BREAKING on Senate Floor! Dubai to transfer ports to US company!!

[The Witch]

Warner reading press release...

"In order to preserve good relationship... transferring ports to United States company"


.... hasn't said which company but Halliburton is a good bet!

Warner believes acting in good faith recognizing circumstances....

Schumer is still suspicious, says vote against cloture because of breaking news. amendment should still remain in play, he says.

1:48 pm - Reid up. Saying Democrats forced ethics vote. Being a li'l bit braggy, saying Congress can do 2 things at once.

1:51 - Seems to be going into a canned speech, feels a little irrelevant... c'mon Harry, improvise!

1:53 - Fristenstein says that Americans finish what they start and expect Congress to do the same. (Message: Vote for cloture.)

Using the Greatest Forum to get out my message now----

Frist is now arguing for cloture against Reid. This is BAD. It's going to look like Democrats are stonewalling on ethics reform!!

2:25 p.m. Cloture comes in just about along party lines so we "win." But we're still gonna look bad.
We didn't get Chafee.
We got Jeffords and Salazar, though.
Feinstein changed her aye to no.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Just what does that mean?

[Roland99]

70. That we were duped by the GOP. They'll take credit and look good for '06.

[liveoaktx]

2. Is this a scam, with Dubai using a front company?

[Jacobin]

4. that would be my first guess

[Cassandra]

27. Mine too.

I'm also wondering what else they own. Also, if Halliburton or some other company gets the business, what's to stop Dubai from buying up their stock?

[BlueEyedSon]

114. mine three

[nonconformist]

37. That was my very first thought as well. nt

[mirandapriestly]

87. that was my first thought

This could all be in appearances and actually interests are the same.

[0007]

91. I'm leary!

[Marie26]

155. Why won't they tell us the company?

Wouldn't want those Internet bloggers figuring it out. It's got to be someone so toxic that they don't want to make it public till this passes. Some sort of Halliburton sub. or Dubai sub., I'd bet.

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Isn't this the Halliburton compromise? n/t

[The Witch]

6. oh is it out already?

ehehe I thought it was breaking news.

[ReadTomPaine]

21. No no - your post is new stuff, but days ago there was talk...

about partnering with a US company to make the deal more palatable. The company was, of course, Halliburton.

[JackBeck]

5. Wow and Puffy McMoonFace JUST finished his presser!

[rodeodance]

44. and he knew all along!!!!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. And we saved Murica, so vote for us

new republcian slogan!

[The Witch]

8. Schumer: "Devil Is In The Details"

Want US part of Brit company should have no connection.

[AX10]

10. Exactly.

[grytpype]

9. And Bush can't take credit for it!!!!

Hahahahahaha! Bush loses 100%! His pals don't get their port operations AND he looks like a moron on a national security issue! And now it's too late to do anything about it! Hahahahaha!

[rodeodance]

40. but Scott just said: Bush is working with Congress. ..(he will take credit

[The Backlash Cometh]

154. Bush Caved. That's the end game.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. SOMEONE on DU posted that THIS IS WHAT THIS DEAL WAS ALL ABOUT!

They predicted that the REAL plan was for HALLIBURTON to get the deal. Should we start taking bets?

I say Halliburton is the new company.:grr:

[The Witch]

12. I wouldn't be surprised.

[gkhouston]

14. if it's not Halliburton it's some other company snuggled up

close to BushCo. This smells.

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. and funded through the back doors of Dubai? n/t

[gkhouston]

26. yup. The more things change, the more they stay the same. n/t

[radio4progressives]

42. we have to keep stating the obvious over and over and over again..

:cry:

[Marie26]

74. Does anyone know what company? nt

[The Witch]

76. I'll give you three guesses

but my first guess is that we only need one guess.............

[Marie26]

144. Hmmm

Halliburton, Bechtel or the Carlyle Group? I think we probably only need one guess too.

[Marie26]

145. ...

[FreedomAngel82]

33. Or another Bush friendly company

[RedEarth]

34. Well, either Halliburton or some company associated with the Carlye Group

Papa Bush, James Baker and many others, including the UAE, are in tight with the Carlye Group.

[rodeodance]

43. we do not know what the 'new entitiy" IS--you may be right.

[Lerkfish]

47. I was one of the people suggesting that...there were a couple of us.

[Blue_Roses]

139. This is nothing new.

Halliburton has been working with the UAE for years. It's just becoming more transparent now.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2003

HALLIBURTON AND MARJAN OILFIELD SERVICES TO FORM EMIRATES LOGGING COMPANY L.L.C

Houston, Texas and Abu Dhabi, U.A.E - Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) and Marjan Oilfield Services, a member of the Al Fahim Group, announced today that they have signed a Joint Venture Agreement and Memorandum and Articles of Association to incorporate a Limited Liability Company to offer open and cased hole logging and wireline perforating services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

"The combined logging and perforating strengths of Marjan and Halliburton make for an unbeatable combination," said Joe Rainey, division vice president MEO, Halliburton. "Both companies already have strong positions in the Abu Dhabi market and the JV enhances the positions of both Marjan and Halliburton."

