WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has expressed support for the
United Arab Emirates to help operate major ports in the United States.
"People raise questions. It's incumbent on the U.S. administration to answer
questions when the Congress has them. But we consider Abu Dhabi a very good
friend," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Feb. 17.
The administration has determined that a UAE state-owned company slated
to take over operations of six ports would not pose a security risk to the
United States. Officials said the determination marked a crucial test of
U.S.-UAE relations, Middle East Newsline reported.
"There was a thorough review of this issue by the process that we have
for reviewing cases in which foreign entities are going to buy or possess
assets that have security concerns for the United States," Ms. Rice said. "There was a thorough review. It was
decided that this could be done and done safely."
One of the 19 Al Qaida attackers who participated in the strikes against
New York and Washington in 2001 was born in the UAE. Officials said Al Qaida
used Dubai to plan the 2001 strikes in the United States.
On Feb. 22, members of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's
board of commissioners were scheduled to discuss the proposed operations of
the ports by DP World, a state-owned company in Dubai. DP World has decided
to buy a British firm that has been operating six ports, including one in
New York in New Jersey and Miami, Fla.
The DP World purchase of the London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Co. was reported at $6.8 billion. A subcontractor has sued to
block the DP World takeover of shipping operations at the port of Miami. The
Miami-based Continental Stevedoring & Terminals charged that it was being
forced to work for the Dubai government in a move that could "endanger the
national security of the U.S."
Several U.S. senators have expressed concern over the UAE takeover of
the operations of major American ports. The Senate Banking Committee plans
to hold a hearing on the federal review of the transaction next week.
But the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has
determined that the transfer of port operations to DP World would not
compromise security. The committee, asserting that P&O ports were certified
by the U.S.-led International Ship and Port Facility Security, has been
composed of the chiefs of 12 federal agencies and headed by Treasury
Secretary John Snow.
"We make sure there are assurances in place, in general, sufficient to
satisfy us that the deal is appropriate from a national security
standpoint," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Sunday.
Ms. Rice said the administration would continue to defend its decision
to enable the UAE company to operate the American ports. She said Abu Dhabi
has been a major military and security ally of the United States.
"But I would hope that our friends in Abu Dhabi would not be offended by
the fact that in our democracy, we debate these things," Ms. Rice said.
