was he involved? Creepy John Snow? Some wierd Shit here.

[spanone]

18. Keeping Kicked!

[Bluebear]

19. again!

[radfringe]

20. Huh???? ....that happens not to be classified

"I think it's a little unfair to judge this report by one paragraph that happens not to be classified," Baker said. "This paragraph is not really representative of the entire report."

what does classification have to do with it? Is it less credible if it's NOT classified? Does that mean any information/reports being put out to the public is NOT to be believed?

Ohhh -silly me -- forgot -- it's NOT that it's NOT credible, it's just NOT to be taken LITERALLY....

[obreaslan]

21. "No one could have expected that the terrorists would use our ports to...

get the explosives into the country."

Why do I foresee this statement, probably made by Condi, at the future Congressional hearing investigating our pending major terrorist attack in this country? :grr:

[spanone]

22. Coast Guaurd Tues. AM. 'Taken out of Context'..BULLSHIT

[ChiciB1]

24. I Just Posted At Both General & Politics... On C-Span NOW

Two men from Coast Guard... saying statements taken out of context!!

I'm serious about this thing... someone got to them since yesterday since they had concerns almost 2 months ago! Now all of a sudden, Oh, it was taken out of context!

Drinking Kool-aid, all too obvious and we need to do something! The true realization is that this thing is gonna fly because the CURRENT elected officials will not OVER-RIDE any VETO by The Idiot!!

I don't know HOW, but we must UNITE together and show how outraged we are!!

[npincus]

23. Story ignored on NBC Today Show.

what a shocker.