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Washington Post- Port Deal To Have Broader Review
Monday February 27, 2006From Washington Post:
Port Deal To Have Broader Review
By Jonathan Weisman
Monday, February 27, 2006; A01
The Bush administration said yesterday that it has accepted a proposal from a
The announcement by Dubai Ports World, brokered by the White House and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), appears to satisfy the demands of many members of Congress, who had threatened to force a security review if the administration would not conduct one. The deal also offered pledges to reassure the
The administration had approved DP World's $6.85 billion purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. (P&O) earlier this month without conducting a security review, after a broad interagency panel that looked at the transaction concluded the takeover of port operations in the
But last week, members of both political parties erupted in furor, questioning the administration's judgment and promising to delay the deal, if not scuttle it. After President Bush vowed to veto any legislation that would thwart the
"We recognize that there are concerns regarding DP World's acquisition of P&O's
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: "We are pleased that Dubai Ports reached a middle ground with Congress. The transaction was closely scrutinized by the appropriate national security and intelligence officials, and important safeguards are in place. We believe, however, the additional time and investigation at the request of the company will provide Congress with a better understanding of the facts, and that Congress will be comfortable with the transaction moving forward once it does."
Eric Ueland, Frist's chief of staff, said yesterday that the Senate majority leader would ask the relevant committees to continue oversight while the administration conducts its review, and he said the company will have to continue its efforts to reassure lawmakers.
But, he said, Frist and GOP leaders would not tamper with the secretive interagency administration panel, known as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), during the review. The committee said yesterday in a statement that it welcomes the announcement and that it will "promptly initiate the review process and fulfill
Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), who supports the deal, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the new agreement "spells out unequivocally the willingness of this company to give every means of support to help work this thing out."
Warner called the ports deal diplomatically and economically vital to the
Lawmakers who had threatened to block or delay the deal welcomed a longer investigation. Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) said the new proposal probably would quell calls for emergency legislation in Congress this week. He said a deeper investigation is necessary of a United Arab Emirates-owned company operating
"This was only 4 1/2 , five years ago that they were very close to bin Laden, they were supporting Taliban," King, who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said on "Meet the Press." "And unless there's been a complete transformation, I have real concerns."
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), another critic of the deal, agreed that the delay would forestall immediate action in Congress but emphasized that transparency is vital in the new investigation. "If, after the 45-day investigation, it's kept secret, it's given to the president, who after all has come out for this deal already, I don't think that's going to assure the American people," he said on CBS's "Face the Nation."
Under the terms of the deal announced by DP World, the company would proceed with its takeover of P&O. That deal is to be completed Thursday.
But DP World said it would "guarantee" the independence of operations at the ports of
The rest of the current management of P&O in the
The statement concluded that all these pledges would remain in place until May 1 or the completion of the CFIUS review.
"We are confident the further review by CFIUS will confirm that DP World's acquisition of P&O's
The deal was worked out over a series of meetings Friday among Frist, Bilkey, DP World lawyers, Cabinet secretaries and White House officials. Late Friday, Frist recommended to the government of the
DP World executives and their lawyers worked through the agreement all day Saturday, while GOP leaders in Congress and White House officials focused on the next political steps. Ueland said Frist is pleased with yesterday's company statement, indicating it comported with his expectations.
Staff writers Anne Hull and Jim VandeHei contributed to this report.
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