Comments on: Shorter Port Management Ownership Controversy

By: lemuel pitkin

lemuel pitkin — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 21:36:07 +0000

What’s your mother think, Belle?

By: winna

winna — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 06:18:05 +0000

err, ‘an attempt by a French government organisation to acquire a missile operation here in the US.’

teach me to comment late at night.

By: winna

winna — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 06:17:05 +0000

There’s no need to wonder about whether the situation requires the review.

In the Byrd amendment to the Exon-Florio Act it clearly states that a review is required in cases where a company with national security concerns is acquired by a foreign government. This amendment was passed after a huge flap over an attempt by a French government organisation attempted to take over a missile operation here in the US.

It says requires right in the amendment which is handily available on the Treasury website, only a google search away.

By: Aristippus

Aristippus — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:31:56 +0000

I suspect you of being Fafnir.

By: John Quiggin

John Quiggin — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 23:06:47 +0000

By the way, what is it with the DMV in the US? It’s just as bad in Maryland as in DC (or was when I lived there) and this seems to be par for the course judging by comments of people from other states. If you want to get a new driver’s license or register a car you can reasonably plan on losing a day’s work, and that’s if things go smoothly.

Australia is not renowned for bureaucratic efficiency, but this kind of thing can be done in a lunch break here and, at least in Queensland, the staff are very friendly.

By: johnkonop

johnkonop — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:07:16 +0000

QAEDA CLAIM: WE ‘INFILTRATED’ UAE GOV’T

By NILES LATHEM————————————————————————————————————————February 25, 2006—WASHINGTON — Al Qaeda warned the government of the United Arab Emirates more than three years ago that it “infiltrated” key government agencies, according to a disturbing document released by the U.S. military.
The warning was contained in a June 2002 message to UAE rulers, in which the terror network demanded the release of an unknown number of “mujahedeen detainees,” who it said had been arrested during a government crackdown in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

The explosive document is certain to become ammunition for critics of the controversial UAE port…

By: tom bach

tom bach — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 18:57:54 +0000

Thomas,
I believe that there was dissent, although from the less than stellar DHS (what is a homeland, by the way). Beyond which, the UAE (or is Dubai?) company that is going or was going to take over port management is a state entity, should this not in and off itself call for greater, or at least some, presidental involvement, at least to pre-sell.

By: nick s

nick s — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 16:08:14 +0000

#19: The racist little scenes in Farenheit 9/11 insinuating that there was something wrong with his handholding with Arab guys were pretty disgusting. I think you misinterpreted the point. Bush invites world leaders to his 'ranch' (i.e. his repurposed pig-farm) in order to exert a kind of soft power, knock them off their stride, etc. He wants visitors to play by his rules in his Crawford hameau. But when the Saudis are in town, he's all about respecting Arab custom. P&O is a UK company after all. Was it nationalised while we weren't looking?

By: Barry

Barry — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 21:18:39 +0000

Tim, there’s no difference between the UK and the UAE?

By: The Hairy Reasoner » Blog Archive » The Incompetence Defense

The Hairy Reasoner » Blog Archive » The Incompetence Defense — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:21:07 +0000

[...] The Incompetence Defense Posted by t.h.reasoner under Politics Crooked Timber Shorter Port Management Ownership Controversy “The president is a sock-puppet moron” is supposed to be a snide criticism, not an exculpatory point. [...]

By: bad Jim

bad Jim — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:43:25 +0000

Certainly, good #39. Permit me to rephrase:

Whether the ports are owned by the Brits, Dubai or Singapore, &c.

By: Tim Worstall

Tim Worstall — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:15:34 +0000

#38. You do realize that these operations (they are operations to run certain port activities, not the ports themselves) are already owned by foreign hands? P&O is a UK company after all.

By: bad Jim

bad Jim — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:57:21 +0000

Whether the ports go to Dubai or Singapore, we Americans are going to have to come to terms with the fact that our vast external debt implies that large chunks of the country are going to wind up in foreign hands, and we don’t really have much to say about which chunks our creditors choose.

By: 12 frogs » Blog Archive » Except I Like Sock Puppets

12 frogs » Blog Archive » Except I Like Sock Puppets — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 04:14:33 +0000

[...] I haven’t posted anything of a political nature lately, mostly because I’m past exasperated and I don’t enjoy high blood pressure. But this line from Crooked Timber is too good not to pass along: “The president is a sock-puppet moron” is supposed to be a snide criticism, not an exculpatory point. [...]

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 02:36:22 +0000

tom, I would certainly expect that, if there were some division of expert or bureaucratic opinion on the matter, that the president (any president) would be presented the issue, even if, in the end, it would be resolved in the ordinary course. But, from what we know in published accounts, there was unanimity on this matter.