"The Group is committed to this very important sector of the industry, investing for the future in the latest technology, committed to Health, Safety and Environment issues and service quality values; joining forces with Halliburton can only enhance the position of both companies in serving the local community," said Aamer Al Fahim, managing director of Al Fahim Group.

more...

http://www.halliburton.com/news/archive/2003/hesnws_010903.jsp

:(

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. He tried to schooker Schumer, too!

Schumer must not have had any idea what Warner was going to say.

Gotta run out for a bit...

[fedupinBushcountry]

24. Go Schumer

Not backing down a bit. :applause:

[FreedomAngel82]

15. I'm suspecious too

Perhaps Malloy was right.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. What did Malloy say? n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

36. That it was just an issue for

the republicans to use to "look tough" on security because of their recent poll raitings and it was all a sham. This was back when it first started happening. And I think he or other people or both also said it was a way for the republicans to back away from Bush during an election year.

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. He was right, wasn't he? He was spot on, as usual. I can't wait

until this deal is looked at closer and learn which company(Halliburton) got the deal.

[The Witch]

48. Oh, JEEZ.

And now Republicans will push through the ethics legislation and it will look like Democrats are stonewalling on ethics! BAD BAD BAD!

[suffragette]

81. Thom Hartmann was saying the same thing

I think they're both correct.

This has Rove's fingerprints all over it.

[The Witch]

16. Shall I edit OP or post updates as replies?

lemme know

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. Just update here.

post updates as replies. :) It's easier to follow in one thread.

[rodeodance]

18. Norah on msnbc just said Schumer "pulled a fast one" attaching it to

another bill.

[The Witch]

19. Schumer is linking ports deal & corruption

saying they are the same issue. I believe him, but repugs won't.

[gkhouston]

22. really? Did she say the same thing about a similar move

performed by the House Republicans?

[rodeodance]

32. no, Norah has a short memory!

[gkhouston]

35. how utterly conveeeenient. n/t

[myrna minx]

20. I guess we should just change our name officially to

The United States of Halliburton. So its win/win for these greedy bastards. :grr:

[The Witch]

28. I predict once Senators find out it IS halliburton they will freak out

AHAHA we just heard something on mikes that wasn't supposed to be there, about pakistan I think?

[gkhouston]

31. I guessing it's a subsidiary of Halliburton and it will take 'em a

few days to figure out that it's another tentacle of Halliburton.

[The Witch]

41. well then let the bloggers' fingers fly

and we'll call 'em up and let 'em know :)

Power of the netroots! :)

[myrna minx]

52. Have they announced what "American" company has been given

the "rights?" You just KNOW it's Halliburton. I'll bet Warner knows this already so it's just gravy for all of the corporatists today. :grr: What's important is that at the end of the day Cheney raids our Treasury to make himself more money.

[rodeodance]

23. msnbc talking of this now.

[rodeodance]

29. "Dubai Co. gies up stake in some US ports"--is tag line.

[rodeodance]

38. in listening to msnbc-seems Warner is taking the credit.

[The Witch]

39. He read the press release.

he's been fighting for this deal!

[Cleita]

46. Is Halliburton an American Company?

Isn't their corporate headquarters a post office box in Bermuda? I think now would be the perfect time to call Halliburton on this if indeed they are the "US" company. I hope Congress says that it's not good enough. We need an American company incorporated in America!

On edit: I was wrong about Bermuda, but I did dig this up on google:

http://www.topplebush.com/article16_cheney.shtml

[rodeodance]

49. "will transfer some of North American ports to US" says Norah.

[rodeodance]

50. Frist on floor now.

[Norquist Nemesis]

135. "Some" them? Must mean that the 6 or 8 major ones transfers

and the remaining 15 or 16 still get run by Dubai. :shrug:

[rniel]

51. WHAT

I'm outraged I tell you. We can't possibly run our own ports. We need to get some other foreign company in there. Is china or india available? After all it's not like people need jobs in america. We've all got these little plastic credit cards to pay for everything right.

[rodeodance]

53. seems Frist is apologizing for the necessity of Senate doing what they

fill they have to do (oppose deal).

[The Witch]

54. please refresh OP - We are in big trouble!!

[rodeodance]

59. what do you mean?

[rodeodance]

55. Frist seems to be saying Senators are obstructing bills progress!

[rodeodance]

56. 'an attempt to score partison political points" says Frist. oh boy

[The Witch]

57. That is a NASTY little trick!

How could we have done this to ourselves? CrapTASTIC!

