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World News See other World News Articles Title: UAE firm to transfer port operations to U.S. 'entity' WASHINGTON (CNN) -- United Arab Emirates-owned DP World said Thursday it would transfer its operations of American ports to a U.S. "entity" after congressional leaders reportedly told President Bush that the firm's takeover deal was essentially dead on Capitol Hill. "Because of the strong relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States and to preserve that relationship ... DP World will transfer fully the U.S. operations of P&O Operations North America to a United States entity," Edward H. Bilkey, DP World's chief operating officer, said in a statement. The announcement did not specify which U.S. company would be involved. (Read DP World's statement -- PDF) The UAE firm's purchase of P&O, the British company that manages cargo and passenger terminals at several ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, has stirred up bipartisan opposition. Unusually rancorous debate on the issue has split Bush from his GOP allies in Congress at a time when the president's approval ratings have plunged and midterm elections approach. (Read a timeline of the ports deal) A source involved in talks between the White House, Congress and DP World told CNN the exact meaning of the UAE firm's statement is unclear, in part because the details of the transaction have not been worked out. "The next steps are very hard to predict at this point, either in terms of who they'll actually sell to and in terms of what it means for U.S. relations in the region," the source said. A source told CNN that the White House believes DP World's American assets would be sold to a U.S. firm. Due to the lack of details about the transaction, Senate Democrats reacted cautiously to the company's announcement and continued to press for a Senate vote that would kill the deal. "If the U.S. operations are fully independent in every way, that could, in deed, be promising," said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. "If, on the other hand, there is still ultimate control exercised by DP World, I don't think our goals would be accomplished, and obviously we'll need to study this agreement carefully." The Senate rejected a procedural move by Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, to prevent a vote on an amendment offered by Schumer that would block the deal. Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia, who had been working to craft a compromise, announced the move by DP World on the Senate floor Thursday. Earlier Thursday, Senate and House leaders warned Bush that the UAE deal was a lost cause, GOP sources said. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, and Frist delivered the news to Bush during a meeting at the White House, the sources said. The leaders told the president they would pass measures to block the deal by veto-proof majorities, sources told CNN. Bush had threatened to veto any legislation that stopped the deal. Bush has said any effort to stall or kill the deal would strain ties with a vital Arab ally in the war on terrorism. 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. House Republicans are openly defying the president, apparently to prevent Democrats from outflanking them on national security and outsourcing issues as elections approach. (Questions about the deal answered) The issue marks an unusual rift between Bush and congressional Republicans, who say they have received overwhelmingly negative comments from constituents. (Your e-mails: Should Bush change his mind?) The committee's approval was bipartisan, with Reps. Jim Moran, a Democrat of Virginia, and Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona casting the only votes against it. Rep. Jerry Lewis, a California Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, worked with other GOP leaders to amend the spending bill. (Watch top Republicans rock the boat on the ports deal -- 1:36) Tensions between Bush, whose approval rating is near an all-time low, and Congress have been growing for some time, and the president's vow to veto the legislation angered many of his congressional allies. "In politics ... sometimes the passions and the emotions can overwhelm any factual discussion," said John King, CNN's chief national correspondent. (King: Passions, emotions cloud ports debate) CNN's Dana Bash, Ed Henry, Suzanne Malveaux and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. Poster Comment: Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 2.
#2. To: robin (#0)
Hey kids - 3 guesses....could that US firm be....Halliburton?
#3. To: mehitable (#2)
Halliburton Eyed For Dubai Ports Deal
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