Port Operations: Latest News.

Here is the latest development in the story about the operations of six U.S. shipping ports to be taken over by a UAE-based company. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration said Sunday it will accept an extraordinary offer by a United Arab Emirates-based company to submit to a second — and broader — U.S. review of potential security risks in its deal to take over significant operations at six leading American ports. The plan averts an impending political showdown.

The Treasury Department said in a statement it will promptly begin the review once the company formally files a request for one. It said the same government panel that earlier investigated the deal but found no reason for national security concerns will reconsider it.

In six pages of documents sent earlier in the day to the White House, Dubai-based DP World asked for a 45-day investigation of plans to run shipping terminals in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

The announcement means the White House likely won't face a revolt by fellow Republicans when lawmakers return Monday from a weeklong break. A united Republican Party can assert that its leaders — both in Congress and at the White House — have taken additional steps to protect national security.

Which is complete and utter bullshit. Sure the idea that the Republicans, even the ones who, until this development occurred, will now fall into line behind Preznit Flight Suit Fantasy is not that far fetched a notion, but to think, and actually believe that the citizenry will look upon this deal as being good for American security is delusional at best. Apparently the governors of the states, or the mayors of the cities affected are suddenly supposed to say "Oh good, a review period, well, we have nothing to worry about..." Don't count on it.

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