[rodeodance]

62. Reid--wants Shumer amendment withdrawn and taken up as separte bill.

[in_cog_ni_to]

69. This is attached to an ETHICS bill by Schumer? Why did he do that?

[The Witch]

71. He was trying to frame the deal as part of the corruption scandal.

It was a good idea, but Rove is more, well, Rovian.

[myrna minx]

72. I'm pretty confused.

:shrug:

[rodeodance]

86. Shumer does not think he will get a separte bill--so attached to ethics

bill.

[myrna minx]

88. Thanks. n/t

[babylonsister]

83. It's the ongoing lobbying ethics bill; he just wanted to get

the ports bill out there and turned down.
Reid mentioned separating the bills this a.m., and wanted a vote by this afternoon on the ports deal. Now, I dunno.

[in_cog_ni_to]

89. OK...thank you.

:) It sounded like Schumer attached it to the lobbying ethics bill. That's why Reid asked for it to be withdrawn from the bill and voted on separately and Frist refused.

[in_cog_ni_to]

63. YUP...Reid just said he would vote no on cloture.

Now he wants to withdraw the Schumer bill? Here's the vote eon cloture.

[in_cog_ni_to]

84. DiFi voted yes...again. WTF is going on now? This is a cloture vote

for WHAT?

[The Backlash Cometh]

58. Oh, I hope it's Halliburton.

'Cuz when the Dems take over, we should use all that loose wiretapping legislation and do a hurtin' on their ass.

[Catchawave]

60. OH....

:spray:

[nickinSTL]

61. so? we'll contract out our security

to an American company instead of a Dubaian one?

How is this better?

Shouldn't the security of our sea ports have the same priority as our airports, ie. be under the aegis of the Department of Homeland Security?

After all, our SECURITY is supposed to be the job of that shiny, new cabinet department, isn't it?

[rodeodance]

65. limiting debate now--clocture vote (via Frist)

[Marie26]

82. This smells

They're pressuring it. Republicans often invoke cloture to get an immediate vote on a bill before people have a chance to read it. Does anyone know what bill they're voting on?

[in_cog_ni_to]

98. Lobbying Ethics bill?

[Initech]

64. $10 says Halliburton gets the contract

[The Witch]

66. No, I think it's several billion $ that say that :)

[rodeodance]

67. Brit Hume saying this is really no big deal.

[Initech]

158. Of course, he's got his lips firmly on the GOP's ass...

[henslee]

68. This whole thing smells.

[rodeodance]

79. this may take some steam out of Congress positions?

[0007]

96. 'Something ain't right with this deal!

[rodeodance]

73. msnbc saying Scott just finished news conference and now waiting for WH

response to new announcement.

[rodeodance]

75. What--is she saying Scott did not know of this new deal?

[The Witch]

77. Doubt he did.

Warner interrupted Schumer on the floor for this.

Rove, I'm sure, set it up double-blind so it would look like breaking news and Senators couldn't counter-strategize so close to the cloture vote.

[jsamuel]

78. the timing of this whole thing is VERY strange...

[The Witch]

80. 5 minutes before cloture vote? yeah, it's a little strange.

:eyes:

[Marie26]

85. There's a trick here

I just wish we knew what was going on.

[rodeodance]

90. says Schumer hs an amend to the lobbying bill (port issue)--they are

voting to limit debate on this lobbing bill.

[rodeodance]

92. this would limit debate on 'non=germaine' amendment (Schumers)

[rodeodance]

93. says closture needs 2/3 to pass.

[rodeodance]

95. Schumers amendment would 'kill the port deal"

[rodeodance]

97. Feinglod says NO, Shumer says NO, Nelson FL sys NO

[rodeodance]

99. DeMint says Aye

[Marie26]

152. here's the CNN story

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A United Arab Emirates-owned company has agreed to turn over all of its operations at U.S. ports to an American "entity," Sen. John Warner said Thursday.

Reading a statement from DP World on the Senate floor, Warner, a Virginia Republican, said the reason is "to preserve" the strong relationship between the UAE and United States.

The announcement comes after congressional leaders reportedly told President Bush that the deal for DP World to assume some operations at six U.S. ports appeared dead on Capitol Hill.

On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee essentially blocked the deal by voting 62-2 to insert an amendment into a $68 billion emergency supplemental funding bill for military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/09/port.security/

Still doesn't say what "entity" will take over.

[Sensitivity]

94. We now have to trust HALLIBURTON with Port Security -- or some

similar money-grubbing conglomerate that did not have the capability and
experience to compete fairly for the deal.

