Washington told to justify port deal in (Federal) court (Reuters)

[Up2Late]

(Note to all: This is about the WH and their cronies in the government NOT following yet another law, and dismissing the Congress as unimportant, not what the WH has been trying to spin this as.)

Washington told to justify port deal in court

Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:48 PM ET163

By Jon Hurdle

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Bush administration was ordered by a U.S. federal judge on Friday to explain why it did not give New Jersey officials documents and information Washington had about a deal allowing an Arab company to take over management of a container terminal in Newark.

U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares signed an order demanding to know why the government did not carry out a full investigation into the change of ownership of the container terminal at Port Newark.

The judge set a hearing for Wednesday and said in the order he would issue a preliminary injunction blocking the deal, pending a full investigation, unless he was satisfied with Washington's answers.

The judge asked in the order that federal officials explain why New Jersey officials were not given the same documents and information that Washington used to approve the deal, under which state-owned Dubai Ports World would take over management from the British company P&O.

(more at link below)

<http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-02-24T214824Z_01_N24228025_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-PORTS-NEWJERSEY.xml>

[babylonsister]

1. Good; let this be the first of many. nt

[rodeodance]

13. you wish comes TRUE--one was filed today!

....The latest developments came as a second lawsuit was filed in New Jersey over the controversial deal.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey filed a lawsuit on Friday to stop the change of management of its container terminal at Port Newark in New Jersey.

The authority, jointly owned by the states of New York and New Jersey, said the deal violates the terms of P&O's lease.

The transaction is part of a $6.85 billion deal under which the United Arab Emirates company Dubai Ports World DPW would manage terminals at six major U.S. ports. Continued ...

[Up2Late]

14. Do you have a link for this?

I want to read this one too.

[babylonsister]

15. Here it is:

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-02-24T191916Z_01_N24228025_RTRIDST_0_SECURITY-PORTS-NEWJERSEY.XML

[Up2Late]

18. Thanks, It's just amazing that we have a so-called pResident who...

...has so little understanding or respect for the "rule of Law."

"...The Port Authority has been deprived of its right to conduct a thorough review of the purchase ... of the identity, qualifications, experience and reputation of the purchasers ... and of the proposed impact that the change may have on the control and ownership," the lawsuit said....

[Synnical]

2. Reuters is still reporting only "6 Ports"

The transaction is part of a $6.85 billion deal under which the United Arab Emirates company Dubai Ports World DPW would manage terminals at six major U.S. ports.

And do ya think Jeb is gonna sign up for this:

Earlier, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine urged the governors of states with ports affected by the deal -- Louisiana, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania -- to join the lawsuit.

[babylonsister]

3. Jeb best rethink his strategery if he wants to keep his base,

though I suppose he no longer really cares.

[emulatorloo]

6. Joe Conason "Business as usual" - Bush Family Ties to UAE

Good one page summary, well worth reading, just out in Salon (I sat thru the commercial) -- found it linked in a DU thread that's sinking like a stone.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/02/24/ports_controversy/print.html

<snip>

Business as usual

Bush's strong support of the Dubai ports deal isn't so surprising in light of his family's many financial ties to Arab sheikdoms.
By Joe Conason

Feb. 24, 2006 | To hear George W. Bush urge calm upon the nation is a refreshing change from his administration's habitual encouragement of fear for political advantage. No more color-coded terror alerts, election-timed warnings or partisan-tinged posturing will emanate from the White House, or at least not until Dubai Ports World has safely completed its takeover of several major American shipping terminals. The president's shift in tone is as remarkable as his threat to use his first veto in five years to protect the Dubai deal in the face of bipartisan congressional opposition.

But Bush's passionate defense of the United Arab Emirates and the ports deal inevitably raises questions -- not only about the due diligence of his administration in this instance but about his and his family's long-standing ties to the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, and specifically to the UAE's rulers. His insinuation that skepticism is equivalent to bigotry cannot deflect such concerns, which first arose in the months after the 9/11 attacks.

<snip>

Will get DU thread link if I can find it. . .

[Canuckistanian]

7. Yes, bad move for Jeb

But what a dilemma he has - go against his brother the loyalty-obsessed freak or go against his own electorate, who are about to go ballistic.

Nice knowing you, Jeb.

[sundancekid]

17. but we know from P&O's own map that they have 21-not 6 in North America

here's their link to port locations

http://portal.pohub.com/portal/page?_pageid=169,1,169_82863&_dad=pogprtl&_schema=POGPRTL

[Up2Late]

19. To be fair, they are referring to 6 MAJOR ports, not that that makes me...

...feel any better about this deal.

[NanceGreggs]

4. Deja Vu - all over again!

"... explain why New Jersey officials were not given the same documents and information that Washington used to approve the deal."

Okay, wait for it ... wait ... wait ... wait a bit longer ...

And what are we waiting to hear?

Bush saying, "I don't know what all the fuss is about. New Jersey had EXACTLY the same information that we had."

:lol:

[Up2Late]

5. We should take bets on how long until we hear those words...

...or has he already left the office for the weekend? :evilgrin:

[karynnj]

10. Just like the Congress did before Iraq?

[Peace Patriot]

8. I have an idea about this, that the sheiks are a stalking horse for

Halliburton. Surely they knew this item would set everybody's hair on fire, including the poor lil' Bushite "pod people" in Congress who will actually have to work for votes this election cycle, given bunghole's 38% approval rating (and sinking), which not even Diebold could overcome. So...they let this get all "out of control," then come to the rescue and say, "no, thanks" to the sheiks (everybody laughing at us behind their sleeves); pay them off. Enter Halliburton. And Cheney, in combination with his takings in Louisiana (1st no bid contract, big offshore oil facilities) ends up Emperor of the Entire Perimeter of the United States, busts the Longshoreman's Union (best union in the country), imports starving Iraqis as labor, pays them shit wages, guards it all with Blackwell/Titan/CACCI privateers, and has free reign on all the drug/arms/child slavery trade his heart could ever desire in and out of the U.S., not to mention the constant "terrorist" threat he could provide for whatever dumbbell takes over AF-1, Rose Garden receptions and the Triangular Office. (...really, I don't know what that means. Triangular Office? --just that it will never be the same).

Have I got it? I think it's actually plausible.

[sarcasmo]

16. I agree, heard on the radio today that the only U.S. company big enough to

handle this job was, drum roll please, Halliburton.

[Hawkeye-X]

9. Would it be great if the federal judge could issue a warrant for

Chimp's arrest if he failed to obey the order of a judge?

Hawkeye-X

[rodeodance]

11. The hearing is set for next WED. whow.

....The judge set a hearing for Wednesday and said in the order he would issue a preliminary injunction blocking the deal, pending a full investigation, unless he was satisfied with Washington's answers.

The judge asked in the order that federal officials explain why New Jersey officials were not given the same documents and information that Washington used to approve the deal, under which state-owned Dubai Ports World would take over management from the British company P&O.

On Thursday, the State of New Jersey sued the federal government to block the deal on the grounds it violated the 10th Amendment, which says states control anything not explicitly mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

Earlier, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine urged the governors of states with ports affected by the deal -- Louisiana, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania -- to join the lawsuit.

[rodeodance]

12. IF judge is not satisfied----then he order an injunction.

....The judge set a hearing for Wednesday and said in the order he would issue a preliminary injunction blocking the deal, pending a full investigation, unless he was satisfied with Washington's answers.

[Up2Late]

20. kick n/t

:kick: