So who is really running the country?

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration secretly required a company in the United Arab Emirates to cooperate with future U.S. investigations before approving its takeover of operations at six American ports, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. It chose not to impose other, routine restrictions.

The administration did not require Dubai Ports to keep copies of business records on U.S. soil, where they would be subject to court orders. It also did not require the company to designate an American citizen to accommodate U.S. government requests. Outside legal experts said such obligations are routinely attached to U.S. approvals of foreign sales in other industries.

snip:
The revelations about the negotiated conditions came as the White House acknowledged President Bush was unaware of the pending sale until the deal had already been approved by his administration.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_go_pr_wh/ports_security_53

Okay, so let me get this straight. The bush administration was investigating this company, but bush didn't know there was an agreement. Oh, and they weren't going to hold this company to the same standards as any other foriegn company operating on US soil.

Isn't he supposed to know this shit? Or is he just sitting in the oval office snorting some lines and sipping Jack Daniels?

Is bush the pres or not?

I've been gone all day and haven't followed much lately. This is all just so confusing. :crazy:

[ewoden]

1. Bush is running the country all else is pure unadulterated crap

It is his administration. It is his watch. It is his responsibility. He calls the shots. He signs the papers. All in the administration serve at the pleasure of the President. If it is buggered up, he's the man who did the buggering. After all his is the party of personal responsibility. I can only hope that it is ultimately part of the epitaph for this moribund, immoral administration. May Georgie's presidential library be made of the dung he fostered upon America.

[Puzzler]

2. ...

a) Isn't he supposed to know this shit? Or...

b) is he just sitting in the oval office snorting some lines and sipping Jack Daniels?"

The latter (b).


-P

[babylonsister]

3. Might I confuse you more?

Obscure US intelligence agency assessed ports deal

http://go.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNew...

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deal that allows an Arab-owned company in Dubai to manage six major U.S. ports was scrutinized for security risks by an obscure intelligence agency that has existed for only four months, American officials said on Wednesday.

The Intelligence Community Acquisition Risk Centre, or CARC, overseen by the office of intelligence chief John Negroponte, was asked by the government committee that vets foreign investments in the United States to look into the ports deal soon after it came to its attention in early November.

But intelligence officials said CARC, which has little to do with counterterrorism activities, was formed just last October as the agency mandated to assess security risks posed by companies that do business with the intelligence community.

Only a small part of the center's resources are devoted to vetting commercial deals, officials said.

CARC's first director, William Dawson, was appointed in January, more than a month after the centre had been asked to begin work on the Dubai Ports World acquisition.

Dawson had been a senior information technology official for the intelligence community prior to his appointment.

[havocmom]

4. Please consider posting this in its own thread

It is VERY relevant to how this shit is going down and it would be good to get more legs under it.

[bananas]

6. someone did

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2126228

[babylonsister]

9. Thank You! I went looking and couldn't find; I do try to

credit the finder! :thumbsup:

[Catrina]

8. I agree, this is unbelievable. They set up their own investigation

firm, headed by their own cronies, just in time to investigate their own buddies, and neither the executive branch nor Congress knew anything about it.

The only entity that is at all connected to the government that supposedly conducted a 'thorough check' to ensure that there was 'no security risk' was the CFIUS, which is made up of 12 Bush appointees including the head of Homeland Security, Chertoff, whose handling of Katrina was said by Congress to have 'caused a loss of life', the torture AG, Gonzalez, Sec. of State, Condy, Sec. of Defense, Rumsfeld and several others.

Rumsfeld claimed, like Bush, that he didn't know anything about it until this past weekend. But he signed the approval on Feb. 13th, he was reminded, and then claimed that he 'signs things all the time that he never reads'!!!

So, it was thoroughly investigated by a Jeff Gannon-type set-up organization, signed off on by at least Rumsfeld, who admits or claims he didn't read what he signed, and only knew what he signed several days later???

I feel like Alice in Wonderland!! This gets worse every day ~

Who IS running this country? Congress better start finding out. It's five years too late, but better late than never!

[cynatnite]

10. I bet this is true for more than just rummy...

'signs things all the time that he never reads'!!!

[Catrina]

14. He probably didn't have to read it, he knew what it was and he and his

secret committee, neocon, co-conspirators just wanted to get it done ~ that's what it seems like to me.

[havocmom]

15. My daughter just got home from school and work, called and asked:

So, what dumb things happened today?

Should have told her to sit down and pour a drink first.

[babylonsister]

12. Done, w/props to deminks. nt

[babylonsister]

16. I did, but no one cares!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2476019&mesg_id=2476019

[Generator]

5. Negroponte and four months!

Obscure intelligence agency. That makes me feel so much better. (I just realized Carc is CRAC backwards-is that a clue?-this adminstration is trying to drive us insane)

[mom cat]

7. The administration did not require Dubai Ports to keep copies of business

records on U.S. soil, where they would be subject to court orders.

[babylonsister]

13. So very odd, isn't it, mom cat?

I constantly ask myself, "What's their ulterior motive?"

[Lindsay]

18. The avoidance of court orders is quite consistent

with their protections of big business at the expense of the citizens. Basically, they believe there should be no restraints on or government regulation of business. So - no surprise there, I think. Outrage, yes, but not surprise.

[mom cat]

24. One speculation is that it is a trade for using the UAE in the

planned war on Iran.

[meow2u3]

11. I think the T-men are running the country

T-men standing for terrorists. I'm beginning to think this country's fast becoming a terrorist dictatorship.

Farming out port security to a country that sponsors al-Qaeda thugs is evidence enough.

[jazzjunkysue]

17. My question, exactly. I'm so tired of "We didn't know?!?!?"

Let's let Kerry behind the big desk in the oval office, and then we'll have someone who knows what's going on.

There must be a secretary in the basement signing all the orders for the economy and international interests. It's certainly not the senate or house or executive.

[babylonsister]

22. I'm with you! Sen. Kerry would have been infinitely more preferable! nt

[hopeisaplace]

19. Triumph the Insult Dog

that's the only leader I've seen lately.

[leftofthedial]

20. whoever has the most money

this is repuke Murka

[F.Gordon]

21. And the question still goes unanswered

Part of me thinks it's the same bullshit they used with RayGun to keep that teflon coating. But my tin foil hat is attracting all kinds of strange shit. Or maybe it's just another GOP "whack the mole" game put out to keep the dems swinging in the dark at nuttin'.

None of it makes sense.
:crazy:

[babylonsister]

23. There's a big gaping hole, finally, with this admin.

The confidence shown since 9/11 isn't happening now. They only got where they are as a result of that. But they did a good job of pulling the wool over many eyes.