[rodeodance]

101. "kill the Dubai ports deal"---Schumers amendment--

[rodeodance]

102. Dole AYe, Vitter NO

[rodeodance]

103. Kennedy NO

[The Witch]

100. UPDATING OP w/Cloture vote periodically

[rodeodance]

105. Mrs. Lincoln NO, Colman Aye

[rodeodance]

107. harkin and Cantwell, and Durbin NO---Crawfull aye

[in_cog_ni_to]

104. DiFi is useless. Why is she there?

[in_cog_ni_to]

106. Cantwell...NO.

[in_cog_ni_to]

108. Lautenberg ....NO

[in_cog_ni_to]

111. Baucus NO Biden ....NO Carper ...NO Jeffords NO

[in_cog_ni_to]

113. Byrd ..NO

[rodeodance]

109. Hagel aye

[rodeodance]

112. Biden NO, Carper NO Jeffers NO, Shelby aye Byrd NO

[rocktivity]

110. WHAT U.S. company?

And what are their ties to the Repubs and Bush? Is there going to be public open bidding process?

:headbang:
rocknation

[spuddonna]

115. Exactly... n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

116. We don't know the details yet. Probably Halliburton. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

120. Salazar ..NO

[in_cog_ni_to]

121. Chaffee YES

[Cleita]

117. You'd think wouldn't you? n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

118. You're so funny!

"Is there going to be public open bidding process?"

bwahahaha

[rodeodance]

119. Salisar NO, Stevens aye, The public does not know the name yet.

[rodeodance]

122. Obama NO, Santorum AYE and Cheffy aye

[rodeodance]

124. Kohl and Mendandaz NO

[rodeodance]

125. If clocure is invoked, there will be no more debate on Shumer non-

germaine amendment.

[rodeodance]

126. Inhoff aye

[in_cog_ni_to]

123. Menendez NO Kohl...NO

[in_cog_ni_to]

127. McCain yes Pryor NO Rockefeller NO

[in_cog_ni_to]

130. Snowe Yes damn

[rodeodance]

131. snowe AYE

[Jara sang]

128. What the hell? Didn't I just read that UAE would fight this?

Tooth and nail. That they would shut down our economy and such.

[mattclearing]

133. I'm sure Bush got on the phone and played let's make a deal. n/t

[phoebe]

129. if not Halliburton, KBR or Carlyle spinoff, it's American Waterways

- which might be a good thing or maybe there's another Texas pioneer that gave up plenty of money for the chance at this..

[Atman]

132. So? A scam by any other name...

...would smell as fetid.

[in_cog_ni_to]

134. Grassley yes

[in_cog_ni_to]

136. The Witch...could you start a new thread????

[in_cog_ni_to]

137. DiFi NO...hmmm I thought she voted yes earlier?

[The Witch]

138. I have to go lie down. You wanna do it?

I am home sick from work anyhoo. Shouldn't be typing like crazy.

[in_cog_ni_to]

141. Sure. Hope you feel better soon.

:hug:

[mdmc]

156. thanks for starting and updating this thread

:kick:

[rodeodance]

140. Feinstein NO, (changed her vote I see te he)

[The Witch]

142. AP story is up

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060309/ap_on_go_co/ports_security_51

I'm gonna go lie down

[rodeodance]

149. Dubai Firm to Give Up Stake in U.S. Ports

Dubai Firm to Give Up Stake in U.S. Ports

By DAVID ESPO 12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A Dubai-owned company said Thursday it is giving up its management stake in some U.S. ports, a move made as congressional leaders warned
President Bush that both the House and Senate appeared ready to block the takeover.


It was not immediately clear whether the announcement would be enough to cool widespread sentiment in Congress to pass legislation blocking the deal, which has become a burdensome election-year problem for Republicans.

Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, took the Senate floor to read to colleagues a company press release disclosing its new stance.

"Because of the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States and to preserve that relationship, DP World has decided to transfer fully the U.S. operation of P&O Operations North America to a United States entity," DP World's chief operating officer, Edward H. Bilkey, said in the statement that Warner relayed to other senators. The announcement did not specify which American company would be involved.

[rodeodance]

150. FRist NO NO NO NO NO

[rodeodance]

151. one grahm says aye and the other says NO

[rodeodance]

153. 51-47 ---so, the motion is NOT agreed to (needed 2/3 reasons)

[Norquist Nemesis]

143. Hasn't this "vote" been going on an excessively long time?

I see DiFi leaving the pit.

[rodeodance]

146. so, The WH is trying to make port deal more palpitable--but Schumer

still says Kill it dead)

[in_cog_ni_to]

147. THREAD # 2 is up. Link...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=617068&mesg_id=617068

[Jara sang]

148. Halliburton has a subsidiary call Seaforth Maritime Ltd.

Based in Scotland.

http://www.seaforth-maritime.com/

[Roland99]

157. KBR Sold that off

http://rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=7089