Is Haliburton Poised to Take Control of the U.S. Ports for Dubai PW?

[kerrygoddess]

Is Haliburton Poised to Take Control of the U.S. Ports for Dubai Ports World?
March 10th, 2006 @ 12:07 am

With the details still being sketchy on just what Dubai Ports World means to do about divesting their interest in the 6 U.S. ports involved in their buy out of P&O Operations North America, the speculation is already starting. The big question is what U.S. company would be in the position to handle such a deal? Online News Hour asked these questions tonight and the answer that came up — Halliburton. But, of course.

{Snip}
MARGARET WARNER: How many American companies, because they did say they were selling it to a U.S. entity, are in a position to, one, buy this — these — these port operations, and, two, to run them?

SIMON ROMERO: Well, that is a great question. You know, of the top eight terminal operations companies in the world that do these type of — this type of work at — at big international ports, only one is American. And that company is based out of Seattle. It is called SSA Marine. It is a family-owned company.

{Snip}
NORMAN ORNSTEIN: They have got a dilemma now, because there simply aren’t American companies that have the know-how and the breadth to do this. Interestingly, and perhaps ironically, what I had heard earlier in the day, as they were looking at those that have the — the kind of resources, Halliburton was a name that came up.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2199

[wake.up.america]

1. Look, the bottom line is that Bush is more interested in money...

than anything else. If he can't make it through the UAE contract, he would be happy to make money through kickbacks from Halliburton.

[Nostradammit]

2. It was a bit of Harriet Myers-style Jiu-Jitsu

"What's that you say?

Harriet Myers is an insane choice?

Quite right, Samuel Alito is much more sensible...


Sell our port security to an Arab nation with a history of supporting terrorists?

You really think that won't fly?

I see your point - well heck, why don't we get Halliburton to do it?



I'd like to thank all you brave, vigilant Republican congressmen for steering me right."

[NYC]

3. I'll cross my fingers for SSA Marine.

Fat chance.

[izzie]

6. My husband once ran a KBR plant and it was built very good.

It would not shock me as they have made Bush mad and he is bad when he is mad. He also started this 4 years sort of drunk with power and it has not gone to his liking. I would say he will pay people back for this. He seems to be an un-sure man who is a bully with power.

[gunsaximbo]

4. I was thinking exactly the same thing

Even that will cause a stir.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Hardly any American companies want to...

be terminal operators-- not that much money in it and "growth" (the operative word for US business) is extremely limited. That's why so many terminals have been outsourced. They're the poor boys in the shipping business.

When the smoke clears, everyone involved with this will be sorry, if they get blamed for fucking up the ports. Who's gonna reimburse Toyota for the money they spent building that car terminal when foreign companies can't be terminal operators any more?

Your tax dollars at work again. Hope everyone's happy with this unnecessary firestorm.

[win_in_06]

7. If Haliburton gets it I don't see how Congess could credibly complain

since they insisted that the ports remain in control of a US company.

[abluelady]

9. Well they Could

But they will need to be prepared to fall even farther from the GOP. And you never know what Rove will threaten to their first born.

[salin]

8. Interesting that Ornstien uses the word "ironic"

with Halliburton possibly taking over operations. Perhaps some conservatives share concerns about Halliburton?